About us

PEOPLE

Find out more about our Trustees, Portfolio Holders and Staff below.

PORTFOLIOS

Find out about our Portfolios and the work each of them are doing in the catchment.

OUR VISION

The Styx Vision spans many decades, click here to go straight there.

ART IN THE STYX

Find out more about the Creative Communicator Programme at the Styx.

CURRENT PROJECTS

We have a lot of exciting projects on the go, as well as links to past research.

NEWSLETTERS

Read the current and past editions of the Trust newsletter here.

EDUCATION PROGRAM

We are big on education, it’s in our name. The Living Laboratory is for people whatever your age but click for info about our school age programs (years 4-9).

Meet the trustees

  • Hannah Watkinson

    CHAIR

    Hannah Watkinson became Chair of the Trust in 2022, with the stepping down of former Chair Rex Williams. Hannah holds a Masters degree in Photography, with her practice focussing on long-term photographic consideration of communities grappling with the effects of climate change and just transitions. She has sat on a number of Trusts, including Te Tira Kahikuhiku, the Red Zones transformative land use group. She first became involved with the Trust in 2020, when she was contracted as Project Manager to work through the final stage of the Project Kotare funding application. Hannah enjoys working strategically on the future of the Trust and our mahi, alongside the talented Trustees - in our monitoring programmes, research and the continuation of the excellent work that Project Kotare is achieving. 

  • Mike Davidson

    DEPUTY CHAIR

    Mike Davidson has a Bachelor of Applied Science in Environment. He was previously a Christchurch City Councillor from 2016 - 2022 and a member of the Community Board (which has a large amount of the Pūharakekenui within its boundaries) from 2013 - 2022.

  • Piper Pengelly

    SECRETARY

    Piper lives in the catchment and loves exploring and running around the Styx. She is studying Law and Economics at the University of Canterbury and is particularly interested in resource management law. Piper has been working at the Ministry for the Environment as a Policy Analyst on the Emissions Trading Scheme and has a background in youth engagement. Her aspiration is to grow awareness and generate interest in the Styx River as an example of what urban waterways can be.

  • Dale Hedgcock

    Dale is General Manager at Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, which is an MOU partner of the Styx Living Laboratory Trust.

    Dale moved to New Zealand in 2006 from South Africa. He studied mechanical engineering, but changed careers to work and focus on the family business. In his spare time Dale enjoys watching the kids' sports and running.

  • John Knox

    John Knox

    John has a Bachelor of Science in Geography and a Master's of Philosophy from Massey University. His studies have focused on our natural environment and people and place. John says, "My involvement with the Styx River was as a response from returning to Christchurch after living for many years in national parks in Australia. Noticing how Christchurch was rapidly pushing out into the country with urban growth, I thought it would be a good thing to be involved with conserving the Styx River in its natural state. It's not over yet, there is still plenty to do and to know that future generations, wildlife and the river will benefit from what is being accomplished."

  • Richard Ballantyne

    Richard is a retired businessman and company director. He has a keen interest in the conservation of the natural environment and in particular our rivers and waterways. Richard was also a past member of the Water Rights Trust and is a current Patron of the Wild Life and Habitat Trust and Trustee of the Styx Living Laboratory Trust. He is a keen fly fisherman in his leisure time.

  • Nicholas Moody

    Nick Moody was the National Whitebait Fishery Manager at the Department of Conservation and is now on sabbatical exploring the great rivers of the Americas, fly-rod in hand. Nick grew up in Brooklands on the Styx River, joined the Styx Vision 2040 project in 1998, and loves working to restore the river on which he grew up. He previously worked at Environment Canterbury where he led catchment restoration projects by bringing together science and compliance. He was the ECan rep to the Trust for 6 years, as well as the ECan lead on the $4.2M Styx River Freshwater Improvement Fund project. He is a keen fly-fisherman, and a passionate advocate for both fish and public access to rivers.

  • Johno Ridden

    Johno Ridden

    Johno Ridden is the Associate Curator Natural History at Canterbury Museum. He also serves on the New Zealand Entomology Society executive committee as the Membership Officer. He has a Bachelor of Science (Hon) with a major in Conservation and Ecology. He has a keen interest in Aotearoa New Zealand’s natural history, profiling and highlighting our unique flora and fauna. The group he is most interested in are the invertebrates. Johno is keen to contribute his knowledge and experience to conserve and promote the Styx River vision of being Living Laboratory. In his spare time, he will most likely be walking somewhere around Ōtautahi or the Waitaha Canterbury foothills with his wife and dog Namu the Springer Spaniel.

