Our trustees are volunteers who bring a diverse range of interests and skills, and all of whom share a passion for Hauturu.
From a young age, Shane had a love of the Hauraki Gulf and dreamed of becoming a Ranger on Hauturu. After obtaining a Parks Management Degree, Shane began a 15-year career with the Department of Conservation followed, with over 10 of those years spent on islands including Raoul and Kawau, and as Ranger on Hauturu between 2005 and 2011. Shane now manages Hobsonville Marina and lives in Whangaparaoa. He is a qualified skipper and has had voluntary roles in Civil Defence and Rural Fire.
David holds an LlB Victoria University of Wellington, practising lawyer in private practice for 43 years until retirement but continues as a Notary Public. He has been involved in conservation and environmental matters since university days (Native Forest Action Council) in governance, advocacy and active roles, and continues to be with various organisations. David counts himself as fortunate every day to look out on Hauturu from his home at Omaha.
Currently Executive General Manager Risk & Assurance at Auckland Transport, Rodger is a Chartered Accountant and retired partner from Deloitte. He has spent 30 years in governance, risk management and audit roles assisting many New Zealand organisations in the public, private and not for profit sectors. Rodger initially developed an interest in Hauturu through his keen interest in boating and fishing around New Zealand.
Hauturu is an island of stark ecological contrast. Above the coastline around Hauturu the ecosystem is highly prized and protected, while below the tideline the ecosystem continues to be trashed by relentless fishing activities. This enigma is of concern to Andrew Jeffs, a marine scientist at the University of Auckland. As a trustee he aims to bring greater attention to resolving this enigma to restore the whole ecosystem of Hauturu.
Kate is an experienced business and conservation leader. She is a writer and consultant with strategy, facilitation and change experience across the public and private sector in New Zealand and globally. Kate advocates for a collaborative approach to biodiversity and ecosystems restoration, and is a member of the Auckland Conservation Board, Chair of the Aotea Great Barrier Environmental Trust and Deputy Chair of the Aotea Conservation Park Advisory Committee. She is married with three daughters and is completing Masters in Creative Writing at the University of Auckland.
Born in 1971, Richard Griffiths gained his MSc at Lincoln University in 1996. He began working for the Department of Conservation in 1998 and over the next 13 years spearheaded a number of threatened species programs and island restoration projects including the operations to remove rats from Hauturu and eight pest species from Rangitoto and Motutapu. Richard led the Hihi Recovery Group between 2000 and 2007 overseeing the species’ successful reintroduction to the mainland after a 120 year absence. Richard now works for the non-profit organisation Island Conservation for whom he leads a team of project managers and island restoration specialists to prevent extinctions through the removal of invasive vertebrates from islands across the world. He remains an honorary member of the Department of Conservation’s Island Eradication Advisory Group.
Chris has worked with seabirds in northern New Zealand for 20 years, first through observing them at sea, then through island visits and surveys including a leading role in finding the breeding site of the NZ storm-petrel. He is a founding member of the Northern NZ Seabird Trust and is fascinated by seabirds’ lives and their capabilities and enjoys telling their stories. Chris was one of the inaugural winners of the Holdaway Environment Award 2013 (Hauraki Gulf Forum) for his advocacy for seabirds and contributions to conservation and research.
