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.

I have been working in academia for over thirty-five years and have been at the Waipapa Taumata Rau/ University of Auckland since 2010. Over the last 11 years I have held a number of senior leadership roles in Te Kura Tangata/ Faculty of Arts including Associate Dean of Research. As a result, I have a wealth of experience around strategic development, leadership and programme management. I also have a long history of working with, and in, community lead initiatives that have aimed to bring about social change. Being able to bring my skills and knowledge in these areas to my role as trustee is something I am looking forward to.

The Forest Bridge Trust is an innovative project that is ambitious and forward looking, helping New Zealand ‘reset’ its approach to its unique ecology. To be involved in such an initiative is both a pleasure and privilege and it is a real opportunity to make a difference.

Jade is an experienced finance professional with a passion for the outdoors. He has significant experience working with both profit and not-for-profit entities and enjoys giving back to the community, particularly through sustainability initiatives. Jade is a Chartered Accountant and holds a Certificate of Public Practice.

Jade is the father of 3 kids who also love the outdoors. When not working or volunteering, you will find Jade with the family either in the forest, on the coast or at a sports field making the most of the opportunities that life presents.

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

Coming from the UK, (where she was schooled in London but spent all her holiday time on their family farm in Wales), Emma has maintained her love of the outdoors and understands the need for balance between agriculture and conservation.

Having settled in Rodney in 2001, Emma brings a background of not-for-profit management and infrastructure development to The Forest Bridge Trust.  Emma is delighted that her new role at TFBT feels like a perfect fit, combining her rural lifestyle based in Puhoi with over 20 years of management and business experience.

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.

Alastair is a chartered accountant with an extensive commercial financial background.
Alastair is passionate about conservation and recently relocated to Mangawhai with his young family, where he has become involved in local predator control and assists his local football club with their finances. He is excited to be joining TFBT where he can become more involved in our work and really help to grow the organisation – not just prepare the accounts.

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.

Joh is a keen hunter gatherer and has been working for the past 6 years alongside his father, Hemi Tapurau, kaitiaki at Atuanui. Joh’s goal is to bring the balance back to our ngahere, from the trees, plants, and wildlife, and believes that planting has a big impact on restoration of waterways and to hold riverbanks together to prevent land falls. Joh has also worked for some years alongside Kevin Adshead around the Mataia house and farm, giving a helping hand with bait stations, kiwi captures and kiwi monitoring. Joh says he is very glad to be a part of the TFBT.

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.

Tena Koutou Katoa,

I’m thrilled to join The Forest Bridge Trust as a member of the Predator Control Team. My background in sustainable aquaculture includes recent work with a local business on Whitebait farming for conservation and commercial purposes. I've been actively involved in pest control and management on my family farm in the Whangaripo Valley, with great support from The Forest Bridge Trust in recent years. I bring a strong passion for conserving our native fauna and flora, both on land and in the sea, and I look forward to contributing even more to my local environment on a larger scale as I work alongside this vastly knowledgeable team.

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.

Kia Ora,

My name is Paula from the Kaipara Coast. I am a mother to 2 beautiful girls with my partner who is also in Predator Control.

I am a bit of a bird nerd. I love our native and endemic wildlife here in New Zealand. I spend most of my spare time out in nature with my camera studying bird behaviour.

I really wanted to join The Forest Bridge Trust after watching the documentary “Fight for the Wild” it was in this moment that I felt called to play my part in protecting and saving our wildlife as well as helping to restore our beautiful forests to how they used to be.

What we choose to do now will be so impactful for the future and for future generations. I would love to see our country become wild again. I know that we can change our future for the better.

In the wise words of David Attenborough
“Put nature at the heart of our decisions”

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.

Tris, her husband and two children have recently returned home to New Zealand from the UK and have fallen in love with Warkworth and the surrounding area.

Having spent much of her career in Sales & Marketing, Tris has channelled her extensive experience in managing projects into community fundraising and family events. Engaging with the community and making a difference is now her passion.

Having grown up in the country surrounded by nature and a variety of animals, Tris’ family hope to find a lifestyle block with grazing and native bush so that their children can experience the same free-range childhood that they did, and learn more about New Zealand’s unique and diverse native habitats. She is thrilled to be working with TFBT and is looking forward to getting to know the local community and sharing her passion for the protection of our environment for our native species.

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.

Karen grew up in Yorkshire and now lives on a lifestyle block in Matakana with her Kiwi partner and 2 daughters. She has communications and nursing degrees and a background in business. She and her family live in a straw bale / earth house surrounded by their orchard, chickens and vege gardens and have been trapping pests and planting trees for the last 14 years. She loves community building, growing food and Barnsley Football Club.

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

I have lived in Warkworth for most of my life and I just love it here. I am very passionate about the environment and sustainability, so working for The Forest Bridge Trust is a bit like a dream come true. I have a background as a landscape gardener and before that worked in IT for a regional TV station, both of these have given me a good knowledge of the area and some of its people. I love nothing more than getting outdoors and into the wilderness with my young son. Being part of the effort to protect and enhance that environment for future generations, to me is simply awesome!

Anne has recently joined TFBT as the team Administrator, coming from Auckland War Memorial Museum Collection Care team. Her background is in Fine and Applied Arts with Museum Studies added five years ago. Anne lives in the heart of the Forest Bridge Trust area in Kaipara Flats with partner Wayne and son Scott, where they have recently established two native bush plantings on their property.

Anne brings team management skills to her work-from-home role and feels priviliged to work in her local community in a role which enables native wildlife conservation in such a meaningful way.

Her personal mantra has always been “Think global, act local”.

Originally from the Rodney area, I’m grateful to be able to work within my community and be a part of this journey with the talented and passionate team at TFBT.

I currently live in Snells Beach with my two children and our cat (who really is like a third child!). If we’re not out and about with various sporting activities, then we’re usually at one of our beautiful local beaches or anywhere near the water.

I’ve worked across various industries within Human Resources for the last 15 years and I really enjoy supporting people in their working lives and contributing to an inclusive culture where everyone can thrive.

It’s a privilege to be a part of the TFBT team and I’m excited by what we can achieve together.

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.

Elena worked in the marine industry in Europe and in New Zealand for the last 12 years before switching career paths. Experiencing both the magnificence of nature and some devastating human impacts, the decision to use her skills to help communities take care about their environment was an easy one. After volunteering with Kaipatiki Project for several years she found it is a real opportunity to make a difference. Lover of all things nature she is especially passionate about New Zealand native plants and their medicinal properties.

Her family moved up to Orewa from central Auckland specially for her to join the TFBT team. In her spare time, Elena can be found in nature’s playground on foot, kiteboard or under sails!

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 an Information Technology person who can connect 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.

Maree has a background in Zoology and is an active member of the Shakespear Open Sanctuary volunteer group SOSSI – with many roles ranging from secretary to kiwi monitoring.  She has also been involved with the translocation of Robins to Shakespear, Urupukapuka, Mt Taranaki and saddleback to Shakespear.