A community-led approach to restoration.
Our Story
The Ōhiwa Headland Sanctuary Trust was founded in August 2016 with the vision of restoring the natural character of the Ōhiwa Headland to create a Sanctuary for native fauna and flora to flourish. This is a community-led initiative that is inspiring the locals to actively manage animal and plant pests within the Headland, as well as increase native habitat through plantings. Through our collaborative efforts we aim to enhance the current flora and fauna and re-establish various threatened species through natural succession or potential reintroductions.
Located within the Ōpōtiki Ecological District, the Ōhiwa Headland is a coastal area rich in natural history and character that has significant biodiversity values not found at other sites within the Bay of Plenty. This prominent landscape which was once considered a defendable headland by early Māori was the foundation behind creating a defendable sanctuary for New Zealand’s native flora and fauna from introduced threats. The natural boundary of the Headland which consists of the Ōhiwa Harbour, Waiōtahe estuary and Pacific sea provides for a landscape where the removal and maintenance of predators to low levels is entirely feasible.
Our Community
The Trust is committed to a genuinely community‑led approach, recognising that the project’s success relies on the collective support of local residents, landowners, iwi, schools, and other key stakeholders who form its foundation.
Our community has shown strong and sustained commitment to predator control on the Ōhiwa Headland. Four local caregroups actively carry out on‑the‑ground biodiversity protection work and are supporters of our project. In return, the Ōhiwa Headland Sanctuary Trust has unified these efforts, enabling a coordinated, landscape‑scale predator control network.
Support from landowners is exceptionally high, with 98% of the 165 landowners in the operational area granting full access for pest control activities and reporting noticeable ecological improvements. Many households participate directly through backyard trapping and monthly catch reporting. In addition, 40 regular volunteers contribute to pest control and wider restoration work, reflecting a deeply engaged and environmentally motivated community.
Our People
Andrew Glaser |
Co-founder, Chairperson
Andrew has worked in the conservation sector for 40+ years, and has extensive experience with ground-based predator control, pest plant management and species monitoring. His 12-years managing Te Urewera Mainland Island inspired the vision of managing pests to low levels on the Ōhiwa Headland. Andrew currently works in Wild Animal Management, where he is helping trial novel techniques such as the use of night vision and thermal imagery in fighting pests. Andrew utilises his knowledge to strategically plan and guide the operations of the Trust.
Mike O'Sullivan | Trustee
Mike has a long history with mineral extraction both in New Zealand and overseas. Recently he was the founder and Technical Director of Geo40, a NZ company aimed at sustainably extracting silica and lithium from geothermal energy for a growing market. Mike is passionate about environmental restoration outcomes having served as Chair of environmental charity Project Tongariro. He has a long history at Ōhiwa and was instrumental in backing the Trust's vision from its inception. He now brings his business acumen and innovative thinking to the governance of the Trust.
Tessa Ranginui | Trustee
Tessa is an Ōpōtiki local who grew up adjacent to the Ōhiwa Headland. Her passion for the environment is the driving force behind projects in her own backyard, including the restoration of the Waiōtahe Valley Back Road, the creation of a wetland and hours spent trapping and undertaking weed control voluntarily. Tessa is also an active member of the neighboring Waiōtahe Water Care catchment group.
Gary McGuigan | Trustee
A retired school principal, Gary has had a long history at Ōhiwa. He was part of the group that conducted first plantings on dunes at Ōhiwa following the spits severe erosion in the 1970's and was a long standing member of Birds New Zealand. Gary is known in the eastern Bay of Plenty as the longest serving Justice of the Peace, having undertaken this voluntary role for over 43 years. Gary is a founding trustee and provides valuable guidance to the governance of the Trust.
Nikki Slade Robinson | Trustee
Nikki grew up in Ōpōtiki and is an award winning author / illustrator. She is part of the local Hurike care group and spends numerous hours assisting with traplines, weed control and planting projects for the group and on her own property. She also works for the Motu Trails Charitable Trust as admin/accounts and designer.
Jenn Elgar | Treasurer
Jenn has been living in the Bryans Beach area since 2012 with husband Ian, and most valued family member Dembe (schnoodle). With skills and experience in admin, finance and planning within the sports sector, Jenn provides a valuable role as treasurer to the Trust.
Mithuna Sothieson | Project Support & Biodiversity Lead
A Conservation Biologist, Mithuna is experienced in threatened species monitoring and management which she assists the Trust with, as well as the day-to-day running of the project in an administrative capacity. Mithuna, alongside husband Andrew Glaser, co-founded the Trust, bringing the vision of restoring their biodiversity-rich backyard to life.
Laurie Matthews | Pest Control Operator
Laurie is a highly experienced hunter, bushman, farm worker and former helicopter pilot. He also spent many years trapping possums deep in the heart of Te Urewera commercially and as a DOC-contractor. Laurie alongside his Conservation Dog Marley, are working to eradicate possums from the Ōhiwa Headland, as well as assist with pest control on the Headland and upper Waiotahe catchment.
Barlow Onekawa | Pest Control Operator
Barlow lives in the heart of the Waiōtahe catchment and is an experienced bushman, respected kaitiaki of the area and is skilled in many trades. He utilises his extensive knowledge to assist the Trust with pest trapping in the upper Waiōtahe for whio protection, as well as weed control and habitat restoration on the Ōhiwa Headland.
Reuben Aikman | Pest Control Operator
An Ōpōtiki local, Reuben is a former Bay Conservation Alliance cadet, who volunteers his time to support local environmental projects such as Hukutaia Domain care group. He now brings his skills and enthusiasm to the Trust through delivering weed control and restoration work on the Ōhiwa Headland.
