Eight regional field advisors have been appointed by the New Zealand Walking Access Commission.
The advisors – John Gardiner, John Wauchop, Nicola Henderson, Rod McGregor, Chris Tonkin, Geoff Holgate, Noel Beggs and John Gibbs – are located throughout the country.
Commission chief executive Mark Neeson says the regional field advisors’ roles are significant ones.
“They are the public face of the Commission in the regions, and the first point of contact for access issues in many cases. Their role includes promoting the objectives and functions of the Commission in their regions, and acting as conduits for independent advice and assistance.
“Their first tasks will be to make contact with regional stakeholders, and open lines of communication on access issues.”
The Commission is the Crown entity that promotes access to the outdoors. It aims to enhance free, certain, enduring, and practical walking access to our beaches, lakes, rivers, and mountains.
The Commission was established at the end of 2008, after the passing of the Walking Access Act
John Gardiner
Whangarei
Dip. Parks and Recreation
John was raised on a farm in South Canterbury before commencing his 40-plus year career with the Department of Lands and Survey, and then the Department of Conservation. His earlier years were spent as a ranger in several national parks, a period at DoC head Office, and management of two farm parks, before moving to Northland in 1978. He recently retired as the DoC Northland Area Manager. John has extensive experience working with land management legislation and negotiation with landowners to establish walkways, access easements and protection covenants over private land. He has worked closely with Northland’s recreation groups, land owners, communities, local authorities and Iwi on a broad range of projects and issues.
John.Gardiner@walkingaccess.govt.nz
027 2422181
John Wauchop
Gisborne
Dip. Ag.
John has been managing farms with his wife June for the past 38 years, and is now living in Gisborne. He has held positions of National Chairman of Meat and Wool NZ’s Sheep and Beef Council and Chairman of Ruatoria Federated Farmers. John has worked closely with district and regional councils, and has successfully dealt with a wide range of access issues across land he has managed. John maintains a lifelong enthusiasm for walking and outdoor activity.
John has maintained a high level of community interests and roles despite the commitments of managing a large farm partnership, and has a wide network across the rural and urban sectors.
John.Wauchop@walkingaccess.govt.nz
0274 491787
Nicola Henderson
Waipukurau
Dip. Hort., Cert Landscape Design, MNZILA, Fellow NZILA
Nicola grew up on a Southland farm and now lives and works in Central Hawke’s Bay on a sheep and beef farm where she and her husband Myles raised their four children. As a practising landscape architect, much of her professional work has been with farmers. Nicola’s work also involves working closely with local and regional councils, and iwi. She has appeared as an expert witness at council and environment court hearings. A keen walker and active in the outdoors, Nicola’s professional work involved inclusion of walking tracks at every opportunity in rural, peri-urban and urban situations. Her community service brings Nicola into contact with a wide range of people.
Nicola.Henderson@walkingaccess.govt.nz
027 2323018
Rod McGregor
Ahu Ahu Valley (Whanganui)
B.A. (Resource Management and Environmental Studies)
Rod was born and raised in rural Whanganui, and worked across the lower North Island on large sheep and beef stations before farming his own block of hill country near Whanganui. Rod has a young family who are home schooled. He brings over 20 years of varied stock and farm management experience to the role. He has an academic background in law and resource management. Rod has worked closely with local and regional councils on projects that have been very contentious within the community, and continues to manage public access issues on his own property. He has a history of working with land use changes and competing land uses, and working with stakeholders with different objectives and resources. Rod is a keen hunter and angler, and has worked overseas in hunting, diving and tourism sectors.
Rod.McGregor@walkingaccess.govt.nz
027 7109080
Chris Tonkin
Nelson
Chris’s 30 year career with Acclimatisation Societies and recently Fish & Game New Zealand has built an extensive network throughout the South Island that includes landowners, recreation groups, Federated Farmers, DOC, local and regional councils, Iwi and tourism operators. He has successfully negotiated a wide range of access opportunities across private land, and worked on behalf of hunters and fishers to develop recreation opportunities on public land. Through work and recreation, he has gained a deep knowledge of the Nelson/Marlborough and West Coast regions. Retired from the role of Manager, West Coast Fish & Game Council, Chris maintains a strong interest in outdoor recreation and will operate from Wakefield near Nelson.
Chris.Tonkin@walkingaccess.govt.nz
027 4960828
Geoff Holgate
Christchurch
B.Ag., M.Ag (Ecology), Member Resource Management Law Association of NZ, Member LEADR (Association of Dispute Resolvers)
Geoff grew up on a sheep and beef farm in South Otago. After completion of his study he joined the Department of Lands and Survey to work in the South Island High Country. Currently a Principal of his advisory partnership (dealing primarily with tenure review and pastoral leases), Geoff’s career of some 36 years has been primarily associated with land and resource management in the South Island high country. With his wife Mary-Ann, Geoff is an active tramper and cyclist.
Geoff.Holgate@walkingaccess.govt.nz
021 1901984
Noel Beggs
Winton
B.Comm (Ag) (VFM)
Noel is a fourth generation Southlander and now farms an intensive small scale sheep operation near Winton with his wife Carolyn and two sons. After completing his study at Lincoln College, Noel worked as a field officer with Lands and Survey before his OE which included a research post at Agricultural College, University of London. His partnership in his current property began in 1989.
Noel's community involvement includes Farmer Chairman, ‘Maximum Profit Discussion Group’, Central Southland, Committee member Central Southland Monitor Farm Programme, member and chair of local school Board of Trustees, and other community groups. His wide range of interests includes walking, tramping and mountain biking.
Noel.Beggs@walkingaccess.govt.nz
027 2234479
John Gibbs
Taupo, Waikato area
John Gibbs is the Commission's regional field advisors for the Waikato region. Raised on a Taihape hill country farm, John has had a 46-year-long career in roles with both the New Zealand Wildlife Service and Department of Conservation. Most of John’s work has been in trout and salmon fishery management and freshwater conservation, based in Rotorua, Te Anau and Taupo where he was Taupo Fishery Area Manager for DOC at the time of his retirement in 2010. Much of his work involved managing access issues for anglers and he has had a broad experience working with landowners, iwi, local, regional and central government agencies and the corporate sector on this and related issues. John has been a lifelong angler, hunter, tramper and outdoorsman and is also a keen gardener, walker, boatie and motorhomer.
John.Gibbs@walkingaccess.govt.nz
021 380 726
