Auckland Conservation Board members

Repeka George-Koteka of West Auckland

Appointment term: 1 November 2024 to 30 June 2027

Repeka George-Koteka brings extensive experience in community engagement, cultural leadership, and systems change. She serves on the steering groups of Le Moana West and Te Wānanga o Aotearoa’s He Waka Hiringa, contributing to advocacy in Indigenous and Pacific spaces. Repeka holds a Master of Applied Indigenous Knowledge and is the director of Ei Moana, a company supporting team development, cultural capability, and community wellbeing through Indigenous frameworks, wānanga, coaching, and strategic facilitation.

Alan Goldman of Auckland

Appointment term: 1 November 2024 to 30 June 2027

Alan brings a lifetime of international finance experience together with a sound knowledge of board governance and compliance. His passion for conservation started back in 1974. He has served as a board member of the South African Wildlife Society and prestigious Mauerberger Foundation. In New Zealand he is the Treasurer of the Auckland Flyfishing Angling Club. Alan has won a number of awards, is an internationally published author and continues to work in education and the wider Auckland community.

Nerissa Henry of Auckland

Appointment term: 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2026

Nerissa brings experience and knowledge of community conservation, community engagement, cultural competency, governance and planning to the Board. Ms Henry sits on a number of public bodies including the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board, the Tūpuna Maunga o Tāmaki Makaurau Authority and the Tāmaki Estuary Environmental Forum, with wide connections to the Auckland community and volunteer sectors. Ms Henry has knowledge of kaitakitanga and the Treaty of Waitangi / Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Iwi Affiliations: Ngāpuhi, NgāiTakoto, Ngāti Awa

Mervyn Kerehoma of Orakei

Appointment term: 7 July 2020 to 30 June 2026

Mervyn Dene Kerehoma. Mervyn has Whakapapa To. Te Rarawa Kaiwhare Ahipara. Wainui Marae. Ngāti Whatua Nui Tonu. Orakei Marae. Hokianga Nga Puhi. As a dedicated Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei representative Mervyn has led numerous ecological restoration projects across Tāmaki Makaurau, including Takaparawhau, Okahu Bay, and Kaipātiki. Mervyn plays a key role in infrastructure and environmental initiatives as an iwi representative at Auckland Council, CCOs, and government entities. He also serves on the Mussel Reef Restoration Trust and represents Ngāti Whātua in the Toi Tūhono forum.

Iwi Affiliations: Ngāti Whātua o Ōrakei and Te Rarawa

Ema’ Latu of Waitakere

Appointment Term; 6 August 2025 to 30 June 2027

‘Ema, of Tongan heritage, is a dedicated conservation advocate with extensive experience in land management, outdoor recreation, and collaborative conservation initiatives. A strong voice for hunter led environmental stewardship, ‘Ema champions hunter led conservation and community driven change. She supports citizen science and biodiversity protection by contributing to native bird monitoring, pest control and ecosystem restoration. She has a deep understanding of tikanga Māori and principles of kaitiakitanga and mana moana. Her strength lies in strategic insight and deep cultural awareness.

Dr Shane Lavery of Auckland

(Deputy Chairperson)

Appointment term: 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2027

Shane is an Associate Professor at the University of Auckland and offers over 40 years’ experience in marine and terrestrial biological conservation research. He has extensive knowledge of biodiversity and has served on several advisory boards.

Tori Ngataki of Te Kauwhata

Appointment term: 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2026

Tori is the Waiohua Tāmaki rōpū entity nominee. She is the current Chair of the Ngāti Tamaoho Settlement Trust. She completed her MBA in 2018 to support her aspirations to support her people regarding the revitalisation of their whakapapa, their taiao, and wellbeing. Currently they are working on revitalising indigenous fauna and flora around the Manukau Harbour and seeking to restore their cultural practices around these to enhance their whakapapa as Ngāti Tamaoho.

Iwi Affiliations: Ngāti Tamaoho, Te Waiohua, Waikato, Maniapoto

Gael Ogilvie of Auckland (Chairperson)

Appointment term: 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2028

Gael has extensive governance, strategic and operational experience in the conservation and broader environmental sector in Aotearoa NZ and overseas.  She is currently Chair of the Auckland Conservation Board and a member of the National Waste Advisory Board, the Hazardous Substance and New Organisms Committee and the NZ Ecolabelling Trust.  Gael is an adjunct lecturer at Open Polytech and the Founder/Director of Nature’s Grace Aotearoa New Zealand.

Joesph Pihema of Orakei

Appointment Term; 6 August 2025 to 30 June 2028

Joe Pihema is an uri of Ngāti Whātua. Joe serves as a trustee on Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua and Ngā Maungawhakahī o Kaipara. He is a member of the Taumata-a-Iwi of the Auckland War Memorial Museum and current Head of Kaupapa Māori at the Auckland Art Gallery. Joe has over 25 years’ experience in the Māori education sector, he is an expert of Ngāti Whātua tribal histories, and a cultural leader of Ngāti Whātua o Ōrākei. Joe is married to Huia from Te Aitanga a Māhaki and have 3 tamariki.

Iwi Affiliations: Ngāti Whātua.

Chris Severne of Auckland 

Appointment term: 1 November 2024 to 30 June 2028

Chris brings to the Board his extensive commercial acumen, as well as a long history of involvement in environmental organisations including Bluegreens, Foundation North and the Nature Heritage Fund. He also Chairs the Opito Bay Ratepayers Association on the Coromandel where he has initiated several environmental restoration projects including a rahui on scallop harvesting working with local Iwi Ngati Hei.

Kiri Toki of Aotea (Great Barrier Island) 

Appointment Term; 6 August 2025 to 30 June 2028

Kiri is of Ngāti Rehua, Ngāti Wai descent and resides on Aotea, Great Barrier Island.  She is a Barrister & Solicitor of the High Court and holds a BA/LLB (Hons) (Auck) and an LLM (Harvard) and is currently a DPhil candidate at Oxford.  She is passionate about conservation and kaitiakitanga, and, together with her legal expertise, brings a Te Ao Māori and mana whenua perspective to the Conservation Board.  She also a Trustee on the Windy Hill Sanctuary on Aotea. 

Iwi Affiliations: Ngati Rehua, Ngati Wai, Ngāpuhi

Fred Wilson of Waiuku

Appointment term: 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2026

Fred Wilson represents the Marutūāhu Collective on the Auckland Conservation Board. With a background at the Department of Conservation, he has worked closely with iwi, hapū, and communities on restoration and cultural projects. He’s contributed to environmental efforts on the Āwhitu Peninsula and now serves as Principal Advisor at Kāinga Ora, focusing on the intersection of housing, whenua, and environmental outcomes. Fred is dedicated to strengthening Māori involvement in conservation and protecting te taiao for future generations.