Field Advisors recognised for environment impact

Internal awards have been given to several Kaipara Moana Remediation Field Advisors in recognition of their substantial environmental impact in 2025. 

Seven awards were presented in Dargaville recently – four premier awards and three highly commended. 

Field Advisors have been critical in the ongoing success of KMR kaupapa to restore the mauri of Kaipara Moana by halving the sediment flowing into local waterways and the harbour. 

The milestones achieved by the KMR team in just four years are impressive with 1,385 landowners having now expressed an interest in KMR and 151,000ha of whenua currently managed under plans 

1,105 km of fencing has been completed or is contracted, 2.87 million plants have been planted or are contracted, 781ha of area has been protected or contracted for natural regeneration; and $29.5m in project value has been invested or contracted. 

Tim Eves was one of the Field Advisors recognised for his efforts working with the Mangakāhia Valley Dairies Trust. 

One of the Trust’s properties is a 347ha beef block that consists of eroding hill country volcanic soils with over 93% covered in pasture or grazed remnant forest. 

Under Tim’s guidance, there were four projects undertaken, from fencing and silvopasture, to exotic and native planting. 

KMR’s Lisette Rawson, Amo – Rauora Kōawa, Catchment Remediation Manager, says the project completed the largest exotic planting of winter 2025 with a mosaic of redwoods and eucalyptus, remnant native underplanting and new native 

“Tim worked with KMR staff, Farm Manager and Farm Staff, a Forest Management company, sub-contractors and nurseries to facilitate this work and it was an outstanding result –  

“This kind of mahi that our Field Advisors do on a daily basis continues to prove the value of the KMR model to support and sustain ongoing environmental restoration projects across the Kaipara Moana catchment to restore the health and mauri of Kaipara Moana,” says Lisette. 

Other KMR outstanding Field Advisers to be recognised with awards were: 

Katie Forno – Project Management: Te Whio Family Trust 

‘A multi-generational, family owned, 432ha dry stock block with steep sandstone in Whangaripo Valley. This is a hill country farm with many erodible areas and a working quarry. 

Katie worked with various New Zealand and overseas based family members to achieve large scale hill country fencing, and large planting projects in a challenging landscape.’ 

Iraia Maxwell – Break Through Field Advisor 

‘During the time Iraia has worked with KMR, he has willingly shared his plant and planting knowledge and has assisted in the project management of large-scale hill country planting projects. 

The quality of the SRP’s submitted is a testament to his passion for the job. He has demonstrated patient and consistent engagement working with multiple landowners and communities on Whenua Whānui projects and continues to support his community through whenua remediation.’ 

Ben Herbert – Highest number of plants (Fonterra led project) 

‘Ben has the furthest Southern Fonterra SDA patch, which is from Ararua, across to the East coast and down through South Kaipara.   

Across that area there have been 18,101 plants committed through Fonterra Tiaki plans.’ 

Highly Commended: 

Mitchel Hanmore – Highest length of fencing funded (25,901m of fencing). 

Shona Oliver – Demonstrating KMR and community commitment with consistent attendance at Field Advisor events, online Tech hui and community engagement. 

Angela Parkin – Largest native planting project … 59,000 stems on one property.