The Whakatipu Reforestation Trust is the brainchild of Neill and Barbara Simpson. Their hard work, over 15 years on Pigeon and Pig Islands restored once bare and weedy islands into a haven for native birds. In 2013, inspired by this success, Neill and Barbara recruited support from several funding agencies, and founded the Whakatipu Reforestation Trust.
Our Trustees
The Trustees are responsible for the overall strategic and financial management of the Trust.
Neill Simpson: Founder
Neill is a botanist/ecologist and acknowledged expert on native plants and the effects of exotic pests on their ecosystem. Neill has held many roles with DOC throughout New Zealand and, since retiring, consults privately on native planting.
Neill was awarded the Queens Service Medal for services to conservation and in 2015 his work, with Barbara, was recognised when they were joint winners of the Loder Cup.
Neill’s vision is for the Whakatipu area, or large parts of it, to be returned to its native cover providing a habitat for native birds. With Barbara he would like to see natives replacing exotics and a community that prioritises planting natives before exotics on their own land. He has created his own roadside native garden along Peninsula Rd to show off native plants. In his spare time he enjoys planting, reading, playing classical piano (once his hands have been washed) and occasional skiing.
Barbara Simpson: Founder
Barb is a retired teacher who is both passionate and knowledgeable about NZ botany. She has introduced thousands of children to our natural world through successful school and community volunteer programmes. Her work in conservation was recognised when she and Neill were awarded the Loder Cup.
Barb has also supported the Whakatipu High School Branches Camp for over 40 years as the “Queen of Camp Cuisine” and also established wetland planting as a camp activity. She has formed lifelong bonds with many of these students, some of whom have in turn joined her on native reforestation planting missions.
In 2025, Barb was awarded a King’s Service medal for her services to Conservation and Community.
Jill Hodgson: Chair
Jill is a teacher and has been involved with environmental education and sustainability for over 20 years. She has a strong belief in teaching children about respecting the environment in all its forms. She is currently working with Shotover Primary, restoring the wetlands near the Shotover/Kawarau river confluence, increasing the number of natives within the school, teaching the pupils how to grow native plants from seed, and propagate from plants that are flourishing in the wetlands. Jill works closely with the Education sub-committee within the trust.
Jill comes from a strong gardening family and is enjoying learning more about the plants from this region and how to bring them into her own garden.
You can contact Jill at chair@wrtqt.org.nz.
Katherine Durman: Trustee
Melanie Seyfort: Trustee
Melanie brings over 15 years of experience in the conservation sector, with a career spanning national leadership roles in partnerships, communications and marketing. Having returned home to the Whakatipu, she now works locally with Southern Lakes Sanctuary, helping to drive landscape-scale conservation outcomes across the region. Melanie grew up in the Whakatipu (one of Barb’s aforementioned pupils!) and is passionate about restoring the biodiversity of the region. She can often be found planting natives – both in her own backyard and in the community – supporting efforts to regenerate the whenua for future generations.
Blair Devlin: Trustee
An interest in sustainable development led Blair to study town planning at Otago University and he is now a local planning consultant. He has worked across private practice, local government and central government, in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Blair drives the Advocacy strand of the trust’s strategic plan and has also been involved with the Whakatipu Wilding Conifer Group.
He has a young family, is interested in environmental issues generally, and would love to see more native plants and birds in the Whakatipu Basin. Blair also likes watching and occasionally playing football.
Guy Saxton: Treasurer
After an international career in finance, Guy returned to New Zealand with his family to live in the Whakatipu Basin. Inspired by the Whakatipu Reforestation Trust team, he developed a strong interest in native trees and has since helped put plenty of plants in the ground. Alongside practical planting, Guy contributes his finance skills to support the Trust’s work.
You can contact Guy at finance@wrtqt.org.nz
Emma Wilson: Minutes Secretary
You can contact Emma at secretary@wrtqt.org.nz
Our Staff
The Trust has five part time staff, who oversee the day to day operations and co-ordinate volunteer workgroups.
Sararose Brown: Operations Manager
Sararose started her restoration journey as an original member of KAPOW Queenstown and leading native planting work in her Arthur’s Point Community. Partnering with the WRT for that project got her hooked and she has spent countless volunteer hours planting natives around the basin and inspiring others with her enthusiasm to do the same. Her passion for the work of the WRT is contagious and her vision to pursue restoring native vegetation and creating biodiversity in our region is exceptional.
You can contact Sararose at: volunteer@wrtqt.org.nz.
Christina McCabe: Education & Engagement Lead
Christina is a systems ecologist interested in a whole-landscape view of how we interact with and impact our natural environments around us. She has a special interest in exploring and understanding the ways that caring for the places where people interact with nature can benefit the revitalisation of biodiversity, resilience of communities (human and otherwise) to climate change, and the mental and physical wellbeing of people. Christina brings a passion for sharing the wonders of nature and science with all ages, to empower and inspire.
You can contact Christina at educate@wrtqt.org.nz
Anna Amos: Conservation Field Co-ordinator
Anna brings extensive hands-on experience in native plant propagation and planting from her work on native restoration projects, in private gardens, and commercial nursery work. As a keen skier, climber and tramper she has always been inspired in the outdoors and spending time in our unique local landscapes has fuelled her passion for local conservation. Anna brings energy, expertise and a genuine love of the land to her role at WRT.
You can contact Anna at field@wrtqt.org.nz.
Catherine Robb: Nursery Volunteer Coordinator
Catherine joined our Community Nursery in 2022 as our Volunteer Coordinator. She is a qualified Homeopath with in depth knowledge of plants being used as medicine.
Catherine grew up playing and walking in the native bush of the North Island. She is passionate about nature and enjoys skiing, tramping and horse riding. She has a keen interest in the native plants that grow in our unique environment, and enjoys being a part of our vision of restoring our biodiversity and leaving a lasting legacy for future generations.
You can contact Catherine at: nursery@wrtqt.org.nz.
Jada Van Vliet: Operations Support
Jada has been passionate about planting natives for all of her 20 years in NZ. Originally from Canada, her interest in native plants stemmed from her first job working in the remote west coast beech forest. She went on to study horticulture and environmental management and eventually found Neill and Barb. She joined the WRT as the Trust’s first secretary and went on to become a trustee for a further six years. She is excited to be supporting the amazing work of the Trust, Sararose and the operations team.
You can contact Jada at: projects@wrtqt.org.nz.