Our Whānau

Tairāwhiti Environment Centre is powered by a passionate team, dedicated committee, and an incredible network of volunteers who are at the heart of everything we do. Our team delivers practical projects, workshops, and services that empower environmental action across the region, while our committee provides governance, guidance, and strategic direction. Our volunteers contribute their time, skills, and enthusiasm in countless ways, helping us extend our reach and impact throughout the community. Together, we are committed to inspiring, supporting, and enabling positive environmental action across Tairāwhiti.

Our Team

Sam Rowland

GENERAL MANAGER

If Sam's not chatting your ear off at the hub, she's probably elbow-deep in the bush, pocketing interesting rocks and talking to the plants. An ecologist by training and a people-person by nature, Sam's superpower is getting folks fired up about the environment, then doing something about it.
sam@tairawhitienviro.nz
Stephanie Temple

HUB COORDINATOR

Steph is a trained linguist, passionate about people, their stories and finding connections! She thrives on going the extra mile. In doing so, she can get easily distracted. However, she absolutely LOVES serving the TEC community! Her role consists of organising the overall running of workshops, hub goings-on, volunteer coordination, as well as social media comms.
steph@tairawhitienviro.nz
Jo McKay

ZERO WASTE ACTIVATOR

Jo caught the waste bug 20 years ago and has been getting wasted ever since! She is inspired by actions that reduce, reuse and repair resources and how we stop designing and accepting waste in our lives. Jo is working on collaborative solutions for Tairāwhiti that build resilience, enterprise, access to resources and joy.
zerowaste@tairawhitienviro.nz
Léo Garcia

HUB SUPPORT
Léo is a creative, experienced in project and event management. He sits at the front desk, chatting with the public, keeping the hub tidy, running the Tu Taiao mahi and supporting the team with their different projects.
leo@tairawhitienviro.nz
Jordyn Smith

ACCOUNTS CLERK
He uri whakaheke tenei no Te Tairawhiti whanui. Jordyn is a busy Māmā to 7 tamariki, a professional multi-tasker, whos super power is that she believes she can do anything and everything. She works off-site, managing the accounts. Jordyn understands kaitiakitanga and the importance of caring for our Taiao.
‘Whatungarongaro te tangata, toitu te whenua’
accounts@tairawhitienviro.nz