Our People

Melanie (she/her) first heard about Matuku Link in 2023 when her daughter Eloise visited on a school trip and came home raving about all the cool things she had learned! It sounded like exactly the sort of stuff that Melanie wanted to learn more about too, so she looked up the website to find out how to visit. She has been a regular volunteer at the Sunday working bees ever since, along with husband Phil and daughters Eloise and Samantha.

With a background in language teaching, educational publishing and learning design, and a lifelong passion for birds and the New Zealand bush, Melanie supports the team with fundraising, working with school groups and developing educational resources.

Matthew (he/him) is joining the Matuku Link team across 2026 as part of his AUT Capstone placement, where he’ll be working on a science communication project exploring ways to share the stories and ecological work happening across the wetland.

He is currently completing a double degree in Law and Environmental Science, with a Geospatial minor, at Auckland University of Technology. He’s particularly interested in how environmental science and data can be communicated in ways that help people better understand and connect with the natural places around them.

Outside of university Matthew is the Secretary for Te Hōnonga a Iwi – Restoring Rosedale Park, a community-led urban restoration project on the Shore. In practice this seems to involve being part of a little bit of everything, governance, projects, systems, and often the jobs no one else really wants to deal with. If you ever find yourself near Rosedale, he highly recommends coming to check out the restoration work happening there.

He’s also heavily involved in all things hockey (playing, coaching, officiating, admin) and also St John Youth. Matthew is looking forward to spending time learning more about wetland ecology at Matuku Link and getting involved in the mahi happening across the site and meeting all the people behind it.

Rebecca joined Matuku Link in 2023, after volunteering with our education programme for a year. She grew up locally exploring the Waitākere Ranges and West Coast beaches. Now she shares her love of the natural world with her three children.

Rebecca brings her experience from 10 years of child education, fundraising, and event organisation with Playcentre Aotearoa. More recently she has been involved with setting up an environmentally conscious online business that inspired families to explore nature-play while being kind to the world around them. Rebecca is also involved in running the Kiwi Conservation Club in Waitakere for the most junior members of our local Forest & Bird.

As Lead Educator at Matuku Link, Rebecca leads the development of our education programme and resources while delivering hands-on learning experiences for visiting students. She enjoys creating opportunities for young people to connect with nature, explore environmental issues, and discover the unique wildlife and ecosystems of our wetlands.

In addition to education  Rebecca also manages our Matuku Link shop.

Contact Rebecca at shop@matukulink.org.nz

Since November 2025 Matuku Link is supported by Project Rise, the philanthropic project of the Dawoodi Bohras Auckland. The Dawoodi Bohras are a global, peaceful Muslim community, numbering around one million, with origins in Western India and a strong presence in over 40 countries. Led by His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin (the 53rd al-Dai al-Mutlaq (unrestricted missionary), Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, based in Mumbai, they follow the Fatimi Ismaili school of thought, focusing on education, trade, environmental responsibility, and maintaining a unique, close-knit cultural identity.

The community is actively involved in business, education, and social development, maintaining a strong, globally interconnected network. They are one of the largest food bank and hunger relief providers in the world, with the aim “nobody will go to sleep hungry”. 

Matuku Link is proud to share these community values, especially on education and environmental responsibility. John Sumich, Annalily van den Broeke and Grac Coyle recently joined their Iftar – the breaking of the 15 hour fast as part of Ramadan. It was a joyful occasion with beautiful food shared and a great opportunity to strengthen the bonds between our organisations and learn more.

Did you know: 

• They are Shia Muslims who adhere to the Quran and Sharia, performing 5 daily prayers, fasting, and valuing community, education, and women’s empowerment. Originating from Gujarat, India, they are historically a community of traders.
• They have a unique language called Lisan ud-Dawat (derived from Arabic, Persian, and Gujarati) with a distinct, modest dress code: men wear white outfits (dopi), and women wear a two-piece colorful dress called Rida.
• They emphasize being law-abiding, loyal citizens in their host countries, with a strong focus on philanthropy (Project Rise) and environmental sustainability.
  Community Life: They are known for their community-sharing, often dining together from a large plate called a thal.

Our annual fundraiser, always a sell out success:

VIP Kayak Day on 18th April 2026

Once a year only – so as not to disturb the wildlife too much – and with access generously granted by our neighbouring properties, our VIP Kayak Day is back!

Experience Te Henga wetland from the best possible perspective and raise funds for its protection at the same time. The navigable part of Waitākere River is accessible only from private land. On this one day, access will be allowed for our biggest fundraiser of the year – a two hour paddle in small groups on kayaks. Drift along the Waitakere River, which flows through Matuku Link, through to Te Henga wetland.

Tickets are $80 each, with all equipment (kayaks, paddles, life vests, etc.) and training provided. Minimum age is 12 years. For enquiries about younger participants or other questions, please contact us.  Book now, last year this sold out within two weeks!

Book now!

All proceeds go directly to Matuku Link, a community conservation and education project in Bethells/Te Henga. Your support helps us restore the wetland with plants from our nursery, protect wildlife through pest control, and provide wetland education programs for local primary schools at our Sustainable Wetland Education Centre. The smell of a sausage sizzle (regular, vegan & GF) will await you when you arrive at our Sustainable Wetland Education Centre (aka “the barn”), with home baking, locally roasted coffee and cold drinks all for sale to provide you sustenance before or after your kayak tour.

Bookings required, no door sales! Last year this sold out within two weeks. Proudly part of EcoFest.

Hope to see you there! – Annalily, colleagues, trustees, volunteers – and all the birds you’ll be supporting!

All images by our voluntary professional photographer Stefan Marks – thank you!

It wouldn’t have been the same without our stall holders who engaged with our visitors with activities, information and conversation.

• the Bethells Fire Brigade,
• Christine Rose Ceramics,
• Muriwai Environment Trust (those penguins!),
• Pest Free Waitakere Ranges Alliance,
• Ark in the Park (that stuffed cat!),
• PredatorFreeSwanson/Waitekere,
• Friends of Whatipu (weekend outing coming up!),
• Frazer the Biodiversity Guy,
• Birds New Zealand,
• Te Henga Tuturiwhatu & Penguin Protectors,
• Department of Conservation (clean your boat!),
• Kauri Rescue (got any kauri for a health check?),
• Auckland Council Tiakina Kauri,
• Auckland Zoo
• Entomological Society (so many beautiful tiny creatures),
• Mountains to Sea (getting wet feet),
• EcoMatters (flower arranging with weeds!)
• Brandy Davis, who screen printed her beautiful design on our t-shirts all day long!