Team TFBTkaupapa

Founders of The Forest Bridge Trust, Kevin and Gill Adshead, are retired from managing a large family farm, Mataia, at Glorit on the south eastern shores of the Kaipara Harbour.

However, retired is probably not quite the right word as they are still managing the biodiversity of the property, including kiwi, through intensive predator control, and fencing and plantingof waterways.

“We work for the Trust because we have a passion for supporting farmers and landowners as they work toward setting and achieving environmental goals for their properties.”

I’m an environmental educator and facilitator with 30 years involvement in delivery of conservation programmes, managing community partnerships and volunteer programmes. I’ve run my own outdoor safety management business and worked with the Department of Conservation, NGO’s and private business.

I enjoy working with the Forest Bridge team as a Trustee, they are professional and passionate about making this project work. Helping communities that care about their environment – and seeing them take action makes my heart sing.

Burke has a corporate background as a business owner and operator on both sides of the Tasman. Over recent years he has remained active in that sphere as an advisor in both the private and public sectors, along with governance roles within various investment activities.

He has also developed an interest in growing and planting native species on rural properties, including his own, in Kaipara Flats and surrounding areas. Offering support and encouragement to landowners to help them enhance their own properties provides a meaningful way to contribute to the mission of The Forest Bridge Trust. The pride and sense of achievement that landowners derive from their own efforts to improve their land is rewarding for all those involved, and motivates Burke to help in any capacity he can.

Ana was raised in a small farming town in the Hawkes Bay/Manawatu region and moved to Tāmaki Makaurau in her teens. She completed a Bachelor of Business Studies at AUT and spent several years in the media industry before following the call of her heart to work in a way that serves our community. She is a Leadership New Zealand Alumni (2020 cohort) and is currently undertaking a Masters of Change and Organisational Resilience.

Ana values strong interpersonal connections and holds relationships at the heart of achieving meaningful kaupapa. Over an extensive period of time, Ana has led a community organisation that meets the growing need within the South Kaipara communities. She has worked with a wide range of government and NGO’s, building collaborative relationships and appreciates the different ways organisations work to uplift those in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Ko Taranaki te Maunga
Ko Araparera te Awa
Ko Kia Mahara te wharenui nō Te Pā o te Aroha
Ko Kaipara te Moana,
Ko Ngāti Rango te Hapu
Ko Ngāti Whātua te iwi.
Ko ōku tūpuna ki te taha o tōku papa ko Ngaro Rawhiti Paraone Hemana nō Te uri o Hau, me Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara, rāua ko Rawiri Rangi Waaka nō Ngāti Mahanga.
Ko ōku tūpuna ki te taha o tōku māmā ko Karena Ropi Natana nō Ngāti Kahu me Te Rarawa, rāua ko Te Peehi Mokena (Morgan) nō Ngāti Tamaoho.
Ko Haahi Rangi Waaka rāua ko Erana (Ellen) Napi Waaka (Nathan-Natana) ōku mātua.
Ko Rewana Grazina Waaka ahau. E noho ana ahau kei te haukainga ō ōku mātua tūpuna.

I was born in Otahuhu where I lived with my whānau for my first 12 years before our parents decided to return to our ancestral home- haukāinga.

Throughout my younger years I worked alongside my mother in local schools and colleges teaching te reo Māori and kapa haka, before attending Epsom Teachers Training College through Huarahi Māori, (a te reo Māori pathway) where I gained a Bachelor’s Degree in Education.

After graduating I joined Finlayson Park School in Manurewa, working through the bilingual and immersion units, where I job-shared the leading of both units as Pouārahi or (Senior Leaders).

After returning home to Araparera to care for my dad, I have since become involved in local Kura, e.g., Ahuroa Primary, Parakai Primary, Kaukapapa, and now am currently employed as a Kaiako, for a bilingual class at Woodhill Primary, as well as Deputy Principal.

I have been involved with The Forest Bridge Trust for the past couple of years, organising marae experiences, te ao Māori workshops, as well as designing a unique, 6 week te reo Māori language course for the team. I remain involved as a contractor for the planned wānanga over 2024-25, and am contactable at any time for any queries.

Noho ora mai,
Nā tēnei mea iti,
Ko Rewana

Matu has a Post-graduate Diploma of Ecological Restoration (2009) from Victoria University. Over the last two decades he has been involved with two iconic conservation projects, firstly at Zealandia and then at Ngā Manu Nature Reserve and brings to TFBT a wealth of experience working with local communities and volunteer workforces. Matu has resettled near Mangawhai where he has had a strong connection towards the rohe throughout his youth and adult life. The Forest Bridge Trust appeals to him because it possesses a compelling narrative and undertakes landscape-scale conservation requiring a commitment and vision which he thrives upon.

Michelle lives on a lifestyle block in rural Matakana with her husband, 3 young children and an ever-increasing number of animals.

