About Us
Ngāti Rehua Ngātiwai ki Aotea Trust
The Ngāti Rehua Ngātiwai ki Aotea Trust has set the vision and tikanga for the Tū Mai Taonga project.
It has appointed a Project Steering Committee to support delivery of the project.
Project Steering Committee
The Project Steering Committee is a partnership between mana whenua and the Aotea Conservation Community with delegated responsibilities for overseeing and monitoring project implementation.
The members of the steering committee are:
• Opo Ngawaka - Mana Whenua rep
• Marilyn Stephens - Chair - Mana Whenua - NRNWKA Trustee
• James Wii - Mana Whenua rep
• Izzy Fordham - Community - Local Board rep
• Kate Waterhouse - Community rep
• Nominations open - Community rep
Project Team
A small project team provides management support for the project.
Technical Advisory Group
A Technical Advisory Group provides expert advice and peer review of the feasibility study and operation plans for the Tū Mai Taonga project.
Membership
Jo Ritchie - Technical Lead & Interim TAG Chairperson - Field trained ecologist who has worked on island and mainland restoration and eradication projects in communities for the last 30 years. Has assisted projects with 9 eradications both successful and unsuccessful. Most recent experience was as Project Lead, Tū Mai Taonga - Jan 2021-Feb 2022 and prior to that Operations Manager, Te Korowai o Waiheke.
Biz Bell - Ecologist with extensive experience – particularly seabirds (including 30 years work with tākoketai/black petrels on Aotea), pest management and eradication projects in populated environments in NZ and overseas. Owner of Wildlife Management International Ltd
Judy Gilbert - More than 20 years managing Windy Hill Rosalie Bay Catchment Trust, a foundation conservation project on Aotea, Long time Aotea resident, with considerable experience with community-based conservation and animal pest management (including cats, rats).
John Parkes - Vertebrate pest ecologist. Now an independent consultant but was a Landcare Research scientist, considerable experience with feral cats. Experienced in control and eradication, has written several planning documents for programmes around the world including on islands with people.
Scott Sambell - Conservation technology and GIS specialist but also has ecology experience, has worked on several large-scale landscape projects in communities. Has designed systems for island projects, has extensive Aotea knowledge having been manager at Glenfern Sanctuary, experienced rodent dog handler. Owner of Ethos Environmental Limited.
Markus Gronwald - Formally a Rodent researcher for Te Korowai O Waiheke. Now works as a researcher in rodents and feral cats for Manaaki Whenua. Marcus has a PhD thesis on behavioural ecology, monitoring and management of invasive rats on islands and has worked on and planned for numerous conservation projects in his career. He has planned and lead invasive rat management on Te Hāwere-a-Maki/Goat Island, and conducted a successful ground-based rat eradication in French Polynesia.
Paul Jennings - Kangaroo Island Cat Eradication Project Lead (Australia). The Kangaroo Island Project is aiming to achieve feral cat eradication over a 440,000ha island (15 x times the size of Aotea). Paul has an experienced team which he can call on to provide further technical support when required.
Reference Documents
Tū Mai Taonga has produced a 2023 Impact Report to highlight the continued progress of the project since the end of 2022. Anchored in the Tikanga of Ngāti Rehua Ngātiwai ki Aotea, the project has commenced operations on the pathway to the eradication of feral cats and rats across Aotea.
Read the 2023 Impact Report here:
Read the 2022 Year in Review here:
Feasibility Study
In November 2021, Kurahaupo Consulting prepared a summary of the rationale for pest
management on Aotea developed by the Aotea Great Barrier Environmental Trust as a proposal for Jobs for Nature funding.
It provides a formal study of what is feasible in relation to feral cat and rat eradication or control given the current and potential tools and constraints of their use and offers background details on how the project might be implemented.
A Pathway to Eradication
Following the review of the Kurahaupo Consulting feasibility study by the Tū Mai Taonga Technical Advisory Group and the project’s funders, a Pathway to Eradication was defined. This longer-term, adaptive approach to realising a predator-free future for Aotea helped the project secure commitments from funders and is guiding operational planning.
Tū Mai Taonga: A Pathway to Eradication, October 2022
Operational Plan Summary
At the ‘Pestival’ event in November Operations Manager Chris Giblin introduced Tū Mai Taonga’s operational approach; particularly its first phase work in the Te Paparahi area.
Pestival Presentation October 2022
Collaborating agencies
The Tū Mai Taonga project is reliant on the support of many collaborating organisations including:
Aotea Great Barrier Environmental Trust
Aotea Great Barrier Island Local Board
Auckland Council
Department of Conservation
Foundation North
Glenfern and Kotuku Peninsula Trust
Jobs for Nature
Kawa Marae
Motairehe Marae
Motu Kaikoura Trust
Okiwi Community Ecology Project
Predator Free 2050
Windy Hill Sanctuary and Rosalie Bay Catchment Trust
And landowners and residents around the motu.
Tū Mai Taonga is proudly supported by the following organisations:
