31 Richmond Street
Inglewood, 4330
Postal Address:
PO Box 308
Stratford 4352
Phone: 027 454 0591
E-mail: [email protected]
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The Taranaki Kiwi Trust is registered with the Charities Commission, Number CC22851. Therefore, donations and subscriptions made to the Trust over $5 are eligible for a tax rebate.
Sue lives, breathes and sleeps kiwi, and is our longest standing trustee and volunteer. Her involvement stretches back to 2008, she has acted as both Treasurer and Chair over that time. Her job when not helping the Trust is a sheep and beef farmer, her and husband Tim, farm at Mangamingi in eastern Taranaki. They are owners of the Totara Block, the first release site for kiwi from the Taranaki Kōhanga Kiwi at Rotokare, and have three adult children. Sue has a Bachelor of Science majoring in Botany & Microbiology. As well as being an accredited kiwi handler and trainer for recreation, she is also part owner of a cafe near her home town Geraldine.
Sam grew up with her family travelling around the Middle East and Africa and developed her love of wildlife and adventure then. She studied Biology with an emphasis on Zoology and Ecology and always thought she would work with animals in Africa. She then went on to study Physiotherapy and travelled to New Zealand. She met a human kiwi, had plenty of adventures and mishaps, set up home and had three children. Friends introduced her to kiwi through an egg lift and she was hooked. After volunteering and helping a kiwi handler she was invited to become a Trustee of the Taranaki Kiwi Trust and eventually became an accredited kiwi handler. The adventure of searching for kiwi in rugged terrain and being involved with wildlife has brought her the full circle.
Don was a holy terror when he was going to school. He had 5 fiery red headed sisters that attacked and hen pecked him at every chance which made his younger years a challenge. Don left school and home at the ripe age of 14 and for the next 7 years did stints at farming, truck driving, clear felling native bush, drinking copious amounts of alcohol and all in all living a very free and easy life. The next 20 years saw Don getting married and 2 sons to be very proud of was all that was left of the marriage. He had steady jobs in fertiliser, oil and gas, plus a stint at being a wharf carpenter. The wave recorder and jetties on the breakwater are still there today. Don eventually took redundancy from the oil and gas jobs as he reckons after 25 years of shift work he was grumpy enough.
Don then went and worked in Farm Merchant stores, but got sick of telling lies to sell stuff to farmers they didn’t require.
So after he met his buddy (Justine) they together started a business selling natural fertiliser and animal health. They by chance ran into a former TKT person that was looking for some volunteers to look after stoat traps in the Uruti Valley several years back. So along they went and about 7 years later still get excited about new kills.
Kevin Stokes has been volunteering for the Taranaki Kiwi Trust for the past 12 years and is a very experienced kiwi practitioner and trainer. Kevin was a keen hunter back in the day and while he no longer hunts he now uses his bush navigation skills to track kiwi. Kevin has a passion for advocacy and loves sharing his kiwi passion and knowledge with his grandchildren and other tamariki.
Jenny is Taranaki born and bred, has gardened all her life and is married to Guy with three adult sons. Bachelor of Horticulture at Massey University lead to many landscaping/horticultural roles before retraining as a Certified Massage Therapist 10 years ago. The ‘Oakley Garden’ has been in the Taranaki Garden Festival for each of the 33 years since it began. The Oakley’s enjoy tramping, cycling , anything outdoors. Jenny thoroughly enjoys the Kiwi work and has recently been signed off for Kiwi Handling and Transmitter changes.
Guy came to Taranaki 42 years ago to start work as a vet. He married Jenny not long after that. They enjoy doing outdoor activities, such as cycling, tramping and gardening. He has since retired but was not idle for long. Celine got hold of him and Jenny and suggested that they volunteer for TKT.
This has been a great experience for them both and they have enjoyed all aspects of kiwi work. Guy has managed to dust off some of his veterinary skills and has assisted with health screening of kiwi at Rotokare. Guy is close to being signed off as a kiwi handler.
Aimee is a “doer”, an “active relaxer”, an “energiser bunny”. With her son becoming an adult, she felt the gap in the days widening and opportunities to pursue more interests coming available. After a summer corralling friends to join her at least weekly for jaunts in the bush, she decided she may as well be useful while out there. This lead to participating in the first release of kiwi on Te Maunga o Taranaki and becoming one of the 12 trackers. Since then, Aimee has been involved in other tracking, kiwi surveys (she reckons she still cannot tell the difference between a kiwi and a morepork), locating birds for release and egg collections etc. She pretty passionate about most things she does and now co-ordinates the sponsorship, people and ongoing activities for the 2 Firstgas (paid employment traplines). This alone doesn’t keep her quite busy enough… she still has plenty of time to play netball, see friends, get in her large garden, volunteer, sew… yes the list keeps going!
