Lizard protection fence

After undertaking initial feasibility studies, a group has been set up to help bring this project to fruition.

Paul Callister

Paul has led a number of Kāpiti lizard projects including developing a lizard garden on the Paekākāriki escarpment. Paul is a trustee of the Kāpiti Coast Biodiversity Project and a volunteer for both Ngā Uruora and the Queen Elizabeth Park restoration group.

Glenda Robb

Glenda has a background in project management and coordinated the Kāpiti Biodiversity Project's first major $300,000 project over three years from 2015, including lizard survey work in Kāpiti's southern conservation areas  She is currently a Trustee of Kāpiti Coast Biodiversity Project and involved in kororā conservation and riparian planting projects in Queen Elizabeth Park.

Sahra Kress

Sahra is a trustee of the Friends of Queen Elizabeth Park and regular volunteer with restoration projects in the reserve. Sahra has a special interest in the reproductive challenges for NZ native lizards, and has started writing on the topic of lizard pregnancies and live births.

Alexandra Schneider-Muntau

Alexandra (Alex) is a mother of 2 young children, a keen tramper and gardener, and a molecular biologist who has worked in animal medicine development. 

Huia Wesling Macgregor

Huia is a young aspiring conservationist who already has considerable expertise in the lizard world. She has spent time volunteering at Zealandia and Ngā Manu as well as on Matiu/Somes, Mana and Kāpiti Islands. Huia has lived in Paekākāriki for most of her life and is very familiar with Queen Elizabeth Park. 

Dave Banks

Born in the UK, spending time on islands in Scotland and 6 years in the Solomon Islands, then emigrated with family to NZ in 1969.  Became a member of the relatively new NZ Herpetological Society keeping a range of skink and gecko species for many years until my role in fisheries sciences took me away for long periods of time. Field Operations Manager for QE2 National Trust and then Manager for Ngā Manu Nature Reserve for a couple of years.  Back part-time at Ngā Manu as Reptile Ranger in charge of Wellington green (barking) gecko and Whitaker skink captive breeding programmes (as well as husbandry for the captive tuatara). Both programmes look to build animal numbers for subsequent wild release in the predator free conservation estate. Special care in housing, feeding and monitoring these animals is required.

The two advisors are:

Angus Hulme-Moir

Angus works for the Department of Conservation. Angus has also leads lizard conservation projects at Whitireia Park.

Murray Williams

Murray is a former DOC biologist and initial tutor of Victoria University’s restoration ecology course. He was a one-time Trustee of Ngā Manu.