Team
Geoff Button
Ecotourism Ecology Tutor
Geoff has had over 15 years working in the tourism sector with a range of operators, including Black Sheep Touring Company, Wilderness Lodge at Lake Moeraki, the Department of Conservation and Wilson’s Abel Tasman Experiences. Geoff delivers a range of content for the ecotourism courses, and specialises in ecology, earth science, meteorology and New Zealands flora and fauna's natural characteristics.
geoffb@tpp.ac.nz
Sarah Caseley
Project Manager
Sarah’s current work with Tai Poutini Polytechnic involves developing the Ecotourism NZ brand and marketing collateral, along with the Ecotourism NZ web site, planning the Ecotourism NZ 2008 conference and assisting with reformatting current course into industry based training.
sarah@ecotourismnz.com
Angela Johnson
Ecotourism NZ Administrator
Fresh to New Zealand from many years across the globe, Angela has been involved in the development of the Ecotourism NZ website, assisted in the planning of the Ecotourism NZ Conference 2007, and is on board again to co-cordinate the Ecotourism NZ Conference 2008.
angelaj@tpp.ac.nz
John Kennedy
Ecotourism Programme Co-ordinator
John completed his MA in Recreation and Leisure in 1997 at Victoria University. John’s last three years have been spent developing the Ecotourism programmes at Tai Poutini Polytechnic including the certificate, diploma and short course.
johnk@tpp.ac.nz
Brian MacKenzie
Director Special Projects
Brian has spent more than 20 years working in education and public health, both in New Zealand and in the UK. He came to the West Coast 5 years ago to set up ecotourism programmes at the Polytechnic and is currently responsible for strategic planning and management of programmes at Tai Poutini Polytechnic.
Bunty Mason
Te Ao Maori Tutor
Tena Koutou, nga mihi mahana ki a koutou. No wai au?
Ki nga Poutoko manawa, ōku nei tupuna, na koutou tōku mana kia tu rangatira i roto i nga ahuatanga kia kii ai ahau “he maori ahau” Nga mihi motuhake kia koutou katoa.
I am of Tainui waka, from Waingaro I am a mother of three, e maha hoki aku mokopuna, ēngari ko Henare te tangata, ko Kaytee rāua ko Maika aku pumanawa. My children are of Tainui/Taranaki and Kai Tahu descent raised on Te Tai Poutini o Te Wai Pounamu. Ko koutou ōku whakatiputanga.
My tohu are Dip; in Māori Design & Art (Weaving), Dip; in Mātauranga Māori currently completing BA Mātauranga Māori (Māori Studies), and Dip: in Heke Mātauranga Rongoa (Māori medicine), completed courses in Te Reo Māori, Hapū & Iwi Studies, and heading for NCAET (L4) I am currently attending Te Wananga o Raukawa.
I tutor in Mātauranga Māori - Rangahau Taiao from a Māori perspective – Ecotourism. The components delivered from a Māori World View within the course covers Te Reo me ōna Tikanga, Tourism Māori Practices, Environmental Tourism, Te Ao Turoa – Te Tiriti o Waitangi. I also deliver Mātauranga Māori components to other courses , within Tai Poutini Polytechnic
Sandra Rhodda
Research Manager
Sandra has a strong background in research with a PHD in Zoology. Sandra’s recent research includes mapping the tourism industry on the West Coast; a survey of tourism operators on the West Coast to ascertain their training requirements; and an assessment of the access of tourism businesses to people with disabilities.
