The New Zealand Conservation Authority is a multi-talented team of people from diverse backgrounds, for example, farmers, trampers, scientists, lawyers, tangata whenua, writers and tourism operators.
Members are appointed as individuals because of their expertise, experience and links with the community. Individuals do not act as delegates promoting any cause or organisation. Rather, members work by consensus within a team. The diversity amongst members brings together a wide range of knowledge, skills and concerns.
Shad Rolleston (Chair) of Tauranga
Appointment term: 3 August 2023 to 30 June 2029
Shad (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui and Ngāti Pūkenga) was appointed to the Authority in 2023 and became Chair in 2026. He has more than 25 years’ experience across government, iwi and industry in strategic policy, planning, governance and Māori-Crown relationships. Shad is also a Crown-appointed member of the Waikato River Authority and an accredited Resource Management Commissioner. He brings particular expertise in environmental management, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Treaty settlements, strategic planning and relationships with iwi and hapū.
Shad is the NZCA's liaison person for the Waikato Conservation Board.
Mick Abbott of Dunedin
Appointment term: 31 May 2024 to 30 June 2028
Mick is appointed on recommendation of the Federated Mountains Club of New Zealand Incorporated. He is an Emeritus Professor of Landscape Architecture at Lincoln University and has previously served as Chair of the Canterbury Aoraki Conservation Board. As well as having strong governance experience, he has a demonstrated history of working on significant projects within public conservation lands.
Mick is the NZCA's liaison person for the Canterbury Aoraki Conservation Board.
Tāne Davis MNZM of Invercargil
Appointment term: 1 October 2018 to 30 June 2027
Ko Hananui me Takitimu nga Mauka.
Ko Aparima te Awa.
Ko Oraka Aparima te wahi kainga.
Ko Takutai o Te Titi te Marae.
Ko Takitimu te Waka.
Ko Te Moana a Kiwa te Moana.
Ko Atawhuia te Hapu.
Ko Whenua Hou te Motu o nga Tipuna.
Ko Waitaha, Katimamoe, me Kai Tahu te Iwi.
Ko Tāne Davis toku ingoa.
Through the Ngāi Tahu Deed of Settlement Tāne Represents Ngāi Tahu on the NZCA. He represents Ngāi Tahu on the Kākāpō Recovery Group, enhancing the Ngāi Tahu connection to Kākāpō. Tikanga, Mātauranga, Wairua, Kaitiaki.
Tāne chairs the Whenua Hou Committee, which was formed from the Ngāi Tahu Settlement. Allowing Ngāi Tahu to have involvement with the governance, and management of Whenua Hou.
Tāne has a life time connection to the Tītī Islands, in particular the island known as Putauhinu, now known as the Rakiura Tītī Islands. He endorses this connection by chairing the Rakiura Tītī Islands Administerring Body, which administers a group of 18 islands returned from the Crown to Rakiura Māori within the Ngāi Tahu Settlement. It is this mahi Tāne is strongly connected to, involving Rakiura Māori with concentrating on the conservation values of their islands. Participating with pest controls, taonga species recovery programs, and enhancing the biosecurity and biodiversity of the islands back to their natural state. Maintaining tikanga, whakapapa, whanaungatanga, mātauranga, values with in the Tītī whānau community.
Tāne is a registered and supportive member of the Oraka Aparima Runaka. He is currently contracted by Te Rūnanga O Ngāi Tahu as a Works Programs Coordinator for the Rakiura Tītī Islands.
Tāne is the NZCA's liaison person for the Southland Conservation Board.
Greg Duley of Napier
Appointment term: 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2028
Greg is appointed from public nominations. He is the Director of the NZ Hunter magazine and host of the TVNZ Duke show, NZ Hunter Adventures. Greg is a passionate hunter as well as a keen tramper and recreationalist, having climbed all of New Zealand’s highest mountains including Aoraki/Mt Cook, Horokoau/Mt Tasman, and Tititea/Mt Aspiring. He has also been heavily involved with volunteer conservation projects all over the country and is currently a member of the NZ Fish & Game Council and the NZ Tahr Foundation.
Kiri Goulter of Cambridge
Appointment term: 16 July 2026 to 30 June 2029
Kiri brings 15 plus years of governance experience across Crown entities, tertiary education, economic development agencies, charitable trusts and Council Controlled Organisations.
