About HMS Trust
Our Vision
Our Mission
Our Goals
Relationship building
> To connect, support, and advocate for the refugee and migrant communities
> To maintain and establish stakeholder relationships
> To foster participation of newcomers in the community
Empowerment
To enable refugees and migrants to be engaged members of the community
Capacity building
To strengthen the organization, grow existing projects while developing new ones.
Our Values
Quality service
We go the extra mile to get excellent results. Our hope is our clients feel appreciated, supported and experience a real difference in their journey to successful settlement.
Trust
We act with professionalism and confidentiality in a trusting and safe environment
Cultural awareness
All people matter. We respect and appreciate inclusion and the diversity of all cultures
Respect
We accept people for who they are. We show respect by being present, listening and open communication.
Integrity
We do what we say we will do. We are honest and we are accountable for our actions.
Family
Everybody is part of a family. We are supported, connected and belong
Our Story

The first service offered by the Trust was the provision of an Interpreting Service and in May of 2000 the Interpreting Service opened and operated from an office in Knox Street. The service still operates today under the name Decypher, and also provides translation of written documents.
The Trust moved in October of 2004 to the Multicultural Centre in Boundary Road (the former Marist Rugby Club rooms). In October 2006 the Multicultural Centre was renamed the Waikato Migrant Resource Centre, and in December 2017 it became Settlement Centre Waikato.
Today the HMS Trust has various services and projects to support migrants and former refugees settling in Hamilton and other parts of New Zealand including:
- Decypher (interpreting and translation)
- InfoNOW (multilingual settlement information service)
- Passport 2 Drive (community driving school)
- Open Road (refugee driver training programme)
- Migrant Employment Solutions
- Computers in Homes
- Ethnic Football Festival
Governance
Board members

Natasha Harvey - Board Chairperson

Dr Asad Mohsin – Trustee

Richard Cain- Trustee

Bryan-Corfield - Board Treasurer

Caroline McCurdie – Trustee

Raewyn Kirkman – Trustee

Hope Allum – Trustee

Rob Rope – Trustee
Management

Ellie, Tania and Leanne
Ellie Wilkinson
Ellie began working for the Trust at the end of January 2010. Ellie comes to the Trust from a background in the community and voluntary sector, having worked in this capacity with the Tertiary Education Commission and with Wintec. Ellie has a sound understanding of the relationships between government and community groups. She has a Bachelor of Social Sciences in Adult and Community Education and Sociology and also comes to the Trust with significant local and government networks.
- You can contact her on elliew@hmstrust.org.nz or (07) 853 0461
Tania Pointon
Tania has been working for the trust since 2009 and has significantly improved reporting and accountability requirements for the Trust. Being an immigrant from South Africa, she has a strong and personal understanding of the migration experience. Tania now manages the Passport 2 Drive Community Driving School and the national Refugee Driving Mentor programme. She loves the challenge of working in a staff team where diversity and different types of expertise are so greatly valued. Tania’s background includes developing her own business in detecting fraud and was until recently the Treasurer for the Motel Association of New Zealand.
- You can contact her on taniap@hmstrust.org.nz or (07) 853 0460
Leanne Salisbury
Leanne joined Decypher in August 2011 and quickly developed a passion for supporting vulnerable people in our community for whom language is a barrier. Leanne had previously worked in management roles in the not-for-profit sector for over 10 years and has lived the majority of her life in the Waikato so brought extensive networks and knowledge with her to Decypher.
- You can contact Leanne on leannes@decypher.co.nz or (07) 853 0483
Staff
OPERATIONS
HMS Trust Operations Manager
Ellie Wilkinson
Financial Controller
Merzia Mehdi
Finance Assistant / Data Base Developer
Karmjeet Kaur
SETTLEMENT CENTRE WAIKATO
Centre Coordinator
Patricia Novoa
Reception and Information Service
Corazon Blow
PASSPORT 2 DRIVE
Passport2Drive Manager
Tania Pointon
Passport2Drive Coordinator
Patricia Novoa
Practice Programme
Fernando Bonilla
Bike Training Coordinator
Maya Z
COMPUTER IN HOMES
Computers In Homes Coordinator
Merzia Mehdi
Computers in Homes Tutor
John Lee
MIGRANT EMPLOYMENT SOLUTIONS
Migrant Employment Solutions Coordinator
Jackie Runciman
Migrant Employment Solutions Support
Susan Wright
DECYPHER INTERPRETING & TRANSLATION
Language services Manager
Leanne Salisbury
Accounts Officer/Staff Interpreters
Divya Anand (Hindi/Punjabi/Urdu)
Interpreter Coordinators/Staff Interpreters
Ruby Liu (Mandarin/Cantonese)
Sopheap Chhim (Cambodian)
Translation Coordinator
Ruby Liu
Business Development Consultant
Jeshica Vargas
EVENTS
NZ Ethnic Football Festival Coordinator
Patricia Novoa
Funders
HealthRight Interpreting – providing interpreters to enrolled refugee clients in Midlands General Practices in Hamilton.
Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment
Provides funding for the Refugee Driver Mentoring Programme
Migrant Employment Solutions – Skilled Migrant Matching Service
Ministry of Education
Computers in Home – A programme which delivers computer learning modules for refugee families with school-aged children.
Trust Waikato
Operational grant
NZ Ethnic Football Festival
WEL Energy Trust
Grant towards vehicle costs for community driving school
Settlement Centre Waikato – Operational grant
Sky City Trust Hamilton
Driving project and interpreter training
COGS
Sisterhood – supporting Ethnic Woman
Hamilton City Council
Community Lease Grant – Settlement Centre Waikato