Meet the portfolio holders

  • Science and Research portfolio

    The S&R Porfolio includes Johno Ridden, Jon, Aaron and Gillian.

    Dr. Gillian Lawson is an Associate Professor at Lincoln University in Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand, but originally from Australia. Her research interests are in landscape education, visualisation and public engagement in place-making in Australia, New Zealand and other Asia-Pacific countries, and on water and plants as catalysts for improving the adaptation of our cities to climate change. Her work has focused on the sociology of education, social practices in public/private open spaces, green infrastructure and waterfront communities in landscape planning and design. She has supervised a large cohort of PhD students to completion within these areas in Australia.

    Jon has been a freshwater scientist for over 30 years, having undertaken research in New Zealand, USA, Singapore, Tonga and Nigeria. He has published seven books and over 150 scientific papers and reports. In both Singapore and Nigeria he helped produced the first keys to identifying freshwater invertebrates in those countries. Jon has focussed most of his research on the impacts of human activities on streams and rivers. He knows enough about lakes and wetlands to be dangerous! He has worked extensively on urban, agricultural and mining impacted systems. Jon has two doctorates (a PhD and a DSc) and he is a Professor Emeritus of the University of Canterbury. You can follow Jon on Twitter (jonharding333).

  • Recreation & Education portfolio

    The R&E Portfolio includes Courtney Reid, Simon Rutherford and John Knox.

  • Environmental Monitoring Portfolio

    The Environmental Monitoring portflio includes Ted Potts, Leo Fjetie and Jon Harding.

    Leo has a background in Agricultural Science and recently retired from Environment Canterbury after 35 years working in various regulatory and non-regulatory roles. Most recently he worked with individual land-owners farming adjacent to sensitive rivers and lakes to research reasons for decline in water quality and actions needed to address, both on and off-farm. He is currently a member of the North Canterbury Rural Support Trust and working with MPI to help build resilience in rural communities. Leo and is married to Julie and they live in Harewood, close to the top end of the Pūharakekenui.

    Ted Potts

    Ted has a background in Adventure Therapy, guiding groups, and running workshops for people in the bush and around white water. Through volunteering, he has picked up water monitoring skills while working across Aotearoa. He is currently working for Wildlands Consultancy as part of the restoration projects team, working on jobs throughout Christchurch and across Canterbury. Ted is passionate about citizen science and is committed to expanding public participation on the protection off Canterburies waterways.

Meet the staff

  • Anita Spencer

    PROGRAMME MANAGER

    Anita is in charge of the Pūharakekenui Freshwater Improvement Project. Anita is the main point of contact for the Project and also leads the Project Control Group. Anita's background is in ecology and threatened species management. Anita worked at the Department of Conservation as a Senior Biodiversity Ranger before joining our team. Anita is also on the regional committee for BirdsNZ and in her spare time contributes to the NZ Bird Atlas scheme and enjoys tramping. 

  • Jackie Howard

    COMMUNITY COORDINATOR

    Jackie leads our community engagement and outreach for the Pūharakekenui Freshwater Fund Project. This includes working with landowners, businesses and managing our volunteers for the Project. Originally from the United States, her background is in biodiversity education, conservation, and outreach. In her free time she enjoys hiking and exploring the outdoors with her whanau.

  • Jo Burzynska

    CREATIVE COMMUNICATOR PROGRAMME

    Jo facilitates and develops the Creative Communicator Programme as part of the Pūharakekenui Freshwater Improvement Fund Project: securing, coordinating, connecting and facilitating artists.  Dr Jo Burzynska is a multimedia artist, researcher, writer and arts facilitator. Her central arts practice in sound and field recording, is often combined with scent, taste and touch, with sensory interaction in art the focus of her doctoral research at UNSW Art & Design. She is currently interested in exploring the different connections and understandings that can be made between people, place and the environment through a focus on embodied and nonvisual sensory knowledge. In 2022/23, she was a Creative Communicator at the Styx Living Laboratory, creating a Sensory Map of the Styx Pūharakekenui, which later this year should be available to experience in the catchment and online. Alongside her own artmaking she has worked in facilitating the creativity of others, as a founder of the Auricle Gallery, and currently working one day a week as the manager and curator of Stoddart Cottage Gallery and its artist residency programme.

