Northland Conservation Board members

The following people have been appointed on the Northland Conservation Board by the Minister of Conservation:

Mita Harris - Chairperson
New Zealand Historic Places Trust. Has worked in the heritage sector for 15 years, including DOC in the past.

Ian McGill - Deputy Chair
Has background in food and chemical industry. Good knowledge of environmental and conservation issues. BCS chemistry and geology.

Judi Gilbert
Long serving member of the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society and key supporter of the Save Ngunguru Sandspit Campaign. Well versed in local body politics.

William Goodfellow
Owns a tourism business - Explore NZ, and is a concessionaire of DOC. Tourism Industry Award 2008, member of the Tourism Development Group, provides leadership and direction to Destination Northland and the Northland Tourism Industry.

Helene Leaf
30 years community development experience, particularly projects aimed at protecting and enhancing the environment. Long history of understanding public processes and cultural awareness. Iwi affiliations: Ngapuhi, Te Aupouri, Te Rarawa, Te Roroa.

Peter O'Hara
Journalist with extensive knowledge of New Zealand issues. He has strong leadership and communication skills. He was a senior media executive with board, operational and strategic responsibilities.

Hori Parata
Environmental consultant and doctoral student with a working history in resource management for the Ngatiwai Trust Board. He is a strong advocate for tino rangatiratanga. Iwi affiliation: Ngati Wai.

Richard Robins
Experience is in resource management for land and marine areas. He has strong people skills and knowledge of the region, the local culture and heritage.

Robert Willoughby
Involved in Te Rawhiti community development since 2002. He has strong communication skills, understanding of cultural differences and interests in conservation within the community. Iwi affiliations: Ngati Kuta Hapu - Ngapuhi Iwi.

Tracey Andrews - Smith
Consultant with over twenty years experience in construction management. A qualified project manager, with an extensive knowledge of business strategy, project facilitation, the resource consent process and iwi engagement. Iwi affiliations: Te Rarawa, Ngati Kahu, Ngati Kuri, Ngai Takoto, and Ngapuhi.

Co-opted Board members

Jereon Jongejans - Dive Tutukaka - eco tourism owner operator

Kevin Evans - Conservationist. Member of Fish & Game Council. Brown teal recovery work.

Appointments

Board members are appointed after public nominations are called for, usually March/April. In appointing members as a result of the public advertisement process, the Minister is required by the Act to consult the New Zealand Conservation Authority and have regard to:

• the particular features of land administered by the department in the area of the board's jurisdiction;
• the interests of nature conservation, natural earth and marine sciences, recreation, tourism, and the local community including the tangata whenua of an area.

The Minister's aim is to appoint members whose knowledge, skill and commitment can enhance the protection of the region's natural and historic resources.

New members are appointed effective from 01 September.

Role of board members

Once appointed to a conservation board, all members have to exercise the powers and functions as set out in the Act. The Act does not provide for members to restrict their influence to matters of special expertise. In other words, "tourism" members may not restrict their contribution to tourism matters, "tangata whenua" members may not restrict their interest to tangata whenua matters, and so on.

Neither are members representatives of the organisation or persons who nominated them. They are appointed as individuals to bring to the board their expertise, knowledge and perspective as well as the concerns of different sections of the community, so that sound decisions can be made.

All members should make independent attempts to be informed about matters that come before the board and contribute their perspectives as all members have equal rights and equal responsibilities under the Act. This includes an equal responsibility to give effect to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.

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