Hamish is a predator control trapper and coordinator for a keen team of volunteers on the Eastern side of the Pouakai Ranges. He works in engineering and project management with Beca Ltd in New Plymouth and a number of his workmates have gotten involved too. He now coordinates a big happy team of trappers that look after both the Mangorei track and Maude track and the brand new track that connects Mangorei to Maude tracks. “I’ve really enjoyed forming connections with the other vollies and people from TKT and DOC. The passion for nature in this community is more infectious than the Delta variant.” He likes to stay fit swimming, running, biking, paddling, hunting or doing whatever life throws at him Hamish and his family really enjoy living in Taranaki and weekends often include outdoors adventures, playing or watching sports and catching up with friends.
Rawiri (Ngā Rauru Kītahi, Ngāti Raukawa ki tonga, Taranaki Whānui, Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi), joined the Trust at the beginning of year. Previously a winemaker he was often left shocked and disheartened at the ecological loss caused by monocultures and human interference. He has since switched to employment in conservation since and is motivated by a strong desire to leave a legacy greater than just a bottle of red. Rawiri takes a very active interest in kiwi work, he is an accredited kiwi handler contracted to the Capital Kiwi project and travels to Taranaki to participate in a variety of conservation projects.
Drew (Ngāi Tahu) has been involved with the Trust for many years. His family sponsored the operation nest egg for both Silver and Marshmallow and have been actively involved in the kiwi programme on Te Papakura o Taranaki. Spending many a weekend on the Maunga monitoring birds and assisting with transmitter changes and health checks. He joined the board in 2019 and brings strong information technology skills and previous trustee experience. He is also the Taranaki/Whanganui Conservation Board Chair and assists with keeping the Trust’s website up to date.
Gloria has been involved with TKT since 2014 with trap lines on family-owned Forestry blocks at Puniwhakau and Matau. She has held various senior management jobs within the public service for over more than 42 years. She is currently the Regional Commissioner for the Ministry of Social Development. This role involves the leadership of over 200 staff across Taranaki, King Country, and Whanganui to achieve the purpose of supporting New Zealanders to be safe, strong and independent. A key pillar in this purpose revolves around the alignment of the economy and labour market with individuals seeking employment. So, she has a history of caring for kiwi in her paid job as well as in the weekends.
Mathew and his wife own a beef farm adjacent to the National Park near Inglewood. He has been a resident of Taranaki for several years having shifted into the region from north of Auckland. Mat has extensive operational experience as a park ranger in pest eradication and reintroducing species to protected habitats. He regards kiwi as one of several special bird species that require human help to thrive in our current heavily modified natural environment. He believes that the answer lies with everyone in the community doing what they can as individuals in combination with landowners, volunteers, and community groups. Mat has a passion for restoring native habitat through tree planting. He and his wife have retired a third of their farm through QE11 covenants to provide corridors along waterways linking to the national park.
After eight years studying and then working in Wellington, Bayley returned to New Plymouth as she was keen to work and contribute back to the community in her home region. One part of this was joining TKT as a trainee board member through the Taranaki Young Professionals ‘Get on Board’ programme. Having learnt more about the vital work needed in Taranaki to protect our national bird, Bayley jumped at the opportunity to formally join the Trust’s board in September 2020 and contribute to these efforts in a way best suited to her professional skills. Outside of the Trust, Bayley works as a lawyer at Connect Legal Taranaki and is the co-author of several published articles, including a legal overview of intergenerational trust fund models such as that for the Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust. Bayley is also involved in local musical theatre productions.
Tāne (Ngā Mahanga a Tairi) the newest trustee works as the Kaiwhakahaere a rohe for Te Ara Taiao Conservation Education project and is a tutor of Matauranga Māori for Conservation at Te Pukenga/WITT. He has a varied background including engineering/construction, and running their family clothing business. Tane is heavily involved in environmental work for hapū Ngā Mahanga a Tairi, is trustee for Pūniho Pā, and has taught rangatahi/youth at both WITT and Te Wananga o Aotearoa. More recently delivering the Kai Oranga program alongside his wife at Ōkorotua Marae, Oakura Pa. With a deep passion for the environment his drive comes from his whakapapa connections to the Maunga, Whenua and Awa from within the Taranaki rohe/region and aspires to reconnecting our future leaders of tomorrow to the environment through building resilient relationships that aspire to the protection of the environment.
Celine struggled a bit with the discipline of secondary education, managing a few school certificate subjects back in the day but is a Certified Festival and Events Executive and has passed a Nexus Partner Influential Leadership course. She has a long history of working with not-for-profits in the community and sporting sectors. As the trust manager the buck stops with her, for finding the money, overseeing the projects, supporting the board, building partnerships and taking care of the staff. When not juggling all those balls she is a councillor at South Taranaki District Council and sits on the board of another Trust. Celine is well known as a cook and entertainer, is a singer, plays several instruments (badly), loves sport and has a strong aversion to the establishment. She has a reputation for the hard truth, getting things done, speaking her mind and backing her people.