Over the last 15 years, Michelle has worked in New Zealand’s major events and exhibitions industries, including building venues and coordinating sponsor branding for the Louis Vuitton Trophy series, Rally of New Zealand the Rugby World Cup. Recently, Michelle was part of one of Auckland’s largest apartment remediation projects, being the liaison between the project team, owners and residents of the complex.

Michelle feels a deep sense of connection to the land, rivers and our wonderful community. She is excited to work with our people to protect and care for this unique environment we share.

Helen has lived in the Matakana region for more than 13 years with her husband and their two daughters. She has a background in business and community projects and has also been involved in managing the Matakana Markets. With her family Helen has been actively controlling predators on her own bush and wetland section from rats, possums and stoats through to wasps. She is excited to support the vision of Forest Bridge through community engagement.

I moved to South Head 9 years ago and live on a lifestyle block with my family, dogs, sheep and chickens. I became involved in tree planting with the local school and South Kaipara Landcare, which I joined as secretary following a dream about helping the birds. The role included being the Rototoa trapline coordinator, so I became involved with The Forest Bridge Trust as well. I'm a traditionally trained flax weaver (raranga) and have studied rakau rongoa (native tree medicine). I hold a GradDip in Not for Profit Management and a PostGradDip in Social Practice/Community Development and have volunteered and worked with many (many) small NFP's and charities. I have held maritime qualifications and worked in the industry here and in West Australia but learning raranga in the Waikato firmly grounded me back on the land.  I'm looking forward to connecting further with my community around this amazing conservation project and working alongside The Forest Bridge Trust people. 

My Pakeha family has been in the South Kaipara district for 163 years.

I have a farming background and a Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management degree which led me into a variety of work.

I have been privalaged to work for long periods of time in some of the worlds most remote and protected places on earth.

Raoul , Campbell, Chathams, Macquarie island (Australian),Antarctica and many more of New Zealands islands with fragile environments hanging on by a thread.

I have worked with many endangered species, from black robin to petrels, oystercatchers , penguins and Albatross been involved with island restoration and eradication projects, been a ski patroller, park ranger, horse trek guide and farmer.

It is a big vision to help encourage people to enhance the natural world around them, I am happy to have the support of this team .We can all make a difference.

Virginia has joined The Forest Bridge Trust to develop a monitoring framework for our area of focus.

Virginia, a resident of Whangateau, has a PhD in Conservation Biology and has worked across a range of projects surveying and monitoring water quality, species distribution and habitat, with a particular focus on native frogs – both here in NZ and in her home country of Chile! 

Fourth generation Matakana born and bred, our resident Predator Control Advisor extraordinaire has been involved in conservation work for over 15 years. A decade working for the Department of Conservation in Island predator eradication, shorebird monitoring and weed work has provided Cam extensive practical skills and knowledge in all things nasty in our native forests.

Over the past five years he has moved into the private sector and started his own business —Rural Predator Control. Early on in this move, he also partnered with the Forest Bridge Trust where he has been hugely appreciated, passing on his knowledge to keen conservationists in our area.

Cam says, the enthusiasm he has encountered from keen trappers has been some of the most rewarding work of his career and he really enjoys helping people achieve their predator control goals.

Originally from Switzerland, Eliane has lived in the Warkworth area since 1988. She managed to escape her office work in 2001 when she joined the Kaipara salt marsh mosquito eradication team. She has been involved with conservation work since 2007 when she started seasonal shore bird and weed control work for the Department of Conservation. She is a founding member of Tamahunga Trappers and a committee member of her local Forest & Bird branch.

Eliane joined The Forest Bridge Trust’s predator control team in November 2021. She believes that predator control is fundamental to any species protection in New Zealand and is committed to seeing this undertaken at a landscape scale.

Alex grew up in Warkworth and has a keen interest in conservation, predator control and hunting. He has lived in Australia for the last few years while on his OE journey working in various outdoor locations. Alex has just returned to Warkworth, and we are delighted that he will join our team next week.

Tracy has always loved adventure and living in the outdoors and fell in love with Matakana in 2016 where she began an eco-friendly build on a lifestyle property with her partner.

Whilst overseas, Tracy has seen the devastating effects of pollution and overpopulation and understands the need to protect and restore the beautiful natural environment of New Zealand. “It is a privilege to work towards this with the dedicated team at The Forest Bridge Trust”.

Since 2007, Tracy has run a successful business in Professional Sports and worked closely with the Silver Ferns, New Zealand Rugby, New Zealand Hockey and Cricket and brings this wealth of experience with her to The Forest Bridge Trust.

