“When I was approached to become the inaugural Patron for the Taranaki Foundation, of course I said yes straight away.
… the expertise of the Community Foundation facilitates strategic charitable giving; it encourages the care and welfare of our Taranaki community and enriches it financially. Ultimately, this is a community asset that we can all feel proud of and have a sense of ownership in.”
Ken was a founding Trustee of Taranaki Foundation. In 2015, alongside Paul Goldsmith, he was instrumental in establishing the then-named Te Karaka Foundation. He retired as Trustee of the Foundation in 2023.
Ken has been Director of a number of private companies and is a Trustee of Lysaght-Watt Trust, Puke Ariki Trust and others. Ken is married to Jennifer, and they have three adult children. They own Puketarata north of Hāwera, a Garden of International Significance which Jennifer manages.
Ken’s South Taranaki roots run deep, and he was the third-generation principal of Halliwell’s law firm in Hāwera, from which he has recently retired after 47 years.
Ken was appointed as Patron for the Taranaki Foundation in 2023 and served as a member of the Investment Committee until 2026.
As Patron, Ken now serves as an ambassador, lending his credibility and time to support the Taranaki Foundation.
