About – Kapowai Kiwi Group protecting the Brown Kiwi in Coromandel NZ

Kapowai Kiwi Group

COROGLEN – COROMANDEL PENINSULA – NEW ZEALAND

Who we are

Kapowai Kiwi Group (KKG) was established by a small group of landowners in the Kapowai Valley in 2002. They progressively passed the baton to others and none of the originals remain. KKG is a micro group of six active members who volunteer their time and raise funds to employ a contract trapper.

Justin Murphy

Chairperson

Having completed my education in Auckland and a brief spell in the RNZAF I relocated to the United Kingdom. Working in the IT industry as a project manager I was responsible for delivering infrastructure and software solutions for multinational companies both in the UK and in Europe.

Looking for a change of pace I re-qualified and returned to New Zealand with my wife and children to open a Gym and Pilates studio in Whitianga at the end of 2003. We sold the gym in 2015 and I now work for a nationwide plumbing supplier.

As well as holding the position of Chair for the KKG committee I am also on the committee and an active operational member of Kuaotunu Land Search and Rescue.

Anthony Hamilton

Treasurer

Anthony and his wife Airdrie are dairy / drystock / forestry farmers at Whenuakite, where Anthony’s family have farmed for over 100 years.

Anthony has a degree in mathematics and physics from Auckland University. He has always enjoyed the diverse natural environment he sees every day as well as when he pursues his love of travel.

Rebecca Ebbers

Fundraiser

Rebecca is a mother of four, home-schooling teacher and an amateur gardener. She has a Masters degree in Biochemistry which now comes in useful in the kitchen.

She enjoys getting out and about in the great outdoors and spending time working on the lifestyle block she and her husband (Matt Ebbers) and children live on in the Kapowai Valley.

David Innes

Secretary

David is a retired General Surgeon who has worked in NZ, UK, Tanzania, Nepal, and Tonga.
He served for 30 years as a Territorial Soldier in the NZ Army Medical Corps. He was a keen mountain climber in the Southern Alps in youth and has had a life-long interest in outdoor activities.

He currently spends most of his time planting and maintaining native trees on a life style block. He is married to Anne and they have 3 adult children.

Dave Howarth

Contract Trapper

Moved to Whenuakite in Sept 1982. Started beekeeping business along side the architectural business and was beekeeping for 20 years.

During this time I have been local scout leader, on the committee of the Hot Water Beach Surf Club, on the board of the Whenuakite School, Trustee on the board for the local pensioner housing in Whitianga. and member of the Kapowai Kiwi Group since 2004. I took on the role of contract trapper 3 years ago.

I am also now involved in the group’s Operation Nest Egg program, monitoring the 4 male kiwi with transmitters.

Benson Lockhart

(Member/ Technical Advisor)

Born and bred on the Coromandel. Currently working for Waikato Regional Council as community group advisor for Kauri protection having spent the last 15 years working in the biodiversity space working for both Waikato Regional Council and the Department of Conservation.

I have a keen interest in cultivating food and protecting this precious part of the world that we are lucky enough to call home.