Tony holds a Bachelor of Archaeology from the University of Auckland. He has a strong understanding of archaeology, history, the cultural landscape and the corresponding Resource Management Act and the NZ Historic Places Act.
Tony’s background makes him an extremely practical, knowledgeable and intuitive Archaeologist. His experience working with hapū and community groups enable him to effectively investigate the historic and cultural background of any given area.
Since 2005, Tony has undertaken full archaeological assessments, archaeological authority applications, preliminary assessment, heritage management plans, fieldwork and supervision of earthworks.
While Tony’s foundation is in archaeology, he has a uniquely varied background that makes him a well-rounded member of the NZ Environmental Management team. He has a passion for ecology, botany and conservation, in addition to psychology training and facilitating education programs within the Corrections environment. He has intrinsic links to many northern hapū and community groups and is able to move in te āo Māori o te tai tokerau with confidence and standing.
Tony has designed an educational programme, the Mātauranga Māori ki Ngāhere programme; it is a new initiative that draws on his expertise and experience. Historically, Māori had a unique and ultimately necessary knowledge of and synergy with the forest, in that it provided food, medicine, building material, weaving materials and dyes. It also held a central and persistent spiritual role. It is these aspects of the forest that we cover in detail over the course of the programme to encourage a sense of kaitiakitanga within a mātauranga framework of pono, tika, tautoko and aroha. The programme also delivers training in ecological principles, conservation and resilience, and in practical rongoā and sustainable harvest practices.
For the past three years Tony has volunteered with Corrections as a community work sponsor and supervisor, providing a practical and educational component to people completing community work sentences. Last year he was honoured to receive a Whanonga Pono award from Kaikohe Community Probation for displaying an exceptional commitment to the Ara Poutama Aotearoa value of kaitiaki.