About Us
About the
Ahuriri Tributaries Catchment Group Trust
of the waterways in our catchment
The Ahuriri Tributaries Catchment Group Trust (ATCGT) is a community-led group dedicated to creating a thriving catchment and improving the ecological health the waterways flowing through the Ahuriri catchment.
These waterways feed into Te Whanganui a Orotū (the Ahuriri Estuary), a unique, precious, cultural taonga in Napier. The estuary is influenced by water flowing from both rural and urban land across the wider catchment.
Why this Matters
Te Whanganui a Orotū is valued by many people who live and work within the catchment
– including landowners, businesses, community groups and iwi.
Over time, the health of the estuary has been impacted by land development and land-use practices
across the catchment. Runoff from rural land (including farms and lifestyle blocks), septic systems,
and water extraction from bores have contributed to declining water quality.
Improving freshwater health requires awareness of how activities on our land affect the estuary downstream.
Our Role
To inspire and support people to protect and enhance the well-being of our catchment.
Our goal is to be a valued and trusted coordinator, motivator and facilitator, working alongside landowners and community partners to improve land and freshwater outcomes across the Ahuriri catchment.
We Will
Encourage and demonstrate good freshwater management practices
Support biodiversity restoration
Promote climate resilience
Work with other organisations to strengthen community engagement and action.
Landowner Support
Following Cyclone Gabrielle, there was a need to support landowners, including farmers and lifestyle block owners, to recover and build resilience. Many are now seeking ways to improve sustainable land management.
Bringing the Community Together
The Ahuriri catchment is home to a diverse community with different needs and perspectives.
We aim to bring people together to work towards a shared goal:
healthier waterways and improved outcomes for the Ahuriri catchment and Te Whanganui a Orotū.
While our support is available to all, we recognise a gap for small block landowners and aim to help fill it.
About Our Visual Identity
Our logo reflects the landscape of the Ahuriri catchment and the wildlife that depends on it. Over time, it represents the positive impact of our work, restoring the health of the land, waterways, and the flora and fauna of Te Whanganui a Orotū (Ahuriri Estuary).
At first glance, the mark features a Kuaka (Bar-tailed godwit). On closer look, it reveals the surrounding landscape: valleys and hills, with a river flowing through to the estuary.
The koru within the design symbolises growth, transformation, and connection. It reflects our commitment to strengthening our community and improving the environmental health of Te Whanganui a Orotū.
The green and blue tones connect directly to the land and water, while the gold in the logotype references the land uplifted by the 1931 earthquake and the wider estuary.
Partners of the Ahuriri Tributaries Trust
We can’t do this work alone and work closely with a number of different organisations and groups.
We are extremely grateful for the funding from Ministry for Primary Industries that makes our work possible.
The Ahuriri Catchment Group Trust
Board and Team
Robert Pattullo
Chair
Robert and his wife Helen own and operate “Newstead”, a 930-hectare livestock farm at the western edge and headwaters of the Ahuriri tributaries catchment flowing into Te Whanganui a Orotū.
Newstead runs cattle predominantly, using a sustainable pasture-only system, destocking entirely over the summer months. A reticulated stock water system services the whole property, enabling all waterways to be fenced and planted with indigenous varieties.
The steeper, more erosion-prone land is gradually being retired into forestry and mixed species. The Pattullos have been implementing environmental farm planning since 2007, continually improving land and water outcomes.
Robert was a founding member of the Ahuriri Tributaries Catchment Group Trust in 2022, helping to establish an approach to improving freshwater health. Since then, the Trust has delivered initiatives including water quality monitoring, support for small block landowners, and community recovery efforts following Cyclone Gabrielle.
As Chair, Robert is committed to restoring the health, biodiversity, and wellbeing of the catchment through practical, community-driven action. His work with the Trust complements a long family history of farming the land for over 100 years.
Keiko Hashiba
Trustee
Keiko is an ecological consultant with extensive experience in botany and ecological restoration. She works across New Zealand on projects focused on restoring the mauri (life force) of natural environments.
Originally from Japan, Keiko moved to New Zealand in 2007 to work at Pan Pac in the forestry sector before joining HBRC. Her time at HBRC provided valuable experience working with a wide range of stakeholders and environmental perspectives.
Keiko and her partner James own a four-acre property in the Ahuriri catchment, where they are transforming gorse-covered land into regenerating native forest. Their property serves as a practical example of ecological restoration, using native species suited to the land and its recovery stages.
Joining the Trust in 2024, Keiko brings specialist knowledge in biodiversity and restoration, as well as hands-on experience that supports and inspires landowners across the catchment.
Outside of work, Keiko enjoys gardening, running, and baking.
