Meet your zone representatives

Annabelle Hasselman is a stay-at-home mother to 4 children. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Post Graduate Diploma in Landscape Architecture.

Annabelle has previously worked for Department of Conservation in Hokitika and Wellington. She is currently the Chair of the Ōpāwaho Heathcote River Network.

Mike is the current Chairperson of the Water and Wildlife Habitat Trust and has professional experience in environmental management, catchment management and leading community environmental groups in Australia, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand. Mike is also a Trustee of the Eco Action Nursery Trust, supporting schools to grow eco sourced endemic plants for the red zone.

Mike grew up in Australia and lives in Christchurch.

Brynlea has qualifications in sustainability and outdoor education with a good understanding of behaviour change. She did a research dissertation on the motivators and barriers that students find when implementing pro-environmental behaviour.

She has professional experience in resource management. Brynlea has been involved in community gardens and has youth leadership skills.

Brynlea grew up in Christchurch, lives in Christchurch and enjoys the outdoors.Brynlea has qualifications in sustainability and outdoor education with a good understanding of behaviour change.

She did a research dissertation on the motivators and barriers that students find when implementing pro-environmental behaviour. She has professional experience in resource management.

Brynlea has been involved in community gardens and has youth leadership skills.

Brynlea grew up in Christchurch, lives in Christchurch and enjoys the outdoors.

Helen has a long standing interest and professional involvement in groundwater and is a Hydrogeologist. She has an understanding of Christchurch and Canterbury groundwater systems and the impacts of agricultural intensification and earthquakes on groundwater.

Helen grew up in Britain and lives in Christchurch. She enjoys water based recreation on the Ōtākaro/Avon River and other Canterbury waterways.

Shona has professional experience in coordinating and facilitating catchment groups and is knowledgeable about farming systems, communication, and sustainable land and water management. She was involved in earthquake response with the 'Farmy Army'.

Shona grew up on the West Coast and lives in West Melton. She enjoys recreation on the Waimakariri River.

Clare has an interest in being actively involved in enhancing and supporting both our urban water supplies, and the water quality of our urban waterways/bodies. She has a degree in Social Science (Resource and Environmental Management) and a Masters in Environmental Policy. Clare is a resident of Central Christchurch and has a desire to see her children continuing to see fish in the urban rivers and play in the waterways. Clare works in the Planning and Consents team at the Christchurch City Council.

Cailin has a role as an Outdoor Educator in Ōtautahi, and has a strong connection to our environment. Cailin would love to help develop actions to sustain our environment and waterways for future generations to come. She supports the Zone Committee’s vision for its urban waterways to be healthy and for its communities to have a potable supply of untreated groundwater into the future.

Oscar is a student at St Andrews College and a member of the Environment Canterbury Youth Rōpū.

He is a youth representative on the Water Zone Committee to ensure the youth voice is heard, to make change and help influence outcomes, and that ties in with his passion for the environment and its continued sustainability.

"The streams we swim in, mountains we trek, forests we camp in are all so important to the Kiwi way of life. If they deteriorate and if our environmental practices continue the way they are generations in the future will experience a radically different environment to the one we have today. I want to be involved to help influence decision makers to make the choice that helps us in the future to sustain our environment, not just ones that solve issues now."

Arapata has strong historical family ties with Christchurch waterways. His great-great great grandfather Te Muru was a Kaitiaki (guardian) for the Heathcote / Opawaho River.

Arapata and his family, who live in Tuahiwi, still have a deep sense of belonging with the natural environment and its ability to nourish whānau.

Arapata is currently employed with Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu as the Kāiarahi Whakapapa in the Whakapapa Unit.

Tyla has a strong natural affinity to the water that stems from the whenua in his region.

Descending from Ngai Tahu, Tyla was taught from a young age about the importance and the connection we have as kaitiaki (guardians) of the land and water.

Tyla is currently an owner of a sports company and a business consultant.

Kākati is currently in his final year of study towards a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering with Honours and a diploma in Global Humanitarian Engineering.

He strongly believes that he will add value from representing Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke on the Christchurch West Melton Zone Committee due to his passion and expertise he has for water. Kakati believes he will make an impact on the committee and deliver for his community, tamariki and mokopuna.