Updated photo to come.
Back from left: Russ Kelly, Keith Hyslop, Sam Anderson, Murray Neutze, Mark Wilson, Ethan Forbes. 

Front from left: Justin Legg, Jo Naylor, Melanie Brooks, Nicole Matheson, Sarah Thomas, Ben Naylor, Ella Stokes.

Andrew began in the role of CEO in May 2025 and brings several years of proven experience in the water management sector, most recently in his capacity as Operations Manager for RDRML.

His background in strategic planning, asset management, operational management, and stakeholder engagement, as well as his thorough understanding of our work, regulatory environment and of the co-operative model, will be invaluable to our team.

Andrew’s background includes a long tenure in the Royal New Zealand Air Force in technical, maintenance, training and engineering leadership roles, followed by senior positions at Trustpower (now Manawa) where he was the Southern Regional Production Leader, and accountable for the asset management of multiple significant hydropower assets and asset management contracts in the Otago and Canterbury regions. He was later CEO of Opuha Water Limited for over five years, joining RDRML in mid-2023. He is currently a Director of IrrigationNZ and will continue in that role alongside his executive position with MHV Water.

Jo began her role as Executive Assistant in 2017.

Her work involves supporting the MHV Board and Management Team, Share Registry functions, assisting shareholders with enquiries and other administrative tasks.

Jo enjoys being part of a successful, productive, and forward-thinking team, with farmer shareholders at the forefront and where no two days are the same.

Sam joined MHV in 2008 after working in several roles and seeing the scheme develop, he became Operations Manager in January 2017. His job involves all things operations, water movements, leading the operations team, scheme innovations/improvements, maintenance, scheme efficiencies shareholder relations, and more. 

Sam enjoys the on the job learning and the ongoing challenges of adjusting to every season which are all unique to ensure that water keeps flowing to our farmers. Sam has a farming background and is practically minded, and he enjoys working with the team to find sustainable solutions for the shareholders and the community for years to come. 

Nicole began her role as Environmental Manager in May 2022, prior to that she had been on the Irrigo Environmental team since June 2018, so is very experienced in environmental management in relation to farming systems, especially in the Mid-Canterbury area. Her job involves supporting farmers to achieve continuous improvement through the Farm Environment Plan process. Nicole enjoys working with farmers to improve water quality in the Hekeao Hinds whilst ensuring cultural, economic, and social outcomes are still being met.

Ethan came on board at the beginning of August 2020. Ethan’s focus is to build resilience in our existing network assets and strategic planning for future infrastructure. He also supports the MHV Operations Team. Ethan comes from a sheep and beef background in the lower South Island and has a Bachelor of Engineering Technology (Mechanical). He also has considerable sales/design experience, from time with Waterforce in South Canterbury and more recently design, construction, and commissioning experience of large-scale irrigation schemes throughout the South Island while working for Monadelphous, including Amuri, Pukaki, and Kurow-Duntroon irrigation schemes.

Justin is MHV’s resident Senior Hydrogeologist with a background in mineral exploration, hydrogeology and integrated water management. 

Since joining MHV in 2020, Justin has managed MHV’s ground and surface water monitoring program that has enabled the development of evidence-based concepts and ideas that help inform practical, economic, and sustainable Nitrate (NO₃-N) mitigation strategies for MHV shareholders and the greater community of the Hekeao Hinds Catchment.

Nō Te Pāpaka-a-Māui ahau
Nō te rohe o te tangāta ngāi Mayonebulluk iwi au
Ko Oliver’s Hill te māunga  
Ko Sweetwater pūkaki te awa
Ko Port Phillip te kopanga
Ko Echidna tōku kararehe
E mihi ana ki ngā tohu o nehe o Ōtautahi, te wāhi e noho nei au
Ko Ngāi Tahu te mana whenua, te iwi whakaruruhau
Nō MHV Water
Ko Kaimātai Wainuku matua ahau
Ko Justin tāku ingoa

Murray joined the MHV Operations team in 2015 before moving to the role of Hydrology and MAR Officer due to the expansion of the MHV groundwater and surface water monitoring programme.

Murray’s role involves working with the Hekaeo Hinds Water Enhancement Trust (HHWET), maximising infiltration rates, and undertaking regular groundwater and surface water sampling for Nitrate and Ecoli levels.

Murray enjoys the challenges of his role, working in a rural backdrop, and is proud of the part he plays in addressing environmental issues facing farming.

Nick Joined MHV in 2026 to support the operations team. He has a background in utilities delivery and brings the scheme a practical, solutions‑focused approach.

Nick works closely with the scheme operators to help ensure the reliable and efficient delivery of water to shareholders. He enjoys being part of a collaborative organisation that supports farming communities and is committed to sustainable water management for the future.

Mark began in the Operations team in 2012 and has seen a lot of changes to the scheme over the years.

Mark’s role involves delivering water, planning, and communicating with farmers about future projects, and undertaking race maintenance tasks.

It is important to Mark that water is delivered efficiently, effectively and fairly to shareholders.

Ben began the role of Scheme Operator with MHV in late 2018. During the irrigation season, his role is primarily focused on the delivery of water to shareholders on MH laterals 1 and 2. Ben balances proactive maintenance with the physical delivery of the water to ensure the delivery of water is consistent at all times and is very proficient with the Rubicon systems and accessing data for analysis on race performance. During the off-season Ben can be found doing maintenance to have the line ready for the following irrigation season. Ben appreciates having the ability to grow his family in a rural setting while working with water and talking to a range of farmers and growers regularly. Ben enjoys the variety of his role where daily work can see him doing both physical outdoor work and technical work.

Mark joined MHV in February 2024, as a Scheme Operator.

With a diverse background in Automotive and General Engineering, Mark's journey has taken him from behind the wheel of a truck, transporting everything from grain to earthmoving equipment and milk, to the dynamic world of car sales and management.

Having grown up on a farm himself, he understands the invaluable role farmers play in our district's prosperity. Mark firmly believes that when our farmers thrive, so does our entire community.

Cam joined the Operations team in August 2024.

With a decade of experience in the dairy industry and five years in engineering and maintenance, Cam is excited to apply his experiences to the Operations team. 

Cam is looking forward to learning about the scheme and how it all works, to provide our shareholders the water they need.

Outside of work hours, Cam enjoys heading out into the outdoors, fishing rod at hand and spending quality family time at home.

2024-25 Board. Updated photo to come.
Back (from left):  Simon King, Evan Chisnall, Campbell Tait, Paul Munro.
Front (from left): Jen Crawford, Cole Groves (Chair), Vince Lobb