A non-profit organisation established in 2012, Reconnecting Northland is dedicated to the advancement and development of Northlands environmental restoration, for the benefit and wellbeing of Northland people and communities.
Currently our programme is delivered via Outreach & Business Support Team(s); overseen by our Pou Manatū (General Manager).
The Outreach Team focuses pre-dominantly on servicing the needs of our Tapere initiatives via access to tools, services, and resources to meet their restoration goals, whilst our Business Support Team fulfil all Charitable Trust requirements, along with provision of internal 'nuts and bolts' operational capability.
Reconnecting Northland also works with a variety of talented professionals on a contract basis to deliver specialist services across the programme.
2022 is a pivotal year for our programme with our all energy being firmly focused on building and scaling the capacity within Tapere initiatives through implementation of Te Kete Hononga.
A centralised support hub incorporating everything from visioning, training and development, communications, project management, environmental planning, impact investment and more, we anticipate Te Kete Hononga to be fully operational by late 2022.
The Reconnecting Northland programme is overseen by a Board of between three and nine Trustees and two Advisory Trustees.
The board bring a diversity of skills and experience to provide a governance role in helping to develop, approve and monitor the Reconnecting Northland Trust's strategy, policies and key systems.
The Board also appoints the Pou Manatū and ensures performance targets are met and approves major expenditure via approval of an annual business plan.
The board currently meet on a regular quarterly basis to ensure they deliver this role effectively. All of our Trustees are volunteers.
Chairperson
Chairperson
Liz is an experienced Director who brings: a passion for the environment, strategic ideas to support transformational change and philanthropic fundraising experience to the Board. She runs a boutique private equity investment company and advisory firm where she assists companies with international expansion.
"Community groups across Northland are embracing the huge challenge of ecological restoration. It’s an exciting and humbling experience to support those efforts as part of the RN team.”
Deputy Chairperson
Deputy Chairperson
At home in the bush” Paul enjoys working to preserve and enhance the extensive native bush on both his own farm as well as on other people’s farms. He has significant experience in the primary industries, living on and running a family farm in the Whangarei district when not working as an Agribusiness Consultant. An experienced Director, with a passion for New Zealand’s flora and fauna, Paul enjoys tramping in the New Zealand bush in his spare time.
“Northland is lucky to have more remnant indigenous ecosystems than many regions of New Zealand, and I am excited to help RN to achieve its vision for the good of all Northlanders”
Trustee
Trustee
Chris has worked in Conservation for most of his career including 28 years working for the Department of Conservation including nearly two decades of senior leadership experience as the Conservator Bay of Plenty and more recently the Northland Conservator. Chris lives in Whangarei and is actively involved in a number of trusts and conservation projects. He has two adult children.
"I was attracted to the Trust by its independence and willingness to try new and innovative ways of working with Northland Iwi and communities"
Trustee
Trustee
Brandon is from Te Tai Tokerau (Ngāpuhi, Ngātiwai) and lives at Matapōuri with his wife, Kiri, and their three children. He has legal, investment banking, farming, business and governance experience. He is a kaimanaaki of his ancestral mountain, Huruiki, and is passionate about enhancing the wellbeing of people and the environment in Te Tai Tokerau.
“I was drawn to Reconnecting Northland by our shared vision and values. It’s a privilege to work with people who are passionate about the same things I am passionate about.”