About the Rule Foundation
Organisational strategy
Charitable status
The Rule Foundation was established through a trust deed in 2008 to enable the funds left from the estate of Peter Rule to be used to fund projects and activities to advance the health, wellbeing and visibility of the LGBTI community. You can learn more about Peter Rule’s life here, and The Peter Rule Fund here.
The Rule Foundation is registered with Charities Services. Annual returns of the Foundation’s activities are available from the Department of Internal Affairs’ Charities Services website under registration number CC39280.
Today, the Rule Foundation administers funds on behalf of others that align with the kaupapa for which the Foundation was established. Applicants can apply to The Peter Rule Fund – the original fund for which the Foundation was established, and newer funds such as the Rainbow Legacy Wellbeing Fund.
In 2023, The Peter Rule Fund had distributed over $410,000 to benefit the wellbeing and advancement of Aotearoa’s LGBTI communities.
Our Trustees
The Rule Foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees who volunteer their time. The Foundation’s Trustees bring together many years of private and public sector experience in counselling, cultural sector management, education, health, information technology, marketing, project management, recruitment, and quality improvement.
Joy Liddicoat, Co-chairperson
Ōtepoti (Dunedin)
Kia ora. I have been involved in our LGBTQI* communities for over 30 years advocating for our interests in a wide variety of ways. A Human Rights Commissioner for eight years, I led the Commission’s 2010 inquiry into the experiences of transgender people in New Zealand. I am a former trustee of the Intersex Trust Aotearoa New Zealand and currently Vice President of InternetNZ, which is responsible for domain name policy for the country code top level domain .nz. In my day job, I work at the University of Otago Centre for Law and Emerging Technologies, researching the Internet, human rights law and artificial intelligence.
Toni Duder, Co-chairperson
Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington)
Tēnā koutou katoa, ko Toni tōku ingoa. He uri ahau nō ngā tūpuna o Te Tai Tokerau, Ngāpuhi me Ingarangi. No Takiwira Dargaville ahau.
My family are from Northland and I grew up in Takiwira Dargaville and Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. I've worked for organisations or on projects, programmes related to takatāpui and rainbow communities for over ten years. I currently work in the public service and enjoy art, my cats and getting out and about in nature.
Duncan Matthews, Treasurer
Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)
Kia ora! I have led several of our communities organisations as Executive Director. I also serve as the Deputy Chair for the Ministry for Youth Development Partnership Fund Board. I have a passion for our community organisations and youth development.
Lex Davis, Trustee
Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)
Ngā mihi mui ki a koutou katoa! He uri ahau nō Te Rarawa. Ko Ngāi Tupoto te hapū. Te Rarawa kai whare!
I have worked throughout the education sector in Aotearoa and overseas in policy, facilitation and teaching in High Schools. I am currently a Deputy Principal in East Auckland. I am a passionate advocate for takatāpui and the queer community and have led advocacy, community projects and research. I love social justice, friends and good food!
Sevia Saviour Nua, Trustee
Porirua
Sevia Saviour Nua known to most as Saviiey is a proud Fa’afafine of Samoan descent who hails from the villages of Solosolo, Fagali’i, Malie, Faleula and Asau. She also has whakapapa to Ngāti Porou through her whāngai whānau the Harrison's/Kahaki's.
Saviiey is the founder and current Executive Director of Ngā Uri o Whiti Te Rā Mai Le Moana Trust (NUOWTR). The trust operates as a Youth Hub in Porirua East by utilising indigenous Pacific art forms to facilitate positive youth development and prides itself on being one of the only Pacific Rainbow organisations in the Wellington region. She also continues to dedicate her time and effort for the advocacy of Takatāpui/MVPFAFF+ communities of Aotearoa through her role as the Pacific Rainbow Competency Coordinator at InsideOut Kōaro.
Saviiey's formal educational background includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Primary Teaching, Bachelor’s Degree in Māori Performing Arts (Oral Literature) and a Masters of Education. She has considerable experience in the education field that spans over 10 years.
Saviiey is also a seasoned Kapa Haka performer and is a head tutor for Te Kapa Haka o Ngā Uri o Whiti Te Rā. With Saviiey spearheading this rōpu, they have performed at multiple events such as F.I.N.E Festival, Manioro (Hawke’s Bay), Hui Takatāpui & Wellington Pride. Her rōpu has garnered the attention of international festivals and they will be performing at Op Roakeldais 2023 in the Netherlands.
In 2020, Saviiey was the inaugural recipient of the Pasifika Aniva Arts Residency with Creative New Zealand & Pātaka Art + Museum. During this residency Saviiey presented and curated work based on the Takatāpui/MVPFAFF+ communities in Porirua/Wellington.
Special Trust Advisors
The Rule Foundation appoints Special Trust Advisors to support the management and awarding of some of our funds.
Cameron Law,
Rainbow Wellbeing Legacy Fund advisor
Cameron has been an advocate for the Rainbow community for many years. He was the National Chair of the Campaign for Civil Unions, Auckland Co-Chair of the Campaign for Marriage Equality and is a former New Zealand Aids Foundation Board member. He created the Rainbow support group Russell McGay during his time at the law firm Russell McVeagh. He currently works on NZ Transport Agency’s light rail programme as the Environment, Consenting and Urban Renewal lead. Cam lives in Auckland with his husband Jeremy.
David Reeves,
Rainbow Wellbeing Legacy Fund advisor
Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)
David has been involved with a number of community organisations over the years, most recently as Co-Chair of the Gay and Lesbian Singers (GALS) – Auckland’s Rainbow Choir. In his paid employment, David is the Director of Collections and Research at Auckland Museum. He is also on a number of arts, culture and heritage sector bodies, including a position as Chair of LIAC – the Library and Information Advisory Commission. David says he was raised beside the Manawatu River, became an adult in Wellington and has lived in Auckland for most of the last 19 years.
The Rule Foundation is a member of Philanthropy New Zealand.
