Te Korowai o Waiheke team

Project Director

Jenny has lived on Waiheke Island since 2002 and worked in several Waiheke Island organisations prior to joining Te Korowai o Waiheke in 2019. She is passionate about returning the wildlife to Waiheke Island and is enjoyng working with the community on this exciting initiative.

Stoat Operations Manager

Frank moved to Waiheke in 2017, prior to that he worked as an Environmental Science Researcher and Biological Technician for more than sixteen years in the US and holds a Masters in Biological Science.

Rat Operations Manager

Owain has a Masters in Zoology and is passionate about ecology. He moved to Waiheke in 2017, working in vineyards before starting work with Te Korowai o Waiheke. He was an assistant on the BBC documentary "Super Senses" and loves tramping through the bush to help restore the native bird song to Waiheke Island.

Communication and Engagement Manager

Steve has been living on Waiheke for four years having been drawn to the outdoor lifestyle and natural beauty. Steve is a very experienced marketer most recently working with Phoenix Organics where he partnered with Sustainable Coastlines and the Endangered Species Foundation.

Rat Team Leader

Phil has more than ten years experience in predator control and is no stranger to eradication work. He was the manager and caretaker on Rotoroa Island as predator eradications were completed there. After two years as a field technician in the island-wide stoat eradication, he has stepped into a rat team leader role.

GIS Manager

Brett is responsible for all the geospatial and data systems associated with the stoat eradication and rat operational pilot programmes. Brett has lived on the island since 2019 and previously worked as a GIS Analyst with Queenstown Lakes District Council.

Engagement & Administration Support

Miranda has lived on Waiheke since 2009 and has been involved in the wine industry. She is of Ngati Påoa descent, and is enjoying being a part of restoring the motu.

Field Team & GIS Technician

Grace grew up on Waiheke and the calling of the birds brought her to Te Korowai o Waiheke. She has a BSc in Environmental and Geospatial Science and is currently completing her master’s in the subject at AUT. She brings her skills and passion to assist the field crew with camera monitoring and analysis and get her hands dirty while servicing stoat traps across the island.

Social Scientist (part-time)

Monica has a PhD in community-led conservation and has worked for over 2 decades in restoration and sustainable land management as a researcher, author, project coordinator and illustrator. She has been a trustee for both Forest & Bird and the National Wetland Trust. She enjoys exploring the outdoors through ocean swimming, tramping, and long-distance cycle rides.

Field Team Technician

Yoshino was attracted to working in conservation as she is fascinated by New Zealand's wildlife. Having worked on pest control in the Far North of New Zealand, she is now enjoying working on Waiheke to protect our native birds.

Field Team Technician
(part-time)

Norm has worked as part of the stoat eradication field team since July 2020. Norm is also involved in Waiheke Ratbusters, the restoration of Park Rd reserve and is often seen running around the island.

Field Team Technician
(part-time)

Originally from Austria, Carina was drawn to the unique approach to conservation in New Zealand which led her to volunteer with Waiheke Ratbusters. It is great to see her experience as a volunteer springboard her into a new career as a stoat trapper.

Field Team Technician

Tilde is a Waiheke local and graduated from the University of Auckland in 2022 with a Master's in bio-security and conservation, specialising in monitoring invasive and native skinks on islands. She played a key role in setting up the stoat pilot on Waiheke Island in 2016 and is currently training to become a stoat detection dog handler

Field Team Technician (part-time)

Jessica moved back to the island with her partner in 2023 from overseas. She was formerly working in software development but studied neuroscience at university. She is loving getting back to her biology-loving roots by working in conservation.

Field Team Technician (part-time)

Helen has called Waiheke home for the past twenty years. She is a medical herbalist and has cultivated her passion for botanical plants, protecting endangered species, and using alternatives sustainably. Helen has studied under the world’s leading ethnobotanist, Dr James E. Duke.  When you see Helen out and about in the ngahere, she’ll be in her element.

Field Team Technician
(part-time)

Te Ata is currently studying psychology at AUT but has a background in hospitality, landscaping and conservation. He has lived on Waiheke for most of his life and has an inbuilt motivation to take care of it. Te Ata is interested in the regeneration and protection of the motu.

Monitoring & Engagement Coordinator

Billie has a long history with Waiheke Island and was part of the Ostend rat pilot in 2022 as a field technician. Billie also played a pivotal role as Engagement Coordinator on subsequent trials.

Training/Recruitment Coordinator (part-time)

Rosemary is a long time Waiheke “bottom-end” resident and has run her own Human Resources business for the last eight years. Rosemary has also been a volunteer in the island wide stoat eradication programme since February 2020.

Social Media
(part-time)

Lauren has been running Te Korowai o Waiheke's social media since August 2019. As a passionate bird lover who has a strong connection to Waiheke Island and the Hauraki Gulf, Lauren enjoys working with many clients such as Rotoroa Island for the benefit of our New Zealand wildlife.

Financial Assistant
(part-time)

Linda has been living on the island for seven years and since 2019 has been running her own book-keeping business with fifteen Waiheke business clients. 

Treasurer (part-time)

Lindsay has been the Treasurer of the Te Korowai o Waiheke Trust since it was established. He is also a Trustee of the Hauraki Gulf Conservation Trust, Carbon Neutral NZ Trust and the Canterbury Community Business Trust.

Field Team Technician (part-time)

 After twenty years of living abroad, Reuben returned to Aotearoa in 2024 and is now lucky enough to call Waiheke home. 

With a background in tourism and transport and a love for being out in nature, he’s now taking his first steps on a career path in conservation as part of the stoat team.

Stoat Detection Dog Trainee

Parker, one of our newest recruits, is busy training to be a stoat detection dog, alongside his handler Tilde. When he's not working Parker likes to go to the beach, take naps, and steal socks off the washing line