Chris is the Director and founder of Second Nature Gardens. Chris has more than 30 years experience in successful business leadership including a number of leadership roles in community and industry organisations. Over his career he has developed considerable knowledge of the built and natural landscape. Chris is a co- founder of RiverCare Group Te Wai o Pareira. 

Chris is a Te Atatu Peninsula local and has lived here with his young family for the last 10 years. Chris has always been around the water, fishing, boating, kayaking and passionate about people connecting with, and protecting their local rohe.  Through his role at Community Waitakere Chris works closely with many community-focused conservation projects community groups across West Auckland, assisting them with habitat restoration, environmental education, and community development.  

Peter is a retired environmental scientist. He has a B.Sc.(Hons) and Ph.D in chemistry, specialising in environmental chemistry and its applications under the Resource Management Act and the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act. He has worked as a forensic scientist with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and as a principal environmental scientist for GHD Ltd.

Dion is a Restoration Ecologist.  He is an environmental engagement contractor to Manaaki Whenua (Landcare Research). Dion is a trustee and provides our group with advice on the natural integration of a Māori worldview and understanding, namely Te Ao Marama and Mātauranga Māori. Dion has a BSc in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.

Kieran has been working in the environmental space as a landscaper for over a decade and has a passion for conservation and community. Kieran brings to our team a younger persons perspective and energy, and is dedicated to our mahi.

Alan is a retired IT Professional. Alan has a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) with a career spanning telecommunications and a variety of leadership roles in IT, culminating in a Programme Manager role at Fonterra. Alan uses his experience and skills to ‘give back’ to nature, managing RiverCare’s day-to-day activities.

Lila leads Rivercare's Community Engagement and is passionate about the environment and learning to live simply in harmony with nature.  She has a background in the fashion industry but left it when she found the industry's values no longer matched her own.  Recently certified in Permaculture Design, Lila leads the Tawa Esplanade Restoration project, working with local school students and learning to weave mātauranga Maori into all her mahi.

Russell is an avid kayaker and has spent countless hours on Te Wai o Pareira. His experience and attention to detail has made him an adept fact-based problem analyser and solver which, combined with wide community contacts, makes him an invaluable advocate for our awa and its community.