Keen conservationist and recent recipient of the Queen’s Service Medal, Carole Long has served on every level of the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand, including two terms on its executive board. She also worked for the Department of Conservation and helped to establish, and become the longest-serving volunteer for, Ōtanewainuku Kiwi Trust. Carole still visits schools inspiring many young people to appreciate the value of our natural areas.
Volunteer trustees meet monthly to oversee the direction of the Trust’s work.
2022 Trustees
Kerry Ryan (Interim Chair), Hans Pendergrast, Melanie Norton, David Brown, Peter Crane, Gavin Cherrie, Mel Auld
Suzanne Williams (Secretary)
2021 Trustees
Bruce Fraser (Chair), Hans Pendergrast, Melanie Norton, David Brown, Peter Crane, Gavin Cherrie
Suzanne Williams (Secretary)
2020 Trustees
Bruce Fraser (Chair), Hans Pendergrast, Melanie Norton, David Brown, Peter Crane, Gavin Cherrie, Piri McMath
Suzanne Williams (Secretary)
2019 Trustees
Bruce Fraser (Acting Chair)Hans Pendergrast, Melanie Norton, David Brown, Peter Crane, Gavin Cherrie, Selene Conn
Suzanne Williams (Secretary)
2018 Trustees
Kiri Diamond, Hans Pendergrast, Melanie Norton, David Brown, Peter Crane, Harry Taylor, Gavin Cherrie, Selene Conn, Bruce Fraser, Suzanne Williams (Secretary)
Trustees 2007
Jim Pendergrast, Dave Edwards, Mark Dean, Sharon Seager, Maartje Houthuyzen, Dave Wills, Carole Long, Moana Bianchin, Des Heke-Kaiawha.
Founding Trustees 2003
Jim Pendergrast, John Mullany, Dave Wills, Dan Heke, Mark Dean, Sharon Seager, Moana Bianchin, Neale Blaymires, Glenn Ayo.
Past Trustee: Heather White
Volunteers are the lifeblood of our organisation and we are fortunate to have well over 100 people actively involved who are passionate about conservation and the Trust’s work at Ōtanewainuku.
Volunteers bring with them a broad range of skills, have willingness to pass on knowledge and a desire to expand their own skills. Where required we also send key volunteers on training courses from which they can pass on training. Courses include kiwi handling, mountain safety first aid, trapping workshop, fundraising workshop and toxin licensing.
Roles carried out by volunteers include:
When the Forest Flourishes, the People Flourish.
Local tangata whenua support and assist our vision. Waitaha a Hei (Manoeka Marae) and Ngati He (Maungatapu Marae) and Ngai Te Ahi (Hairini Marae) are the tangata whenua. The nearest tangata whenua Whare (communal house) is Te Kokakonui at Kaiawha Rd.
Kaumatua Dan Heke, was one of our original Trustees. Dan’s grandson Des Heke-Kaiawha (Ngai Te Ahi and Ngati He) was our local tangata whenua representative and a Trustee for many years.
Hui at Hairini Marae
Back row: Ted and Carol Whare (Waitaha), Des Heke-Kaiawha, Carole Long and John Revington (OKT), Andrew Baucke (DOC Tauranga), Mohi Potaka (Waitaha), Sarah King (DOC Murupara), Penny Olsen (Ngati Whare), Janice and Huikakahu Kawe (Hairini).
Front row: Robert Taylor (Ngati Whare) Dave Edwards and Jim Pendergrast (OKT) and Awhimate Eru (DOC Tauranga).
Kaumatua Dan Heke
Des Heke-Kaiawha & Mere Heke