
“Predator Free NZ is a brilliant generational challenge to restore our environment. I support the Whakatipu Wildlife Trust because this community effort makes the vision possible in this beautiful landscape, and it’s our bit of the national mission.”
WWT Patron, Sir Bill English

“I’m proud to be a patron of the Whakatipu Wildlife Trust and wholeheartedly endorse their commitment towards our community goal of flourishing ecosystems that are predator-free under our kaitiakitanga. I continue to be impressed with the results the trust have been able to achieve in the co-ordination of community groups focused on the big picture solution to pest management in our district.”
WWT Patron, Jim Boult CNZM
Our Staff
Anna Harding-Shaw, Executive Officer
Anna and her family have been in Queenstown since 2014. Taking over as Executive Officer for the Whakatipu Wildlife Trust from Joanne Conroy in June 2024, Anna has always had an interest in animals and conservation.
Anna has 20 years of experience in the veterinary industry, with the last 10 years spent as Operations Manager and Veterinary Nurse at Remarkable Vets. Anna is also a volunteer trapper for the Arrowtown and Coronet Face trapping groups.
Conservation volunteering has always been a passion for Anna, alongside her veterinary career. Anna has been a volunteer at Queenstown Kiwi Park, Wellington’s Zealandia and Wellington Zoo. Anna also spent a year in South America working at a wildlife sanctuary training volunteers and assisting in the rehabilitation of wildlife.
In her free time, Anna and her family enjoy skiing, mountain biking and tramping.
Anna is excited to work with the community to make a lasting difference for nature in the Whakatipu as we work towards the Predator Free 2050 mission.

Our Trustees
- Christina Becker-Fifield – Glenorchy, RDWT
- Brett Butland
- Jo Conroy (Treasurer)
- Nicky Gray – Enviroschools
- Phil Green – Conservation Officer, Queenstown Climbing Club
- Tony Paterson
- David Penrose (Chairman) – Lake Hayes Predator Free
- Warren Skerrett – Ngāi Tahu Representative
- Daniel Sweeney – Hanley’s Farm Predator Free
Christina Becker-Fifield, Glenorchy, RDWT
Chrissy is a field ranger out in Glenorchy, carrying out both pest control and bird monitoring for the Routeburn Dart Wildlife Trust. As a former wildlife keeper for Queenstown’s Kiwi Park, Chrissy enjoys being able to apply her passion and knowledge of New Zealand’s taonga species in the field.
Chrissy moved over from the UK back in 2015 and has made Glenorchy her home. She fell in love with the beautiful landscape and community spirit here and feels lucky to be able to help protect this wonderful corner of the world.

Brett Butland
Brett has over 38 years of experience in conservation with broad experience and knowledge of national conservation programmes and the challenges and opportunities our biodiversity faces.
Brett has extensive experience in developing and implementing strategies and management interventions to control and eradicate invasive species and restore indigenous ecosystems and species.

Nicky Gray, Enviroschools
Nicky has lived in Queenstown with her family for the past 15 years. Originally from the North Island she has always had a passion for the environment. She was a teacher in Queenstown and is now the Enviroschools Facilitator for the Wakatipu area. She works in all the schools in the Wakatipu Basin to support learning about the natural environment and sustainability.
Nicky enjoys the outdoors especially when gardening, walking or skiing. She loves working with children and is inspired by their energy and passion for the environment. She hopes that through taking action together we can increase our fauna and birdlife in the Wakatipu for the future generations.

Philip Green, Conservation Officer, Queenstown Climbing Club
Phil heralds from the far north and after completing a Physics degree at Auckland University travelled extensively overseas, finally ending up in Scotland where he developed a passion for climbing, the environment and the outdoors.
Since returning to New Zealand, Phil and his partner settled in Queenstown, started their own tourism business and became active in the local climbing community. In 2013 the Queenstown Climbing Club and DOC put the first predator trap line in Wye Creek and with Phil’s subsequent role as QCC Conservation Officer, he helped plan, manage and develop the Wye Creek project installing new trap lines, monitoring lines and bird count stations. He is now helping set up a similar trapping strategy for Queenstown Hill.
Phil is delighted to be involved in the Wakatipu Wildlife Trust – helping other trapping groups, sharing his knowledge, his love for the environment and representing the Queenstown Climbing Club’s mandate to promote climbing in the Wakatipu and protecting our environment for future generations of climbers.

Tony Paterson
My love for Queenstown, both for its people and its natural beauty, has been a lifelong affair. In fact, it started before I was born; my extended family had a much-loved and visited bach in Frankton and later built in Dalefield, where we were part of a fantastic network of people.
I’ve carried this sense of community throughout my life, and am deeply passionate about working for the mutual benefit of local people and environment. A key way this manifests for me is respecting our beautiful backyard, and exploring sustainability solutions that will protect and enhance our native wildlife for years to come.

David Penrose (Chairman), Lake Hayes Predator Free
David is a senior associate of New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty and a member of the REINZ.
Having established numerous relationships with clients through property over many years David is highly recognised within the greater Queenstown community. He is well respected and understands the need throughout the Southern Lakes to protect our natural habitat, and native bird species.
This has been enhanced recently through the efforts of David to establish a group of local residents to make Lake Hayes Predator Free.
He and his family reside at Lake Hayes, and enjoy the outdoor capital of New Zealand particularly given skiing, fishing, tramping, and hunting are all on our door step.
David knows what it takes to put the building blocks in place and is committed to passing on the baton to make a difference particularly as we face the challenge and benefits of making New Zealand Predator Free by 2050.

Warren Skerrett
Ko Warren Skerrett toku Ingoa
Ka tangi te titi
Ka tangi te kākā
Ka tangi hoki ahau
Tihewa mauriora
Warren is an enthusiastic supporter of protecting wildlife. Originally from a Bluff fishing family, He has touched the Natural wonders of all of Fiordland’s sounds, the southern coast , Solander rock and to all of Stewart Island. He has experienced the deadly effects of a rat Invasion on the Mutton bird Islands off southern Southern Stewart Island, and then, the dramatic return of Wildlife, after an extensive aerial rat eradication program.
We are in a generation where mind sets are changing and the WWT is the crux of that change.

Daniel Sweeney, Hanley’s Farm Predator Free
Daniel is a blow in from Scotland and has called Queenstown home since 2010. The initial 100% Pure NZ image soon gave way to the shocking reality that much of New Zealand’s native biodiversity has already been lost or is in serious trouble. Daniel is keen to help with the collective turning of the tide, with predator control efforts and native planting helping to protect the remaining wildlife of the Whakatipu.
