Gaining knowledge makes for better informed decisions, more resilient environments, and a thriving taiao.
Service Directory
Dr. Rebecca Eivers
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Workshops / Speaker / Events
Originally from a sheep and beef farm in Tairāwhiti/Gisborne, I now live in Whaingaroa/Raglan in the Waikato. I completed my BSc and MSc at Canterbury University and my PhD at Waikato.
I'm an applied freshwater ecologist, wetland specialist, and water quality scientist. The overarching goal of my mahi is to support our natural environment, and our people, to be healthy and thriving despite landuse and economic development pressures. Implementing the most appropriate and effective biological ecosystem solutions (usually wetlands!) to reverse environmental degradation and restore native biodiversity, while engaging with and empowering the local community/iwi/landowners to work alongside me is what really lights me up.
Lillian Harley
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Lillian is an experienced environmental consultant who works on a range of farms and orchards throughout the Gisborne region. With a wide range of backgrounds including dairy, dry stock and kiwifruit and she provides a down to earth, no nonsense approach to environmental consultancy.
Sara Lawrence
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Educator / Rural Fire Specialist
Fire is an increasing risk across our different land types, the impact of which can be economically and ecologically devastating. Sara educates groups with risk assessements, prevention and preparedness across a range of land types including farmland, forestry, native bush, and catchment zones.
Graeme Atkins
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Rongoa Maori, Project Consultant
Graeme Atkins, ( Ngati Porou Rongomaiwahine) is a renowned New Zealand conservationist based in Ruatorea. Graeme has spent over 30 years working in conservation and is regarded as a "Māori plant David Attenborough", with an incredible and unmatched working knowledge of plant species across the East Coast.
He has been instrumental in the Raukumara Pae Maunga restoration efforts, an Iwi-led effort to pull ngahere back from the brink of extinction and build the ecological and cultural restoration of the Raukumara.
Alongside his work in the Raukumara, Graeme runs Te Rimu environmental and consults on taiao restoration work across the rohe.
Malcolm Rutherford
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I can support catchment groups with practical field work and ecological advice. This includes bird counts and other biodiversity surveys, vegetation and habitat mapping, species lists, and restoration planning.
I can also help analyse monitoring data, identify priority protection areas, and prepare clear reports for funders and stakeholders so projects are well targeted and backed by solid evidence.
QEII National Trust
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The QEII National Trust helps landowners protect important native bush and wetlands through covenants that are legally registered on the land title and remain in place permanently, even if the property changes hands. This includes a contribution to the initial fencing costs.
QEII stays involved over time, with regular monitoring visits to check how the site is tracking and to offer practical advice and support when possible.
Key functions and actions of the QEII National Trust include:
Protecting Land: Establishing open space covenants that permanently protect land while landowners retain ownership.
Biodiversity Support: Providing advice, monitoring, and funding for conservation projects and restoration work.
Partnership & Stewardship: Connecting with landowners to manage and enhance unique natural and cultural heritage sites.
Independent Advocacy: Operating as an independent organization to promote the protection of open spaces.
Scott Kendrick
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Venison Recovery Services
We are already actively working across the Tairāwhiti, Wairoa, and Hawke's Bay regions. We understand how much pressure high deer numbers are putting on pastures, forage crops, and native bush. Our service provides a practical, hassle-free solution for landowners that also adds a financial benefit to their business.
Key details of our operation:
MPI Approved: We operate under full Ministry for Primary Industries compliance.
Human Consumption: Every deer we recover is strictly processed for human consumption.
Financial Return: We pay the farmers/landowners for every deer harvested from their property.
Professional Standards: We manage the full harvest, recovery, and removal process safely and efficiently.
Jacopo Orazi
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Educator / Consultant
Radice Soil is on a mission to restore soil, regenerate ecosystems, and reconnect communities with the land.
Jacopo Orazi has 15 years of experience in regenerative agriculture specializing in sustainable food production, native flora conservation, and building resilient agrifood systems. They can provide workshops, speaking and consultation on soil conservation, and environmental planning consultation, taking into account new legislation.
Ben Bakalich
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Feral Pest Control
Goats, Deer, Pig, Pest solutions
Matt Huxtable
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Feral Pest Control
Feral Pest Solutions, based in Gisborne and founded in 2011, focuses on pest animal culling and predator control across New Zealand. Their mission is to manage pest species effectively to promote ecological balance and support local environments. Using state-of-the-art equipment and a commitment to safety, they ensure efficient operations and clear communication among team members.
Mark Roper
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Better Bat Management
Founded by ecologist Mark Roper, The Bat Co. Lab delivers specialist bat ecology consultancy at its core, providing expert, evidence-based guidance for planning, development and conservation decisions. Our practical monitoring tools improve efficiency in fieldwork and data management by reducing manual processing time and survey costs. This expertise is extended through community-led projects and the National Bat Survey, generating meaningful data to support bat conservation across Aotearoa.
Inclusion in this directory does not constitute an endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by Leading from the Land Tairāwhiti. We provide this list strictly as a resource, and users are encouraged to conduct their own due diligence
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