Phillip Schofield
Trustee
Phil is a retired farm consultant, and soil scientist with a background in soil conservation and farm system management, and holds a PhD in soil microbiology and plant science.
His entire career has been in and around horticulture and agriculture helping farmers and growers to build soil health and pasture and crop nutrition. In “retirement” he continues working with a few farmers to help improve soil health and environmental outcomes on their properties.
Although retired, Phil continues to work with a small number of farmers to support sustainable land management.
Born and raised in Hawke’s Bay, Phil lives with his wife Marty on a 50-hectare property near Te Whanganui a Orotū. Much of their land is being transitioned into native vegetation to better suit the landscape and improve environmental outcomes.
A founding member of the Ahuriri Tributaries Catchment Group Trust, Phil is passionate about improving the health of the estuary and wider catchment.
When not on a farm or in a meeting, you will find Phil on his boat in Hawke’s Bay chasing fish.
Matt Brown
Trustee
Matt has extensive experience in water and environmental monitoring, with a strong background in hydrology and catchment management. Over more than a decade working in regional council hydrology, he developed expertise in water monitoring, data analysis, and environmental systems, working alongside leading hydrologists and scientists.
His experience also includes exploration drilling and water reticulation in Western Australia, as well as work within New Zealand’s irrigation sector, giving him a practical understanding of water management across agricultural, environmental, and industrial settings.
Matt is the founder of Hydro Logic NZ Ltd, an environmental consultancy specialising in monitoring and hydrological services. Through this work, he provides support to local government, consultants, farmers and growers, and the mining and energy sectors.
As a trustee and living within the catchment, Matt brings valuable technical expertise and practical insight to support the Trust’s work to improve water quality and environmental outcomes across the Ahuriri catchment.
Joanna Ebbett
Trustee
Joanna has lived in Hawke’s Bay for nearly 30 years after growing up in Gisborne and spending time overseas, including working in London. She and her husband Matt raised their two children in Puketapu, where Matt farmed a 650-hectare sheep and beef property. The family has strong ties to the local rural community, with three generations attending Puketapu School.
A trained pharmacist, Joanna has worked in Hawke’s Bay pharmacies for many years, initially in Flaxmere and more recently in Taradale. She values working in a collaborative profession that continues to evolve and requires ongoing learning and adaptation.
Joanna has a long-standing interest in environmental issues and community conservation. She is a member of Forest & Bird, the Ahuriri Estuary Protection Society, and has been involved in monitoring threatened banded dotterels at Clive Beach as well as predator trapping around the Ahuriri Estuary.
Living near the estuary has strengthened her appreciation for its unique ecosystems and wildlife, and the importance of protecting them from the impacts of declining water quality, climate change and urban development.
As a Trustee, Joanna is committed to supporting practical, community-led initiatives that improve the health of the Ahuriri catchment and estuary for future generations.
Peter McIntosh
Lead Coordinator
Peter is Hawke’s Bay born and bred and brings a diverse background in conservation, science, and education to his role as Lead Coordinator. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Victoria University, majoring in zoology and ecology, and has a long-standing interest in protecting New Zealand’s natural environment.
His career has spanned roles in the UK, Australia, and China, including developing surgical training programmes for the Royal College of Surgeons. After returning to New Zealand, Peter worked with organisations such as the Department of Conservation, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, and Fish & Game, focusing on environmental monitoring, biodiversity, and freshwater management.
Peter has hands-on experience in restoration and land management, including planting thousands of native trees on his own lifestyle property. He also brings a strong network of local relationships and a deep understanding of Hawke’s Bay’s freshwater and coastal environments.
In his role with the Trust, Peter supports landowners — particularly small block owners — to develop and implement freshwater management plans that improve water quality and build resilience to climate and weather impacts.
Outside of work, Peter enjoys hunting, fishing, rugby, cricket, and spending time with his three labradors.
Angela Mackie
Administration and Communications
Angela has lived in Puketapu for the past decade with her husband, raising their two children on a two-hectare lifestyle block. Together, they have transformed their property from bare land into a thriving garden and regenerating bush area, reflecting her passion for gardening and environmental stewardship.
With over 30 years’ experience in marketing and administration across sectors including finance, tourism, and construction, Angela brings strong organisational and communication skills to her role. She also co-runs an agricultural water filter business with her husband.
Angela is deeply connected to her local community and played a key role in establishing a community hub and Cyclone Gabrielle Relief Fund, helping coordinate support during the cyclone’s aftermath. This work led to her involvement with the Ahuriri Tributaries Catchment Group Trust.
In her role, Angela manages administration and communications, supporting the Trust’s environmental initiatives and community engagement.
Outside of work, she enjoys time with family and friends, gardening, baking, walking, coastal swims and daily ice baths.