Trustees

Jon Pemberton, Co-Chair

Jon is an Environment Southland Councillor and fourth-generation dairy farmer. He, his wife Birgit and their three young children live on their leased property at Menzies Ferry and own another at Brydone.

Birgit is from Austria, and they get back to visit when they can. They also enjoy exploring the southern wilderness in their old truck, which they’ve converted into a mobile camper.

Originally from Canterbury, Jon moved to Southland as a teenager and considers it home. “It’s a great province with capable people. We punch above our weight in most aspects, environmentally and in farming.”

Jon is on the board of Thriving Southland and believes he inherited his approach to farming from his grandfather, who was environmentally and technologically progressive.

Riki Nicholas, Co-Chair

Riki is the interim representative on the Trust for Awarua Rūnanga. Riki also sits on the executive for Awarua Rūnanga.

He has a career spanning a range of sectors and roles, including in the primary sector, around supervisory, governance and leadership roles, and is currently the Director for the Murihiku ki te Tonga Programme (through Murihiku Regeneration), which is a Research, Science, and Innovation (RSI) workstream focused on the Ngāi Tahu Takiwā connecting to the Ross Sea Sector.

Riki has held roles with Te Rūnanga o Ngai Tahu and worked across a range of programme and commercial project areas. He is a very experienced mariner, having operated vessels in the Southern Ocean for many years.

Cr Julie Keast

Julie is a Councillor at Southland District Council representing the Waihopai Toetoe Ward. She lives near Tokanui. Julie was a founding member of the Trust and instrumental in the delivery of the initial FIF funded Whakamana te Waituna projects.

John McCarroll

John is Operations Manager – Pou Matarautaki at the Department of Conservation | Te Papa Atawhai for Murihiku (Southland). John has had a long association with Waituna Lagoon in previous roles with DOC and brings a strong environmental and community ethic to the Trust.

Robb Stevens - Fonterra

Robb Stevens is Fonterra’s Local Government and Stakeholder Affairs Manager for the South Island, based in Christchurch. Robb has worked in Fonterra across a number of areas; leading the customs compliance function from a group perspective, and Trade Strategy, where he was the GM Trade Strategy, and also in Supply Chain and R&D. Robb graduated from Otago University with Masters of Science, and Masters of International Studies. Robb says that being involved with the Trust is a great way for Fonterra to be connected with local communities and contribute to achieving sustainable farming and environmental outcomes.

Dean Whaanga

Ko Motu Pohue te maunga
Ko te Te Ara a Kiwa te moana
Ko Ngāi Tahu, Rongomaiwahine, Ngāti Kahungunu ngā Iwi
Ko Te Rau Aroha te marae
Ko Tahu Pōtiki te tangata
Tihei Mauri ora

Dean Whaanga is the Kaupapa Taiao Manager at Te Ao Mārama Inc. He was born and bred in Bluff and has a strong association with wetlands, especially Awarua and Waituna.

Being a member of the Whakamana te Waituna partners is an honour for him. He acknowledges the strength in partnership and is driven to ensure the outcomes of their work contribute to the cultural, environmental, social, and economic wellbeing of the catchment.

Maarten van Rossum - Independent Trustee

Maarten is a dairy farmer in the Waituna catchment and established the Waituna Catchment Group in 2023. Maarten is is a strong advocate for the Waituna community and the special natural environment where he lives with his family.