Trustees and Advisors

Tamsin Orr-Walker – NCCWA; BAAT
Trust Chair

Tamsin has a captive animal background most recently working at Auckland Zoo on the native fauna section. During this time she developed a strong interest in Kea, developing a training conditioning programme and conducting research on captive management techniques within New Zealand. Tamsin originally trained the Speights Summit kea, Nauhea. Tamsin has successfully project managed four research projects for the KCT inclusive of the Kea winter survey (2008 and 2009), intensive summer survey (2009 and 2010), nest monitoring (2009) and bird repellent project to prevent ingestion of 1080 (2009). She has also undertaken field work and behavioural studies as part of these projects.

Hon. Justice Hugh Williams – LL.B; LL.M (Hons)
Trust Treasurer

Hugh was an Associate Judge of the High Court of New Zealand (1989-93) and has been a Judge of the High Court in Auckland since 1995. Hugh has strong connections with tertiary institutions and was heavily involved with the Massey University Council for 20 yrs, 7 of these as Chancellor (1990-1997). He was also a Palmerston North City Councillor from 1983-89.

Peter Fraser – NCCWA
Trust Secretary

Peter is the Conservation Officer at Auckland Zoo and has been appointed to the ARAZPA Field Conservation Committee. This committee aims to identify insitu conservation priorities in Australasia. Prior to this he was lecturer and Programme Coordinator for the Certificate in Animal Management (Captive Wild animals) at Unitec, Auckland for 2 ½ years. Peter was also employed by Auckland Zoo between 2002 and 2004 prior to taking up his position at Unitec.

Kevin Plowright – NCAWI

Kevin is currently employed at MAF Quarantine Services as a Canine Operations Officer. Prior to this Kevin worked at the Waitakere City Council and SPCA as an Animal Control Officer and Animal Welfare Officer respectively. Kevin has developed public education programmes on animal husbandry, safety and welfare issues and is involved with bird rescue.

Dr. Nigel Adams - Ph.D.; BSc (Hons); BSc

Nigel is an animal physiologist specializing in ornithology presently employed at Unitec, Auckland, as Senior Lecturer on the Bachelor of Applied Science (BAppSci). Previous to this position Nigel held research and teaching positions at several Universities in South Africa and in Israel. Current research includes examining stress response in endemic New Zealand birds such as Grey Faced Petrel and Saddleback and surveying kea populations in Arthur's Pass, Canterbury.

Dr. Lorne Roberts – PhD; BSc (Hons)

Lorne is a lecturer on the Certificate in Animal Management (Captive Wild Animals) and Bachelor of Applied Science (BAppSci) at Unitec, Auckland. He also holds a position at Auckland Zoo as liaison for the Captive Wild Animal programme and is President of the Auckland Zoological Society (AZS) - the oldest society in New Zealand (1929). Previous research includes monitoring of stress responses in captive Sea lions at Auckland Zoo. Lorne has also been involved in population monitoring of kea at Nelson Lakes (2009 and 2010).