Meet your zone representatives

Gina Waibl has a Civil Engineering degree and 13 years as a Risk Analyst and Road Safety Engineer.

She has her own consultancy and is an appointed independent professional advisor to the NZTA.

Previous roles include Risk Analyst for MWH New Zealand Ltd, and Transportation Engineer for MWH New Zealand Ltd.

Volunteer roles include the Predator Free Port Hills Steering Groups, the Summit Road Society - Omahu Bush, and various DOC volunteer experiences including a six-month stint on Raoul Island.

Paula Smith has been on the zone committee since 2014. She has a degree in Botany and worked as landscape architect in various locations throughout New Zealand.

Paula is also a trained resource management decision-maker and has been a member of a hearings panel for resource consent applications in Christchurch City.

Paula has a keen interest in working with her local communities and has been chairperson of the Lyttelton/Mt Herbert Community Board since 2007.

Ben Manson farms his own property in Little River and farms in partnership on 2 other properties (Ōnuku and Ōnuku Heights).

He has lived in the area for the past 35 years and his parents and grandparents for most of their lives.

Ben has been involved in the local community with the activities of the Little River School and Co-Chair of the Little River Flood Working Group..

Garrick Thorn teaches Chemical Engineering at the University of Canterbury. In previous roles he was an Environmental Engineer at a Crown Research Institute working on industrial wastewater treatment, researching nutrient requirements of biological treatment systems.

He has also worked in Applied Research (Engineering) in the United Kingdom, and as an Environmental Engineer for Scion in Rotorua NZ.

Elizabeth Macpherson lives in Lyttelton and is a natural resources lawyer and lectures at the School of Law, University of Canterbury.

She worked at the University of Melbourne for approximately 5 years as a research fellow working on the Australian Research Council Discovery Project – forest carbon sequestration and indigenuous and local community rights.

Elizabeth also carried out research at the University of Melbourne on indigenous land and resource rights and water law matters.

Rima Herber has a Bachelor of Science in Plant and Microbial sciences and currently is involved on restoration work on ‘Oashore’.

She was the secretary of the Travis Wetland Trust for 2 years and involved in a working group to maintain access for across Birdlings Flat beach.

Rima is committed to improving the natural area around the area in Te Roto o Wairewa where she lives.

Erana is a student at University of Canterbury and a member of the Environment Canterbury Youth Rōpū.

She is a youth representative on the Water Zone Committee, so she can be part of the conversation.

“I want to, through my experience, normalise open communication between youth and more knowledgeable people who are experts in certain levels of fields. By allowing me to get involved I can then take my knowledge base that I learn whilst taking part and address it to the wider communities that I am part of, diversifying opinions shared and explained."

"Kia ora my name is Benita Wakefield and I represent Wairewa runanga on the BPCWMS zone committee.

I am currently the Chair for the committee and enjoy the opportunity to work collectively with community, runanga and councils on a wide range of areas involving: freshwater management; mahinga kai (traditional food gathering practices, approaches and knowledge) biodiversity, pest management, protection and conservation of our precious taonga- tuku- iho (treasures, natural resources passed down through the generations).

We all share a common vision and responsibility to be caring for our environment. A major strength is the diversity of skills, experience, knowledge and worldviews or perspectives represented on the committee. This ensures the needs of the community of Te Pataka o Rakaihautu - Banks Peninsula will be supported, advocated for and strategies developed to support their aspirations."

Kia ora. My name is Aurora Smith.

I am very privileged to have spent my childhood at Rāpaki on the shores of Whakaraupõ - walking the land and experiencing a strong relationship with nature. Working in both Biodynamic and BioGro Certified gardens and orchards, tramping and kayaking, whilst living in the Nelson area, has further encouraged my respect and love of nature.

With a Diploma of Remedial Body Therapies from the Naturopathic College of New Zealand, I am aware that as humans, we are just one part of this amazing planet. Also, that our well-being and the well-being of the earth are inseparable. Maintaining the Mauri of the water is an absolutely vital element to maintaining the well-being of all.

Mõ tātou, ā, mõ kā uri a muri ake nei.

For us and our children after us."

I am the Chairperson of the Onuku Runanaga and a Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu board member.  I am active in the community and currently  a trustee for 5 different organisations. I am passionate about the Peninsula and look forward to working with the other members of the BP zone committee.