  • Gareth Harper

    FIELD STAFF LEAD

    Gareth manages our Field Staff Team for the  Pūharakekenui Freshwater Improvement Fund Project. Gareth has extensive experience working in farming, forestry, lifestyle blocks, construction, and conservation, and has planted many of the natives throughout the Pūharakekenui and Christchurch. He can often be heard saying, “I think I was involved in the planting of this site” when driving throughout the catchment. Gareth finds revegetation projects very fulfilling and is pleased to be a member of the Styx Living Laboratory Trust team. In Gareth’s free time he enjoys hunting and going for bush walks.

  • Hugh Oliver

    SENIOR FIELD STAFF

    Hugh is one of our Senior Field Staff member for the Pūharakekenui Freshwater Improvement Fund Project. He has a passion for the outdoors and is excited to have the opportunity to look after New Zealand's beautiful natural landscape through the Trust. Hugh is also the father of three young children and is looking forward to bringing them to the sites he's worked on to see the progress in the years to come. 

  • Josh Overend

    FIELD STAFF INTERMEDIATE

    Josh is one of our Field Staff Intermediates (Rangers) for the Pūharakekenui Freshwater Improvement Fund Project. Prior to joining the trust, Josh studied biology at the University of Canterbury. In his spare time, he is a footballer, amateur wildlife photographer and enjoys spending time with his family and friends

  • Matt Culf

    FIELD STAFF INTERMEDIATE

    Matt is one of our Field Staff Intermediates (Rangers) for the Pūharakekenui Freshwater Improvement Fund Project. Matt is has lived within the catchment area since he was 15 years old with a brief 7 years in Wellington to complete his degree. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his partner and dogs. He volunteers every other weekend and on the opposite ones he enjoys working on motorbikes. He is currently undergoing training to become a dog trainer too. Hobbies include swimming, listening to music, video games, reading books, cooking, and training his own dogs.

  • Hannah Whittall

    FIELD STAFF INTERMEDIATE

    Hannah is one of our Field Staff Intermediates (Rangers) for the Pūharakekenui Freshwater Improvement Fund Project. She recently completed her Honours degree in Environmental Science and Ecology at the University of Canterbury. A self-proclaimed iNaturalist guru, Hannah has a passion for pest plants and a passion for native biodiversity. Outside of work, she loves tramping and whitewater kayaking. When she’s not out exploring the bush on weekends, you’ll likely find her cycling through the Red Zone or enjoying a good coffee.

  • George Aitken

    FIELD STAFF INTERMEDIATE

    George is one of our Field Staff Intermediates (Rangers) for the Pūharakekenui Freshwater Improvement Fund Project. Prior to joining the Trust George was involved in restoring parts of the Te Waihora lake margin. In his spare time George enjoys making music, growing trees and spending time with whānau.

  • Courtney Reid

    EDUCATION PROGRAMME MANAGER

    Courtney, originally from Christchurch has a background in people and places, having studied ecology and psychology. She has a personal business as a mindset coach and has recently left the Parks Department at Christchurch City Council. In her spare time, she likes to hang out with her dog and partner, out in nature or travelling. Courtney is very excited to be onboard with the team in this role, working directly with people educating them about the environment in such a special place.

  • Melissa Macleod

    Melissa Macleod

    CREATIVE COMMUNICATOR

    Interdisciplinary artist Melissa Macleod, joined us at the start of 2025 as our current Creative Communicator. Working primarily across sculpture, photography and performance, Melissa is exploring the relationship between land and water, the point where these elements meet and cross over; and the innate role of the catchment as filter.

  • Greg Yee

    CREATIVE COMMUNICATOR

    After spending his childhood years in Oamaru, Greg moved to Christchurch where he is currently based in Lyttelton. Greg has a Bachelor of Design, majoring in sculpture from Ara Institute of Technology, as well as a Bachelor of Fine Arts with First Class Honours and a Master of Fine Arts with Distinction, both from Canterbury University.

    “I propose to make a body of sculptural domestic ware ceramics,” Greg explains. “These would be site responsive through the incorporation of the vernacular materials of the area contributing to the slip and glaze. This use of local materials is something I have studied in the centuries long history of Chinese ceramics production. The variants in the wild clay and slip can be very distinctive and offer a different perspective on the unique make-up of the land itself and our connection to it.”