Frances has always been interested in nature conservation and ecology. Her interest and knowledge of Canterbury native plants grew during her years as coordinator for the Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust and when working on a project to assist Selwyn landowners learn about their local native vegetation. Together, with other like-minded people who were excited about supporting the idea of a network of native vegetation as stepping stones of habitat linking the mountains to the sea, she formed Te Ara Kakariki / Greenway Canterbury to support landowners and community groups to conserve and restore native vegetation and wildlife on the Canterbury Plains.
She currently works as a Biodiversity Advisor for Environment Canterbury working with the newly established biodiversity team to implement the Immediate Steps Biodiversity Programme (part of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy) and Canterbury Biodiversity Strategy. Originally from the States she came to New Zealand in 1992 as a Rotary Scholar to study Resource Management at Lincoln University. She continued with further studies on conservation of a threatened bird species (Chatham Island oystercatcher). She enjoys most anything to do with the outdoors and native plants and animals. She also volunteers to help with other conservation projects, mainly to do with birds and offshore islands, when she can.
Professor Ian Spellerberg
Ian Spellerberg is passionate about New Zealand’s native plants and for the last 15 years has worked hard to raise the profile of New Zealand’s native flora. He has edited three books about New Zealand native plants and has written many articles for newspapers and magazines. He believes that local government should have a policy for using native plants only on public land. He was President of the New Zealand Plant Conservation Network from 2005 to 2009 and was a founding member of the Te Ara Kakariki Greenway Canterbury Trust and the Lincoln Envirotown Trust.
Ian is Professor of Nature Conservation at Lincoln University and Director of the Isaac Centre for Nature Conservation. His main research and teaching interests include the ecological basis of nature conservation and education for sustainable development. Previously he was Director of Environmental Sciences at the University of Southampton, England. He is a Fellow of the Linnean Society, a Fellow of the World Wildlife Fund (U.K.), and has been made an Honorary Fellow of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ).
Ian lives with his Wife in a 100 year old farmhouse in central Canterbury. He has an ecological footprint of 3.2 ha. He is a very keen gardener and spends much of his ‘spare’ time either planting native trees or training people to train dogs to be Canine Good Citizens. Photo provided by John Maillard.
Cr Malcolm Lyall
Malcolm Lyall is a long time resident of Selwyn District. Malcolm is the owner operator of an electrical contracting business, which he has established.
Malcolm has been actively involved in community and environmental organizations for many years and is in his third term as a councilor on the Selwyn District Council.
Malcolm holds the portfolios of tourism, economic development, heritage and the arts; he is a hearings commissioner and a member of the greater Christchurch urban development strategy implementation committee.He has a strong interest in environmental issues and the education and promotion of increasing environmental biodiversity and sustainability.
Craig Pauling (Treasurer)
Otumatua te maunga
Huritini te awa
Te Waihora te hapua
Te Ruahikihiki te tangata
Craig is a founding trustee of Te Ara Kākāriki and is the current treasurer for the Trust. He is passionate about the protection and restoration of native flora and fauna, particularly as it relates to Ngāi Tahu mahinga kai (traditional food) species and practices, and has been involved in a number of ecological restoration projects across Canterbury and the South Island. Craig has worked for Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu for over 10 years as an Environmental Advisor and is also a member of the Te Waihora (Lake Ellesmere) Management Board representing Te Taumutu Rūnanga. Craig lives in Halswell with three tamariki, Mihiroa, Meihana and Tainui and partner Janyne.
Jason Arnold
Born and bred in the local area Jason’s involvement over the past 17 years in community, sustainable business and environmental issues continues through his commitment to Te Ara Kākāriki. His own native restoration on a small slice of the whenua adds another Greendot to the growing number of stepping stones across the Canterbury Plains.