Helen Marr Planner and Director of Perception Planning Ltd

Helen is a Director and Planner at resource management planning consultancy Perception Planning. She has been a key contributor to planning in major regional plan development processes including the Horizons One Plan, the Tukituki River Catchment and the Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme. Helen has also recently appeared as an expert planning witness in the Environment Court on an appeal relating to water takes and water quantity allocation. She has a strong understanding of the New Zealand freshwater management processes, particularly the development of regional plans and the implementation of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management.

Helen and her husband Tom own a sheep and beef farm west of Masterton that Tom manages, so she has a strong understanding of modern farming practices and the implications of planning regulation on farm businesses.

Peter Fraser Economist at Ropere Consulting

Peter specialises in policy-oriented microeconomic issues. For the past 10 years Peter’s work has focused on agricultural economics, particular regarding the dairy industry where he has been a senior advisor to both public and private sector.
 
More recently, Peter has undertaken an independent economic analysis of the Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme (proposed for the Central Hawkes’ Bay) and a number of potential water storage projects in the Wairarapa. He was also commissioned to do an analysis the Waimea Community Irrigation Scheme. 
 
Peter has worked as a Principal Advisor at the Earthquake Commission (EQC) (land settlement and rebuilding the EQC fund), the Department of Labour (2011-12 – labour productivity and economic transformation), the Department of Building and Housing (2010-11 – social housing and catalysing large-scale housing providers), MAF Policy (2007-2010 – dairy industry issues, raw milk regulations, and the Fonterra capital structure) and Treasury (1997-2000, 2002-2007 – health policy, natural resources). 

Barbara Stuart Farmer and Landcare Trust Regional Coordinator for Golden Bay

Barbara Stuart has worked for the NZ Landcare Trust for the past fifteen years as the Regional Co-ordinator supporting farming communities to address water quality, biodiversity enhancement and Wetlands issues.
She has led successful funding applications and worked alongside farmers in the Motueka at Sherry River, Aorere  (this years River Prize winner), Rai Valley, Wakapuaka near Nelson and more recently in the Upper Buller.  
Barbara and her husband Ian own a 1000 ha hard hill country farm at Cable Bay near Nelson which has a public walkway through it from the Glen at the end of the Nelson Boulder Bank to Cable Bay which is the site of the first International Telegraph cable to arrive in NZ 1876.  They also have a campground on the farm.
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Andrew Barton General Manager of the Amuri Irrigation Company, North Canterbury

Andrew has 16 years of resource management experience, having worked at ECan, Synlait and Beca prior to joining the Amuri Irrigation Company (AIC) in 2013. The AIC owns and operates three irrigation schemes providing water to 22,000 ha around Culverden in North Canterbury (www.amuriirrigation.co.nz).  AIC schemes were developed in the late 1970s and early 1980s to supply border dyke irrigation.  Today more than 90% of the land is spray irrigated, primarily dairy farming.   AIC is currently investigating piping the majority of the schemes lateral supply races, with the saved water allowing another 5,000 ha of irrigation.
 
AIC operates under the Hurunui Waiau River Regional Plan, the first plan delivered under the ECan Act.  AIC has been active in resource management processes, having appealed the plan as well as decisions on other irrigation projects in the Hurunui catchment.  AIC has recently obtained a land use consent that authorises the nutrient loss from the existing irrigation area, and provides for an additional 5,000 ha of irrigated land to be developed.
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Harriet Palmer 'Trees on Farms' specialist and NZDFI extension team member

Harriet is a ‘trees on farms’ specialist and is kept busy working on various projects aimed at encouraging landowners to plant and manage trees for multiple benefits. Her experience includes producing technical literature, web resources, and training videos. Harriet is managing director of Tinui Forest Park Ltd, a 300-hectare multi-species forest near Masterton, where ground-durable eucalypts are amongst the species grown. She is also a trustee of the Montfort Trimble Foundation, a Masterton-based trust which aims to lead change in the way people grow and relate to trees.
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Geoff Simmons Economist at The Morgan Foundation

Geoff is an economist working for the Morgan Foundation – an independent foundation which aims to stimulate debate on the important issues facing New Zealand. Geoff graduated from Auckland University with an Honours degree in Economics.
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He has over ten years experience as an economist working on tricky public policy issues for NZ Treasury and as a manager in the UK civil service. He has co-authored four books alongside Gareth Morgan covering topics such as health (Health Cheque), fishing (Hook Line & Blinkers), Antarctica (Ice Mice & Men) and food (Appetite for Destruction). He also works on water quality (MyRiver), Predator Free Rakiura and the infamous “Cats to Go” campaign. Geoff speaks Spanish and also is an experienced speaker, facilitator, trainer, entertainer, actor and improviser.

Heather Atkinson NZDFI extension team member and organic sheep, beef and deer farmer

Heather is a mixed pastoral farmer on an intensive certified organic South Wairarapa property. She fulfils a number of roles within the agribusiness and ‘not for profit’ sector, currently as President of the South Wairarapa Biodiversity Group, building an environmental community and stakeholder project in collaboration with local authorities and allied organisations; also as a contract facilitator for the Agri Women’s Development Trusts ‘First Steps’ programme, building skills, confidence and capacity of rural women.
 
Heather has been involved with the NZ Dryland Forests Initiative as a landowner partner in a 10,000 Eucalyptus breeding trial since 2000 and also as an extension team member on the NZ Dryland Forests Initiative Extension Team. Heather is a strong advocate for better environmental outcomes and profitability in the agricultural sector.

Anthony Olsen  ​Principal Consultant at GeoPlan Ltd

Anthony is an experienced cultural advisor who works across businesses to advise on iwi engagement and cultural landscape issues relevant to a range of infrastructure and policy projects. He is a former advisor to SmartGrowth, the growth management strategy in the Western Bay of Plenty; also a member of the Bay of Connections Regional Governance group, former member of the Project Advisory Group for the Bay of Plenty Transport and Logistics Strategy; and Aquaculture Strategy.  He is the current Chairperson of the Bay of Connections Energy Advisory Group, and former Co-Chair of the Maori Business Advisory Group.

Anthony has been an independent hearings commissioner on a number of resource consent and planning hearings, including in Wairarapa. Anthony has recently purchased a vineyard and moved to Martinborough.

Roger Gaskell ​Facilitator

Roger graduated from Canterbury University majoring in Economics.  He did further post-graduate studies at the University of Calgary in Canada. On his return to New Zealand, he followed his interest in Development and Investment Banking  - a career that lasted more than 20 years.

Roger has been a Director of a number of companies in both New Zealand and Australia including Chairman of Cascade Breweries, Nova Gas, Martinborough Vineyards Estate and Deputy Chairman of the New Zealand Housing Corporation.

He has been involved in the dairy industry for over 40 years and is currently a major shareholder, in a two-unit North Canterbury dairy venture that is milking 1,400 cows. Horticulture has been a lifelong passion and he enjoys the challenges of owning and operating a vineyard in Martinborough growing Pinot Noir.

​Roger is an active member of the South Wairarapa Biodiversity Group.