Ko Kapuārangi te maunga
Ko Wainui te awa
Ko Tainui te waka
Ko Tōrerenuiārua rāua ko Manaakiao ngā tangata
Ko Ngaitai, ko Ngāti Pākehā, ko Ngāti Hāmoa ngā iwi
Ko Katie Forno ahau

I am extremely excited and grateful to be part of the Trust and to have the chance to support landowners to protect and care for their whenua. Since I was young, I have had a passion for the kaitiakitanga of the forests and rivers of Aotearoa. My experiences of working in parliament, on a diverse range of organic farms, propagating and planting native plants for reveg and volunteering in conservation projects have shown me that navigating the journey between where we are and where we need to go requires understanding and mahitahitanga. So lets go!

Mauri mahi, mauri ora.

Ko Rangitoto te maunga
Ko Oratia te awa
Ko Waitematā te moana
Ko Tāmaki Makaurau te wā kāinga ō tōku whānau
Ko Angela Parkin tōku ingoa

It is a privilege to be able to join The Forest Bridge Trust team and to have the opportunity to contribute to the Trusts’ kaupapa and vision ‘to create a connected landscape of healthy forest and flourishing indigenous wildlife from the Kaipara Harbour in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east’. We are so fortunate to live in the Auckland region, with its three magnificent harbours, and to be able to contribute to the mahi of restoring the mauri of the Kaipara is a dream come true.

I grew up in the magical Kauri forest ‘Te Wao Nui o Tiriwa’ (Waitakere Ranges) and have enjoyed the northern beaches of Auckland and the Kaipara Harbour on regular family holidays my whole life. Needless to say, I am happiest when I am in the great outdoors connecting with people. I love working with communities to empower local action that supports the health and wellbeing of people and the environment.

Ka ora te whenua,

Ka ora te tangata.

When the land is well, the people will be well.

I grew up in the Wairarapa, running about after my dad who was a shearer and fencer. A chefs qualification took me around the world for several years and when I returned I had my own catering business for 20 years. Covid took the fun out of that so a new direction saw me volunteering on traplines in my local area for the last 18 months. I live in an earth house on, a lifestyle block, north of Matakana with my partner Karen, a cat I pretend to loathe, 4 chickens, a rooster that looks like he wants to take me down, and a giant vege garden. I have 2 daughters ages 18 and 22. If I had hair, it would be very grey.

I am a surf lifeguard at Omaha and enjoy open water swimming with Leigh swimmers. Especially if there’s a doughnut involved afterwards at Leigh eats.

Having spent a large part of her career in legal roles in the UK, Claire moved to Warkworth with her family a few years ago. Claire has held multiple volunteer positions, including with the Lewisham Toy Library in the UK, Garden to Table, and assisting at Woven Earth, an organisation that helps furnish homes for family violence survivors. She is looking forward to working with the community to help enhance and protect our wonderful diverse whenua.

Coming soon

Nikki grew up in Cornwall, UK but moved to New Zealand over 30 years ago and now lives on a 5 acre block in Puhoi with her husband and 2 teenagers.

A long career in Marketing and Comms has allowed Nikki the opportunity to work with big corporates, small businesses and Trusts specialising in Education, Health & Wellness and Conservation.

“Helping organisations to grow by providing the tools that allow them to deliver their message” has always been fulfilling "but the real satisfaction comes from seeing the audience / end user engage and benefit from the message”. It’s a real pleasure to help The Forest Bridge Trust tell the rohe about their vision for a connected landscape and report on their journey and successes, but it is an absolute thrill to see more and more local people want to get involved with conservation/restoration and protect our native flora & fauna as well as help bring kiwi back to our part of Aotearoa”. Together as a community, I’m sure we will create a lasting legacy.

Trish comes to TFBT from a diverse conservation and zoological background. Trish has an interesting work history including working with The Department of Conservation on Hauturu and Raoul islands, anti-poaching organisations in Zimbabwe, Boto research on the Amazon, Humpback whale research in Tonga and Niue, as well as many years working with whale strandings as a senior marine mammal medic and rescue instructor.

Trish is a wildlife vet nurse and has worked with numerous native and exotic species at Auckland Zoo and other wildlife rehabilitation organisations internationally.

Joining TFBT in an administration capacity, Trish also aims to be able to utilise her practical skills in the field, and to collaborate with local community involvement in protecting and restoring habitat for our taonga.

Kotaro is originally from Japan. After working for 10 years in Singapore, he migrated to New Zealand with his family in 2014. He and this family love the nature and people of this beautiful country so much that they call this place their “home”. They live on the shore and often go to Tawharanui to ride the waves and enjoy watching Takahē and Pukeko roaming around.

He is a Digital All-Rounder with focus on web administration/development and database. His ultimate goal is to become a bridge between people and the digital world.

Working with the Trust is a perfect opportunity for him to contribute his IT knowledge and experience to the nature. Technology and nature may be two opposites however he strongly believes that those two can walk hand-in-hand towards a bright future.