Marine NZ

Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust

The Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust - Nga Maunga ki te Moana was established in 2002. It is a charitable trust, that was formed to provide a strategic base for community and school-based conservation work.

The Trust provides technical support for schools, community groups and government departments who are working on conservation initiatives. Our vision sees our biodiversity - coastal areas, streams, lakes and wetlands - as respected taonga, and as part of the whole system. We believe that restoration of any part of the system supports the entire system, and we view education as central to all environmental restoration.

 

Current Trust Programmes 

The Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust was established primarily to umbrella the  Experiencing Marine Reserves and Whitebait Connection programmes. Both projects have been recognised nationally as leading edge marine conservation programmes in the education field.

Experiencing Marine Reserves is lead by Samara Nicholas, whose pioneering work in marine education saw her awarded the inaugural Sir Peter Blake Emerging Leader Award in 2005.

Whitebait Connection is currently coordinated  by Kim Boyle. This programme aims to inspire and educate schools, community groups and tangata whenua to restore and take care of the life sustaining force of their local streams and catchments.

Both programmes reinforce the vision of the Trust, and provide opportunities for students and communities to engage in marine and freshwater conservation.

The formation of our Trust brings together an extensive array of professional skills and capabilities. Within our group there is a balance of youth and experience, science, social science, educational and leadership accomplishment. Collectively amongst the Trustees of MTSCT we have decades of educational, science and business experience. We have extensive networks and professional relationships to call upon.   We have a vision of how education for sustainability can develop and play an important role in our communities. Our programmes make a unique and significant contribution to environmental education.

 

Trustees

    

Dr    Roger Grace is a well known marine biologist and professional photographer. Roger is an active campaigner for marine conservation in New Zealand and internationally. He has played a role in many of New Zealand’s marine reserve campaigns and is a frequent contributor of articles on marine conservation to popular magazines. Roger was involved as a supporter and biologist for the Great Barrier, Tiritiri and Mimiwhangata marine conservation projects. Roger is a regular contract photographer on the Greenpeace vessel "Rainbow Warrior".  He received the Queen's Service Medal for public service in 2005. Roger is a PADI rescue diver and OSH certified for scientific, photographic and tourism diving.

 

 

          Vince Kerr is a biologist with a background in environmental education, forestry, horticulture and conservation management and is currently working for the Department of Conservation, based in Northland. Vince is an advocate for marine conservation.
Vince played a key support role in the Kamo High School marine reserve campaign.
Vince is the driving force behind this our Trust website.

 

 

           Samara Nicholas (nee Sutherland) is the EMR director and national coordinator. She has responsibility for the overall management of the EMR programme; liaison with funders & partners; milestone and financial reporting; and some delivery. She was recognised in 2005 in the Sir Peter Blake Leadership awards as one of New Zealand 's Emerging Leaders. She has a Bachelor of Applied Science degree from AUT and is a graduate of Northland Polytechnic's Diploma of Environmental Management, and was a co-founder of the EMR and Drains to Harbour programmes. Samara is also a graduate of Kamo High School , where she was Head Girl and played a key role in the Kamo High School marine reserve proposal. Samara is a PADI Divemaster and registered assessor for unit standards in snorkeling.

Other Achievements include: Whangarei Young Person and Young Leader Award, 2004, IUCN-sponsored youth attendee at the International Marine Protected Areas Conference in Geelong, Australia, 2005, Northland Conservation Award, 2005, Northland Seaweek coordinator, 2005, 2006 & 2007, NZ representative at International Youth Development Exchange Programme, Japan, 2006, attendance at the  University of Auckland Fundraising for Not-For Profit organisations and Motivation & Leadership short course, 2007 and DOC-sponsored Youth Voice delegate at Digital Earth, Berkley, USA, 2007

 

Kim Boyle is the Whangarei District coordinator for the EMR programme and co-founder of the Drains To Harbour stormwater awareness campaign and Mangrove Discovery Programme.  Kim is also the national coordinator for the Whitebait Connection programme. She achieved her Open Water SCUBA Diving certification and surf lifesaving bronze star and medallion whilst at high school. She is a graduate of the Diploma in Environmental Management and Conservation at Northland Polytechnic.  She received the Golden Bay Cement student scholarship in 2005 in recognition of her achievements, which has helped fund her education and provided her with experience working within the environmental management industry.  She has a National Certificate in Business Administration and Computing.  Kim was a selected member of the youth delegates at the 2006 Digital Earth symposium on sustainability and is also a committee member of the New Zealand Association for Environmental Education, Northland Branch. Kim has been involved with EMR as a volunteer since 2003 and has been the Whangarei District coordinator since 2006. Kim has recently achieved her Divemaster certification and has been elected as a member of the Whangarei Harbour Marine Reserve Advisory Committee.

 

          Sioux Campbell has a long association with environmental education, promotion and sustainability initiatives stretching back to her early days as a journalist at the start of the 1980s.  Providing local coverage of the 245T and Think Big Programme issues in Taranaki was the beginning of a life-time commitment to engaging others in environmental protection.  Sioux's professional background as a reporter, feature writer, public relations practitioner, educationalist and regional manager brings a range of skills to the trust and mixes well in her current work as  both a senior conservation officer and environmental public relations consultant.  She is also a keen diver, open water swimmer, triathlete, kayaker and community participant.

MarineNZ.org Sponsors