MDRT announces 2026 chair appointments

Christine Zhou will take over from Aaron Baker as North Island chair, and Joel McLachlan will take over from Paula Jones as South Island chair.

Zhou is a director and financial adviser at Maxicare Financial Services in Auckland. She brings extensive experience in personal insurance and KiwiSaver advice, and is a multi-year MDRT member who works in both English and Mandarin.

She has recently expanded into mortgage services, and is known for helping migrant families navigate New Zealand's financial system.

McLachlan, who runs AdviceKiwi, has added the MDRT role to his recent appointment to the Woodend-Sefton Community Board at Waimakariri District Council.

The new chairs will assume their roles at the start of 2026.