has a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and Ecology, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Science in Geography. Hoani is active on the Otago Peninsula Community Board, Trustee of the Yellow-Eyed Penguin Trust and a Takata Tiaki for the Otago Coastal Marine Area. He is the former chairperson of the Otago Conservation Board and a former member of several national species recovery groups. He is the Manager of Operations Taiaroa Head, he is responsible for the Royal Albatross Centre and Blue Penguins Pukekura.

has a PhD in environmental psychology and has held several research positions in health sciences at the University of Otago. In 1990, he helped establish an injury prevention research unit in the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, serving as Deputy Director and Associate Professor. He has written two books, over 100 scientific articles and numerous commissioned reports. After retiring in 2010, he and his partner shifted to Macandrew Bay where they are revegetating their 0.8 hectare property in native species. David is an OPBG volunteer, undertaking bird and rodent monitoring, and community trapping. He brings considerable experience as a scientist, project manager and administrator to the Board of Trustees. Dave served as Chairman of the Otago Peninsula Biodiversity Trust from 2016 to 2017.

has a hospitality/tourism background. He has lived in Macandrew Bay for many years after returning from working overseas. He has managed an airline catering production kitchen, owned restaurants in partnership with his wife, and created a monthly tourist publication. Fully retired Laurie leads an active life with an interest in the environment, Member of the Dunedin Photographic Society, treasurer of the Otago Alpine Garden Group and treasurer of Save the Otago Peninsula (STOP). Laurie White is the Treasurer of the OPBG.

has been living on the Peninsula since 2013. She started her involvement with the OPBG looking after a couple of rodent monitoring lines and was then elected as a trustee in 2015. In 2016 she took over the position of secretary when Moira Parker stepped down from that role.

is a biologist with 20 years’ experience in field- and lab-based biological research, on both invertebrate and vertebrate animals. Much of her work has had an applied focus, whether on population genetics as it relates to conservation biology and evolutionary ecology, or on thermal adaptation and climate. She also holds a degree in human ecology, and much of her recent research and teaching has been in community-based participatory practice and inter/transdisciplinary interaction. For nearly a decade, she lectured in science communication at the University of Otago, and now holds multiple research and adjunct faculty positions, both at U Otago, and internationally (University of Westfjords, Iceland; College of the Atlantic, Maine,USA).

grew up in Highcliff Road, Portobello before heading overseas in 1992 and volunteering for Greenpeace. Several years of environmental activism in Australia led to a career specialising in logistics, research and direct-action projects in Indonesia, PNG and Japan. In 2002 while living in the UK Richard was approached by Greenpeace International to co-ordinate a forest project in Finland and since then has been a freelance Action Co-Ordinator, gaining extensive experience of global projects and further specialising in marine operations and remote area projects. His travels into the Southern Ocean for whaling and fishery's protection campaigns resulted in a renewed appreciation for the ecology of New Zealand and our sub Antarctic islands. Richard returned to live in NZ in 2008 with his partner Kate and young family, and together built a modern, earth insulated eco house with renewable power system at Shag Point. Last year Richard moved back to Portobello, and is very pleased to be a part of this wonderful Otago Peninsula project as we move into the final years of the eradication plan.

grew up in Broad Bay and still has strong connections to the Peninsula. She works in education and has always been interested and active in conservation and the outdoors across the Peninsula and lower South Island.

Sarah has a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and a Postgraduate Diploma in Wildlife Management and is currently working in biosecurity and freshwater management. Sarah was previously project manager for OPBG in 2016/17 and has been a ranger for the Yellow-Eyed Penguin Trust working on the Hoiho monitoring and recovery programme and undertaking pest management. She has a background in writing children’s science educational books and is an active volunteer for the Hoiho programme and as a first responder for St John ambulance.

Ko Pukekura te mauka
Ko Ōtākou te awa
Ko Ōtākou te marae
Ko Kāi Te Ruahikihiki me Kāi Taoka kā hapū
Ko Kāi Tahu te iwi

Kia Ora my name is Tūmai Cassidy, I am an active member of Ōtākou Marae and i have a strong passion for restoring our native ecosystems and the traditional knowledge of my people. I currently work for Te Rūnaka o Ōtākou as a cultural advisor and senior ranger. I am also a trustee of the Te Nohoaka o Tukiauau Wetlands trust and a member of the Otago Conservation Board.