Our Trustees

Shirley became a Trustee on 10th November 2025.

Since returning to my birthplace of Cromwell in 2003, I have been actively involved in the community through both governance and hands-on work. Cromwell has grown rapidly, and I have always been a strong advocate for protecting and enhancing the green spaces that make our town so special.

Again and again, our community shows what we value most is our landscape – the big blue skies, our greenways, native flora and fauna, and opportunities to experience our unique natural environment.

My passion for the outdoors began in childhood, when family holidays always meant tramping boots and sleeping bags. These days my focus leans more towards governance and advocacy, but I still enjoy rolling up my sleeves to plant natives and do my part in preserving the environment around me.

 Hamish is from Ashburton and has qualifications in native nursery propagation.  He used to come up to Cromwell on holidays and has never left. He also has  knowledge in soil properties and has been growing his own natives successfully.  Hamish also has worked for Farmlands with experience as Senior Technical Adviser.  As Hamish lives in Lowburn and he has been watering plants at 45th Parallel in his spare time – so knows this site well. 

Richard joined Mōkihi as a Trustee in May 2022. Originally from Christchurch – but a local resident since 2006. Originally qualified as an Agricultural Engineer before specialising in hydrology. Then a varied work background in water and soil research, information technology, winemaking, and publishing (primarily botanical publications).

With wife Pam, we have a lifestyle block on Northburn Station where we are currently developing a very small native revegetation area. Very focused on predator control, selecting the right plants for their location and companionship, and creating a habitat for native birds and other critters.

Richard also looks after a tiny (1 acre) vineyard and makes the wine on-site from seven different varieties.

Through my work, I have excellent knowledge of a wide range of plants and weeds and feel that I can contribute in a meaningful way to the progress of the Trust.  I also have a really good spade that loves digging holes to plant trees, shrubs and grasses.

It is important to me to beautify and enhance the landscape, and I enjoy planting natives in the hope that we can create a good environment for the skinks and other biodiversity values and hopefully encourage the native birds into these areas.

Kirsten started coming to planting and maintenance days for Mokihi Trust as a way of learning how to grow plants in Central Otago, and then became a Trustee in 2022.

She and partner John have a background in hospital medicine in Auckland but are in the process of  moving  to live and work in Bannockburn, with a plan to help the conservation of the local native plants.

Gardening here is very different from Auckland so there is much to learn, but she is amazed by the resilience of the native plants to their harsh conditions, and wants to see more of them in public places, and learn how to help them get established and thrive here in Cromwell.

Her adult son, William, who is autistic, joins in and is a great help with the heavy lifting , he is often out on the Stuart ferry site picking up rubbish.

Gwylfa became a Trustee on 10th November 2025.

We returned to Cromwell 11 years ago to raise our family. My daughters and I have attended a number of the trust’s planting days over the years since then. I am curious and enthusiastic about our local environment, including learning about the flora and fauna that makes our part of Central Otago unique. I enjoy sharing what I learn with our daughters and hopefully developing their passion alongside my own.