Events

Rotary Club of Downtown Auckland, Inc.

Weekly meeting

Peter Fraher

Managing Director

Abilities

Bringing hope and belonging

From his early days at St Bede’s to leading one of New Zealand’s most respected social enterprises, Peter Fraher’s journey has been marked by purpose, perseverance, and people-first leadership.

For Peter, a career defined by leadership, resilience, and service all began at St Bede’s College in the early 1960s. Now Managing Director of Auckland-based charity Abilities Group, Peter has spent the last two decades helping transform lives, offering meaningful employment to people with intellectual and learning disabilities. But his journey from Bedean to business leader has been anything but ordinary.

After leaving St Bede’s, Peter launched into a career with Fletcher Challenge, starting as a cadet and steadily rising through operational roles over a 20-year tenure. Shorter stints with Feltex Carpets and Gough Gough & Hamer followed, before a small advert in 2004 caught his eye. It simply read: “Do something worthwhile.” That was the turning point. Peter joined Abilities, and what began as a new job became a life’s mission.

At its heart, Abilities Group is about dignity through work. As a registered charity, it provides employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual and/or learning disabilities. “We do contract packaging, secure document destruction, and recycle everything from soft plastics to e-waste,” Peter explains. “It’s about giving people variety, structure, and a sense of pride. For many, this is more than a workplace, it’s a second home.”

In April 2024, a massive fire tore through Abilities’ main facility. Caught on camera and felt across the North Shore, the blaze reduced the site, and all its machinery, to rubble. “We still don’t know the cause,” says Peter, “but the fire completely destroyed everything.”

Despite the devastation, Peter and his senior team acted swiftly. Over the course of a weekend, they put plans in place to prioritise the wellbeing of their disabled staff and maintain service to clients. Remarkably, just weeks later, Abilities was back on its feet, operating from four temporary sites, and no one had lost their job.

The outpouring of community support was overwhelming. A Seven Sharp-boosted Givealittle campaign saw donations flood in, both financial and in-kind. Local groups hosted regular staff gatherings, helping to maintain morale and connection. “The community response was humbling,” Peter reflects. “We always knew people supported us, but we had no idea how deeply that support ran.”

The crisis has left a lasting impact on Peter’s view of leadership. “You realise leadership is about calm in the storm and putting others first. Seeing our staff just wanting to get back to work, it reminded me why we do what we do.”

Peter also hopes that out of the ashes, something stronger will emerge. “We had already planned to move to a larger, safer facility, and now we’re more committed than ever to making that happen within the next two years.”

When asked about the moments that have made him proudest, Peter doesn’t hesitate. “It’s about the difference we make every day. Seeing smiles on our staff’s faces, knowing their families can go to work or live fuller lives because their loved one is safe and valued, it’s deeply rewarding.”

He adds, “It’s not just one person who benefits. The ripple effect touches whole families and communities.”

Looking back, Peter sees his time at St Bede’s as pivotal in forming his character. “The College gave us a well-rounded education and taught us to strive to be the best we can be,” he says. He credits team sports at school for teaching vital life skills, and names Fr. Vella as an early influence: “He taught me that every problem has a solution, you just have to work hard to find it.”

Outside of work, Peter has always lived with purpose and drive. Among his proudest achievements are a sub-three-hour marathon at Lake Rotorua and completing the Coast-to-Coast Longest Day three times. “It’s the same approach,” he says. “Set a goal, do the hard yards, and get to the finish line.”

It’s a formula Peter has applied throughout his life, and one that continues to inspire everyone around him.

Introducer/host:

TBA

Thanker:

Greg Walker

Reception:

Rob Wills

Annabel Lush

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