PROJECT MANAGER

Kristel leads the Karioi Project on all fronts, from her laptop to Karioi’s peak. A trained marine ecologist with a background in biology, conservation, and education in Kenya and Samoa, she established A Rocha Aotearoa, and subsequently, the Karioi Project in Whāingaroa, her hometown. She is an avid surfer and a busy mom always seeking the next adventure.

OPERATIONS / BACKYARD HUB COORDINATOR

Isabelle oversees our operations and is the friendly face of the Backyard Hub. A former ultra-marathon runner, white water guide, school teacher, firefighter, and baker, French-Canadian Isabelle has called Whāignaroa home since 2007. She is a mother to three adventurous tamariki, and they enjoy camping, hiking, skiing, and trapping together.

VOLUNTEERS COORDINATOR / RANGER

Jasmine's break from a hectic life as a fashion stylist led her to discover she’s actually a conservationist and a hunter at heart. Now a stylish huntress, she finds solace in nature, dedicating herself to local conservation. When not training volunteers, Jasmine enjoys surfing, swimming, biking, and hiking, complementing her new life in harmony with the outdoors.

BIODIVERSITY RANGER

Louie grew up in Whāingaroa and loves all things wild, natural and creative. After doing different things, and adventuring in different places, he has come home to Whāingaroa to reconnect and give back to Karioi. Cheerful and adaptable, Louie is quite happy in the bush, the shed, the art studio, the kitchen, and the list goes on.

SEABIRD RANGER

A trained ecologist, Georgia specialises in monitoring and managing native pekapeka. Enjoying the diversity of our native flora and fauna, she is thrilled to apply her ecology knowledge to safeguard the locally breeding ōi. Besides inspecting burrows on cliffs, Georgia enjoys surfing and exploring nature with her son.

RANGER / BACKYARD HUB

Ngāti Ruanui, Terence’s maunga is Taranaki although he now finds himself restoring a bit of land on the lower slopes of Karioi. Terence’s interests lie with native plants, rongoā, predator control, and te reo Māori. He’s also a small business owner, a carer, and a hunter-gatherer for kai moana and kai ngahere.

EDUCATION COORDINATOR

Amber, a qualified early childhood educator, effortlessly blends education, conservation and fun. With her warm smile, she makes tamariki feel valued and included. She oversees the Project’s education programme, but her off-the-clock fun includes being a massage therapist, lover of live music, and pursuing adventures.

EDUCATOR

Brooke has studied environmental and marine science and secondary teaching. She now combines her love for the environment with a dedication to educating and inspiring youth. Brooke is also a qualified and practising herbalist and an avid surfer. She enjoys tending to her lush garden and exploring the outdoors for wild edibles.

BYH PLUS / RANGER / EDUCATOR

Lenny, a bachelor of ecology student, is passionate about nature. Having explored the natural (and less natural) European ecosystems, he’s home in Whāingaroa again. Lenny’s commitment and thorough approach to predator control make him a valuable contributor to the Backyard Hub Plus and to conservation in general.

EDUCATOR & RANGER

Meet Caleb, a man of diverse talents whose adventurous spirit knows no bounds. He is equally at home in the rugged bush as he is on the competitive surfing scene. He has a sports science degree, is an avid bow hunter, predator trapper and surf instructor, and is passionate about instructing and mentoring local rangatahi.

INTERN

Summer embodies the essence of resilience and determination, nurtured by her upbringing on the farm. Passionate about conservation and predator control, a nature lover and tree hugger at heart, Summer is resourceful and always up for new challenges. Summer's unwavering spirit shines bright and has led her to become a part-time ranger and educator.

EDUCATOR

Val has a dynamic personality and great big hugs. Her passion for outdoor education began at 8 when a chickadee ate seeds from her hands on a school trip in her native Canada. Val has been providing similar experiences for others for over 20 years. When she isn’t in Raglan, she is probably in the Antarctic guiding, kayaking, SUP, and hiking.