Our team
Anna Ryder
Chair
Kia ora, I’m Anna and I’m the Chair of the Wakatipu Toy Library.
I lead our governance and social media mahi. I joined the committee nearly two years, then became Co-Chair a year ago, before recently stepping into the Chair role.
What inspired you to join the committee?
I joined because I strongly believe in the kaupapa of the Toy Library. Sustainability, learning through play, and fostering a community of sharing are all values I want my children to grow up with. I felt passionate about these things and wanted to use my skills to help strengthen what we offer and contribute to a better future for my kids.
What's your Favourite Toy:
Personally, I love the exersaucers — mostly because I get to give those giant beasts straight back afterwards!
What's your Dream for the Toy Library:
I'd love to see us launch a website and digital catalogue to make it easier for members to browse our range from the comfort of home.
Stacey Arndt
Treasurer
Hi, I’m Stacey and I’m the Treasurer for the Wakatipu Toy Library.
I joined the committee two years ago as a general member and stepped into the treasurer role about a year ago. I help look after the finances and make sure we’re on track to keep things running smoothly. What inspired you to join the committee?
I wanted to support a local organisation that makes a real difference for families. The Toy Library is such a great resource for the community, and volunteering felt like a meaningful way to contribute. What's your favorite toy?
The bikes — hands down! They’re always a hit in our house. It’s great being able to try different sizes and styles as the kids grow, without having to commit to buying one. What's your dream for the Toy Library?
I’d love to see us grow our outdoor toy selection even more and eventually have a bit more space to house it all. Big gear = big fun!
Sophie Auld
Committee
Hi, I’m Sophie and I’ve been part of the Wakatipu Toy Library committee for two years.
I’m a bit of an all-rounder, but more recently I’ve been focusing on grants and community engagement — helping to keep the lights on and the community connected! What inspired you to join the committee?
I’ve always had an interest in politics and how decisions are made in the community, so joining the committee felt like a great way to get involved at a local level. Plus, the fact that meetings were on Zoom made it super accessible. What's your favorite toy?
Anything vehicle-related is a winner — the wooden car parking station is a big favourite at our place. What’s your dream for the Toy Library?
I’d love to see the Toy Library become more self-sufficient, with solid systems and funding in place to keep it thriving for the long haul.
Kimberley Proctor
Committee
Hi, I’m Kimberley and I’ve been on the Wakatipu Toy Library committee for just over a year. I support with events and community engagement, and bring a background in early childhood education, which comes in handy when it comes to selecting new, quality toys. What inspired you to join the committee?
I wanted to help create positive change in a community initiative I really value — not just for my own child, but for other tamariki and families too. What's your favorite toy?
Definitely the roller coaster! It’s always a favourite — so much fun and great for building confidence and coordination. What’s your dream for the toy library?
I’d love to see the Toy Library become even more connected with the wider community — more events, more involvement, and more opportunities for families to come together and build friendships.
Gary Hough
Committee
Hi, I’m Gary and I’ve been on the Wakatipu Toy Library committee for nearly two years.
I focus on strategy and securing grants to help the library grow and keep things ticking behind the scenes. What inspired you to join the committee?
With a background in the non-profit space, I was keen to use my experience to help grow the Toy Library and support the amazing work already happening. I joined when my daughter was about 6 months old — we’d just become members, and it felt like a great way to give back to a service our family was already benefiting from. What's your Favourite Toy?
We love borrowing the big outdoor gear — slides, swings, water play toys, ride-ons… anything that helps burn some energy! Since we don’t have heaps of space to store those things at home, it’s amazing to be able to borrow them when we need. What's your Dream for the Toy Library?
I’d love to see us land more sustainable funding so we can plan ahead with confidence — whether that’s growing our toy range, offering new services, or eventually expanding our space.
Olivia Hanna
Committee
Hi, my name is Olivia Hanna
Role on the Committee:
I joined the committee at the beginning of the year and have been taking it all in so far. I’m about to learn the ropes to help out with social media and have been reviewing membership options.Why I Joined:
I was inspired to join because I wanted to learn more about how a non-profit organisation works and what it takes to run a community-based project. And wow — I’ve already learned so much and absolutely love it! I'm keen to help out wherever I can.Favourite Toy:
My son’s favourite toy from the library is the Batman transformer car that shoots two yellow circles — it’s a huge hit 
Dream for the Toy Library:
My dream would be to see more members getting involved — not just signing up and borrowing toys, but taking part in activities or meet-ups that help build friendships and grow our community.