About Us
The Aotea Great Barrier Environmental Trust was formed in October 2002 following a series of meetings of local people involved in private conservation initiatives on the Island. It was decided that a formal body was needed to provide an umbrella organisation to support conservation initiatives, and to ensure a coordinated and integrated approach to the greater vision of the island's ecological restoration. This community initiated Trust has successfully applied for funding for multiple projects and to date has produced a quarterly newsletter, facilitated Open Days at restoration sites, initiated meetings with key stakeholders and will represent the community in the future planning for conservation on Aotea Great Barrier.
The battle to safeguard the island’s wildlife and ecosystems has been a challenging one, and in February 2023 we celebrated 20 years of operation with the release of a new — and cautionary — report on the Birds of Aotea. Tim Higham has written a story about the island's legacy, take a look here.
Emma Waterhouse (25/12/68 to 7/3/21)
Emma began her love affair with the Barrier as a child, following her grandmother’s and mother’s footsteps, camping and baching at Mabey’s for many summers, until she bought land at Okiwi, twenty years before she passed away. She grew up following her father around the northern bush, hearing kōkako, kākā, and petrels at night, exploring the creeks and forest, walking the beach, and fishing from the rocks. This shaped her view of the world, and she always felt connected to the island wherever she was.
Coming back to New Zealand in 2015, Emma became a trustee of the Aotea Great Barrier Environmental Trust, and also of Glenfern Sanctuary. She was part of the team that delivered the first Aotea Bird Count and was working on the update to the State of Environment Report on Aotea’s birds when she became ill.
Emma Waterhouse Scholarship
Before Emma passed away, she was able to establish the Emma Waterhouse Scholarship at the University of Auckland. This award is to support women studying science at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, especially in relation to the Hauraki Gulf and our region.
Donations may be made to this via the University website. Any girls with Barrier connections planning or already doing science at Auckland, please apply through their faculty.