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.

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.

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.

Vanessa is a lover of anything artsy, walking long distances, collecting random facts no one else cares about and spending time with her important people. She is a lifelong lover of nature and is passionate about reducing her impact on the natural world. She works hard to grow Rivercare Te Wai o Pareira’s platform so that we can increase awareness of the need to protect Te Wai o Pareira.

Chez (Ngāpuhi/Te Rawara/Ngāti Tūwharetoa) is a University of Auckland student majoring in Environmental Science with a background in ecological restoration. He hopes to connect the community to the natural world by bringing people together to help restore and protect Te Wai o Pareira. Chez can be found in his vegetable garden, talking about the Karamu tree to his partner Jess and son Mihaka.