Jess always knew she wanted to work with animals, and spent a long time at university studying towards a career in conservation. She has a BSc in Zoology, an MSc in Conservation Biology, and a Certificate in Captive Animal Management under her belt. She has been working with the Trust for two years, and also volunteers with the Taranaki Kohanga Kiwi at Rotokare project. Through her work with TKT and the Kōhanga, Jess achieved qualified kiwi handler quickly and helps monitor kiwi all around the region. She is also heavily involved in education and advocacy work (something her younger self would’ve been terrified of) and supports the Trust’s other projects where needed. When she’s not out in the bush, Jess loves cooking, gardening, and spending time with her rescue greyhound Louie, and tortoise Pip. Jess is the quiet member of the team, but once questioned she will always offer up a valuable and considered contribution.
Toby was born and raised in Taranaki and has always enjoyed learning about and exploring the forests, maunga and rugged coastline of the region. Toby has a bachelor of science majoring in ecology and has worked on a number of conservation and restoration projects on pest free offshore islands. Before joining the Trust as a kiwi ranger Toby had spent seven years with the Taranaki Regional Council working on biodiversity protection, the last three of which he was project manager for the Towards Predator-Free Taranaki project. The main tasks of the kiwi ranger job include monitoring and surveying kiwi populations throughout the region, along with tracking of recently released kiwi within Te Papakura o Taranaki. Toby is a keen surfer, has a reputation for being an active relaxer and loves to pass on his appreciation of the environment to his two young kids.
After spending three years and her life savings studying politics and anthropology at Massey University, it only took one week trapping in the Tararua Ranges for Emma to realise that she belonged in New Zealand’s bush. She spent the next two years trapping before moving up to Taranaki and working as a land management officer with the Regional Council. It wasn’t long however before the thought of running through the bush and clearing out dead animals called her name and she came to the Taranaki Kiwi Trust. She now gets to live the dream; working with an incredibly talented team, awesome landowners and some of the most spectacular scenery in New Zealand to help get pests under control and areas ready for kiwi to be released. In her free time she can be found hunting deer, in the kitchen baking sweet treats, spending time with her family or planning an adventure to some remote corner of the world. Emma has a reputation for really getting stuck in and keeping up with the boys in the bush, she can lump 3 DOC250 in!
Sian has a Bachelor of Science majoring in zoology and ecology and has been working in kiwi conservation for the past 10 years. Prior to moving to Taranaki Sian spent seven years working on restoration projects on a number of New Zealand’s offshore islands. Her past roles have included species translocations, biodiversity monitoring, plant nursery management, managing a kiwi creche and Kiwi Operations Leader for the Trust. When not out saving kiwi Sian is usually found running around after her two awesome kiddies Isla and Koa who keep her busy and on her toes. If she is not juggling work and kids Sian can be found on their lifestyle block planting trees, gardening, horse riding or hanging at the beach with her family and their two dogs. Sian very rarely sits still, always approaches tasks with a smile and is known for her ability to wing it when she needs to.
Jono cruised through Stratford High School without trying too hard. After finishing School he headed to the big smoke (Auckland) where he spent a number of years as a bicycle courier around the CBD (among various other jobs). After a few years in Europe working and cycle touring he eventually gained a Diploma of Outdoor Recreation Leadership at what was the Auckland Institute of Technology (now University of Technology). This led to several enjoyable years working in the Abel Tasman, in the sea kayaking industry before volunteering for 5 months on Raoul Island as a weeder which kicked off a career (of almost 20 years) in pest plant control, mostly for DOC and Greater Wellington Regional Council. This involved some great stints living on remote islands (Raoul, Hauturu/Little Barrier and Lord Howe). He has now returned to Taranaki to take up his current position as Kiwi Habitat Protection Ranger. Jono likes a quiet life and is keen to just get on with the job in the background and stay out of the limelight.
Māia grew up with her siblings on her whānau land in Tongapōrutu, North Taranaki. She attended Waitara High School and left to start beekeeping with her brother for a few years, then went on to Northern BC, Canada to look after a few beehives over there. After a few months she decided to change it up and work in a mine as a geotech and logistics co-ordinator, once the summer ended for the exploration program, she moved back home to Tongapōrutu and worked in hospitality for a couple of years. During that time she did some volunteer hours for DOC on the Kaitake Ranges in Te Papakura o Taranaki, and signed up for a course with Kiwis for Kiwi to become an accredited kiwi listener, in that time she decided conservation was her calling and took on the role as our apprentice.
Administration Leader
Nadine is Taranaki born and bred and had a career in Insurance spanning 27 years until a skiing accident forced her to slow down considerably. Having to learn to rest, this determined active relaxer is now relishing whatever tasks are being thrown her way to aid the Trust. With a keen eye for numbers and words, outside of work Nadine enjoys trail running and the outdoors and has achieved a half marathon across Mt Ruapehu, along with being able to back flip on a trampoline.
Harmony came to us by way of one our Community Trapping Project landowners, she lived across the road and started volunteering on his traplines. She soon had a taste for killing critters and now helps out with our South Taranaki trapping.
She has a laser like focus when she sets her mind to something, is a chef and plasterer, practices Jujitsu, and sings like an angel. With a give anything a crack personality and a thirst for learning she fits right in!
