Meet your water zone committee

Ted Howard — Chair

Ted has had two terms on the committee; the second as its chair.

Ted brings to the committee a range of knowledge/skills including education, zoology, biochemistry and how all things work. He spent three years as chairman of Kaikōura District Council’s Works and Services Committee, has membership with Forest and Bird, is a founding member and twelve years participation in Te Korowai, is an appointed member of Kaikōura Marine Guardians, life member of the Kaikōura Boating Club (15-years as chair), chair of the Titī/Hutton’s Shearwater Charitable Trust, and is involved in several other organisations - Lions Club, Golf Club and the Tramping Club. Ted also owns and operates a software business, doing design, coding, documentation and support.

Ted has received a Queen's Service Medal for services to conservation.

Gina Solomon

Gina has been a representative on the committee since its formation, previously as a Rūnanga representative and now as a community member. Her strong commitment to the environment and conservation is also reflected in the other organisations she is associated with including Te Korowai o Te Tai o Marokura/Kaikōura Coastal Marine Guardians, and the Nelson/Marlborough Conservation Board, director on the QEII National Trust, member of the Nature Heritage Fund and a trustee on the Titī/Hutton’s Shearwater Charitable Trust.

Gina was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2021.

John Murray

John is a third-generation sheep and beef farmer on his property, with water rights for irrigation from the Waiau Toa Clarence River. He has been a member of the committee since 2014.

He has also been secretary and chair of the East Coast branch of Federated Farmers, chair of the NZ Angus Cattle Breeders Association and Nelson/Marlborough board member for ten years.

Robert Roche — Deputy Chair

Robert is a businessman with strong farming and fishing connections in the Kaikōura zone, having lived in the district for around 20-years.

He was General Manager of Innovative Waste Kaikōura for six years - a role which engaged with many groups and organisations in the community, including Marae, Police, RSA, Lions, sports groups, and the District and Regional Councils. He is also a Kaikōura District Council Councillor.

He has also in the past been involved with a project with the local Rūnanga when he led the Kaikōura Youth Team.

Teri Sonal

Teri works at Whale Watch Kaikōura. Tourism is the biggest business in Kaikōura, with Whale Watch Kaikōura very keen to continue their community responsibility in actively participating in process that will determine how water is to be managed in the Kaikōura area thereby helping fulfil their kaitiaki responsibilities for the management of water in the zone. Teri lives in Oaro on a lifestyle block and has done so for about 30-years, building up good knowledge of the southern part of the zone. She has taught at the local high school and tutored at Kaikōura Centre for Continuing Education including in the management of the marine environment and natural resources. Teri has a long association with Takahanga Marae and Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura.

Nicky McArthur

Nicky is the owner of Puhi Peaks Station in the Seaward Kaikōura Ranges and managing director of tourism company Kaikōura Wilderness Experience Ltd, which incorporates farm, tourism, hunting ventures and Shearwater Lodge. She is passionate about maintaining the uniqueness of the 8,000 acres that make up Puhi Peaks Station, and believes knowledge and management of the property is the key to good kaitiakitanga.

Nicky is also a governor, trustee and chair of promotion for the Waihi School Trust Board, and the convenor of community liaison for the Hutton’s Shearwater Charitable Trust.

Desiree Bolton

Desiree Bolton is a Kaikōura Plains based dairy farmer with a young family and has a degree in Environmental Management. She was on the Kaikōura Plains Recovery Project Governance Group.

Aroha Boyd

Aroha's whānau lived for many years on the banks of the Waikōau (Lyell Creek), so Aroha has a particular interest in this particular waterway. She has also worked for Whale Watch for many years so brings in that tourism flavour. She is a Rūnanga representative on the Kaikōura Manawhenua Roopu working with Ngāi Tahu Farming on Eyrewell and Balmoral.

Clint McConchie

Clint has extensive farm management experience having worked in a variety of farm operations across New Zealand.  Having returned home to Kaikōura with his family after the earthquakes, Clint has recently taken up the role of Natural Resources Manager for Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura.

Kaikōura District Council - Cr Tony Blunt

In his third term as a Kaikōura District Council Councillor, Tony is married with four children. His family farm 800 hectares of sheep and cattle. Community engagement, representation and events are key goals for Tony.

• Cr Grant Edge

Maia Kahu

Maia Kahu is a year 13 student at Kaikōura High School. She is one of the five head students who share a variety of school responsibilities. She has been a member of Kaikōura Youth Council for six and a half years, including being the chairperson last year.

Find out more about the Youth Rōpū.