She has a 30-year career leading New Zealand tourism strategy, destination stewardship and sustainable development and brings leadership, policy and stewardship skills and experience.
Philip Lyver of Lincoln
Appointment term: 16 July 2026 to 30 June 2029
Philip (Ngāti Toarangatira ki Wairau) was appointed on the recommendation of Royal Society of New Zealand Te Apārangi. Philip is currently the Principal Māori Researcher, NZ Institute of Bioeconomy, and has a long career in research which has encompassed working nationally and internationally with indigenous peoples, scientists, stakeholders government agencies and policy makers on biodiversity and conservation management outcomes. He brings strong evaluation, policy and strategic skills to this role.
Sheena Maru of Whanganui
Appointment term: 16 July 2026 to 30 June 2029
Sheena (Ngāti Ruru, Ngāti Uenuku) brings strong leadership and governance to the role. She was instrumental in the development and implementation of the Te Awa Tupua legislation and the ongoing implementation of Te Waiū o Te Ika for the Whangehu River and its tributaries.
Her expertise and the intersecting nature of her work across multiple domains may offer significant value to the New Zealand Conservation Authority.
Peter Masters of Taupō
Appointment term: 16 July 2026 to 30 June 2029
Peter was appointed in consultation with the Minister of Tourism. Peter has extensive experience in the farming, tourism and aviation sectors. He was a Taupō Tongariro Conservation Board member, and Chair for 10 years. He contributed to the initial drafting and approval of the local CMS and Tongariro National Park Management Plan.
He is also a keen cyclist, and is a recognised NZCT Master Trail Builder, providing technical management and advice to trails throughout the country. An experienced helicopter pilot, he has over 40 years’ experience flying on DOC operations in the North Island.
Tak Mutu of Rotorua
Appointment term: 25 April 2021 to 30 June 2028
Tak (Te Arawa, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Hurunga, and Ngāti Pikiao) was appointed in consultation with the Minister of Māori Development. Tak is the co-owner and director of the MDA Group, operating in the tourism and events sector as well as business consultancy. The parent company, MDA Experiences, is an industry leader for both luxury and adventure tourism, which has a strong focus on Māori Business Development.
Tak has spent his working life in the industry undertaking a wide range of roles from front line hosting and tour guiding to business development and marketing management. He is also internationally known in the mountain biking community.
Tak is the NZCA's liaison person for the Bay of Plenty and Tongriro Taupō Conservation Boards.
Paul Norris of Te Anau
Appointment term: 6 August 2025 to 30 June 2028
Paul was appointed after consultation with the Minister of Tourism and is based in Southland. Paul has 35 years of practical experience in the tourism industry and is currently Chief Conservation Officer of RealNZ. He is also on the board of the Milford Opportunities Project. In 2021, Paul was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit for services the Tourism Industry and Conservation. His knowledge is useful for ongoing priorities such as access charging and work around concessions.
Dean van Mierlo of Punakaiki
Appointment term: 6 August 2025 to 30 June 2028
Dean was appointed on the recommendation of Forest and Bird and is based on the West Coast. Dean is a barrister with over 25 years’ experience specialising in conservation, environmental and resource management processes. He has acted for NGOs, the Director-General of Conservation, Ministers of the Crown, Iwi, and applicants/developers in relation to a wide variety of environmental and conservation related matters over the last three decades. He will bring skills and experience in advocacy, mediation and dispute resolution, allowing him to work collaboratively with others to find common ground and enduring solutions to issues.
Aneika Young of Nelson
Appointment term: 1 August 2026 to 30 June 2029
Aneika (Ngāti Rārua, Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Koroki Kahukura, Ngāti Ruanui) was appointed in consultation with the Minister of Māori Development. Aneika is currently Kaiāwhina Māori/Māori Cultural Advisor and Māori Business Development, environmental scientist and researcher for Cawthron Institute in Nelson. She has a background as consultant in Māori Resource Management and a wide interest in outdoor recreation and has been a walk and kayak guide in Abel Tasman National Park.
She is an iwi representative on the Abel Tasman Birdsong Trust, is a trustee of Te Āwhina Marae and an alternate director for Ngāti Rārua Te Ātiawa Trust on Tiakina te Taiao. She is currently Co-Chair of the Nelson Marlborough Conservation Board and has indicated she will step down from the Board if she is appointed to the Authority.