Our team

Frances is a full time Mum in Whakatane but is a regular visitor to the Manawahe to see family. She has a degree in ecology that was going rusty so she joined the trust in 2009 to keep involved in environmental science. She is a keen believer in the corridor concept and is regularly inspired by the Manawahe Bush with its gorgeous views.

Maurice Tooke is a retired road safety coordinator for Whakatane District Council. He grew up on the Rangitaiki Plains and feels a strong tie to the Manawahe hills. He is a founding member of the trust.

Although Lisa is a waste management professional, she has a background in ecology and environmental science, with a Masters in Environmental Science from Auckland University. She lives on a lifestyle block outside Whakatane with her family, where they fit in revegetation and pest control around work and school. First becoming interested in the activities of the Manawahe Eco Trust through discussions about how to minimise waste on school camps with the Education Officer, Lisa subsequently became a trustee in late 2019.

Norm Ngapo is a retired Soil Conservator, living at Ohope Beach. His iwi are Ngati Awa, Ngati Porou ki Harataunga and Ngati Tamatera. He has been a Trustee and volunteer member of Manawahe Kokako Trust for over twenty years, with the last 3 years as Chairman. He is familiar with the Manawahe area, having worked closely with farmers while employed by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, and previously, the BOP Catchment Commission. Prior to retirement, he worked as an environmental consultant for 20 years under his own company, Waiora Soil Conservation Ltd. He has had a lifelong interest in conservation and the natural environment. Along with other MKT volunteers, Norm was closely associated with the translocation of 6 breeding kokako pairs to Manawahe Forest from Kaharoa in 2019 and Rotoehu in 2021.

Peter has worked as an engineer for the past 40 years and he brings his wealth of experience to the trust with a hands-on approach. Peter has put in many hundreds of volunteer hours to maintain the Education Centre buildings, water systems and gardens. He has also overseen several upgrades of the facilities in the Centre including improving the insulation, heating systems and security, enabling MET to continue to offer a comfortable learning space for the students that visit.

Canice joined the trust as a volunteer in 2021 and formally as a trustee in 2022. He brings a local perspective to the trust as he lives and works on a farm in Manawahe. He has a keen sense of ingenuity and innovation and has been working closely with Peter Fergusson on different projects such as developing electronic trap monitors.

Kia ora, I’m Caitlin. I joined Manawahe Eco Trust as an educator after completing a Bachelor of Communication and, more recently, a Graduate Diploma in Teaching. During my studies, I realised that a traditional classroom setting wasn’t where I thrived, and that my passion lay in learning that happens outside, immersed in the natural environment. Working with MET gives me the opportunity to get students out of the classroom and into the ngahere, where learning feels hands-on, meaningful, and connected to the real world. I love helping young people understand their important role as kaitiaki, and encouraging them to see how vital it is to keep this beautiful land safe and thriving for future generations.

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I have always been interested in conservation and ecological restoration and in 2000 we brought a life style block in Awakeri that has a WDC covenant on the bush remnant. Over the last ten years we have been restoring this by replanting and undertaking pest and weed control. We have also been involved in a number of volunteer conservation projects over the last 20years. I was a DOC volunteer for many years and have done a lot of work on Whale Island. I currently am working with Bill Clark’s Onepu care group, Fish and Game, DOC and the Regional Council on the restoration of Lake Tamurenui. This project is funded by EBOP and is an eight year project. I am a long time member of Forest and Bird and am currently Secretary of the Eastern Bay Forest and Bird branch. We are also members of the Manawahe Kokako trust volunteer group involved in pest control and monitoring on John Mackintosh’s land.