The Initial Steering Group

To guide this kaupapa, we created an Initial Steering Group. We invited people representing a wide geographical spread and across a range of sectors to come together to collectively design the initial phase of the Te Ara Oranga Taiao project.

This section is a brief intro to the awesome group of people who make up the initial steering rōpu for this project. Most of us have been involved with Adventure Therapy Aotearoa over the years, sitting on the leadership rōpū in different ways and at different times.

We’ve also invited a few new faces into the mix — people who bring fresh perspectives from other sectors connected to this kaupapa. We’re really keen to have a wide range of voices at the tēpu as we move forward and weave this project together.

We’re looking forward to meeting kanohi ki te kanohi at the upcoming hui. In the meantime, we hope this short introduction gives you a sense of who will be in this space, and the depth and breadth of whakaaro that will help guide this next phase.

Amy Horn - Project Lead

Ko wai au!? My name is Amy Horn. I am of Pākehā descent. I grew up in Kirikiriroa/Hamilton and now live in Christchurch and have been here since 2010. In between I spent some time studying and working in Auckland and then Marlborough at the Outward Bound School.

I am married with a busy house of two teenagers, a 4-year-old girl and a big slobbery black French mastiff! Some of the things that bring me joy in life - my youngest daughter, mountain biking, adventure racing, rogaining, decorating cakes, playing the piano and puzzling :-)

I have been involved with the Adventure Therapy field of practice since I began in 2003 as an outdoor instructor. The majority of the work I have done as an outdoor instructor has been developmental and therapeutic programmes. In 2014 I started working at Adventure Specialties Trust with the purpose to develop Adventure Therapy programming at the Trust, and also to support the development of Adventure Therapy in Aotearoa NZ. Along the way I also completed a Masters in Counselling. I have had the privilege of being involved with ĀTA from the beginning, and also the last 11 years connected with the International Community of Adventure and Nature-based Therapies.

I have just given up my day job! After a fabulous time at Adventure Specialties Trust I need a bit more space in my life for my own health and wellbeing, supporting my family and living life at a slower pace. I'm very excited to be working part time contracting to this kaupapa in the role as Project Lead.

Helen Jeffrey

Helen is tangata tiriti and lives in the Queenstown Lakes rohe. She is an occupational therapist with experience in a variety of mental health settings in Aotearoa, Australia, USA and UK. She also has experience as an outdoor instructor and has used adventure therapy techniques in both of those fields. Helen currently works as a principal lecturer at the School of Occupational Therapy, Otago Polytechnic, engaging with teaching and research in both the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. She has just stepped down from the ĀTA leaders’ group, which she had been an active part of since the inception.

Steff Revell

I am a qualified Counsellor, Counsellor Educator and Supervisor. My professional interests lie in the restorative potential of outdoor environments and the integration of diverse therapeutic practices to support health and wellbeing. I am also deeply committed to facilitating educational and learning experiences that promote reflexivity, ethical awareness, and research-informed practice. Currently, I am a Senior Lecturer in the Postgraduate Counselling programmes at Massey University.

Sam Newton

Sam is the Advocacy manager for Recreation Aotearoa. In his role there Sam manages their government relations. His job is to ensure the voice of recreation is heard at the highest levels of decision making in Aotearoa. Sam has held several high-profile roles. He has worked as a Parliamentary Advisor and was General Manager of the New Zealand Alpine Club. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce, and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons), and has been a recipient of the Sir Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Fellowship. Sam has served as Chair of the Canterbury Aoraki Conservation Board, and Deputy Chair of the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council. Sam is passionate about active recreation in the outdoors. His wide-ranging interests include rock climbing, mountaineering, ski touring, packrafting and tramping. He also serves as an Officer in the New Zealand Army Reserve.

Helen Gillespie

Helen Gillespie – Operations Manager for Health New Zealand. In my former role with Department of Conservation I led the Healthy Nature Healthy People programme – seeking to improve health outcomes through connection to the outdoors. We had the privilege of working alongside NGO’s like Halberg Trust and Mental Health Foundation to sharpen our focus on accessibility to the outdoors for more New Zealanders. To frame this work I’ve been connected with the Scottish Forestry Commission, Healthy Parks Healthy People constituents globally and especially Australia.

While I may have changed roles I’m still advocating for nature experiences as part of good health. The opportunity to sit at the doorstep sets you in nature!

Taina McClutchie - Pou Whirinaki

Kelly O’Hagan - Project Admin

Kia ora koutou,

My name is Kelly O’Hagan, I am Australian. I am a social worker. I am a foster carer. I am going to be an administrator on this project, so you will be getting emails from me :) I came to Aotearoa to go kayaking at about 8 years old and I have stayed. I am still not used to the cold weather.

I have been working in the Adventure Therapy field of practice for over 10 years in many different organisations and programs. I enjoy connecting with young people who have challenging lives and journeying alongside them.

I recently embarked on the biggest adventure of my life, becoming a foster carer. It has taught me so much and I am learning every day, it has been a roller coaster. I enjoy being in te taiao and lucky for me, so does my little man :)

I particularly enjoy all things water based. I am looking forward to being a part of this project, I am excited about where it could go.

Thank you for jumping on the waka with us and having an adventure as we explore where this kaupapa leads us to!

Kelly Jarvis

Ko Kelly Jarvis tōku ingoa, he uri ahau nō Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti.

I have worked in the family violence, health, and well-being sector for the past 17 years. For the last 11 years, I’ve served within Māori health at Te Wakahuia Manawatū Trust in Palmerston North, holding roles as Family Violence Prevention Coordinator, Whānau Counsellor, and Rangatahi Team Lead.

My model of practice, Puāwai, prioritises a Kaupapa Māori approach to well-being that centres the intrinsic relationships between people, wairua, and te taiao. Here, I weave together rongoā Māori, creativity, and storytelling into a holistic healing journey that honours ancestral intelligence and Indigenous wisdom over Western models of therapy.

While this has always been my way of practicing, and a way of life for me, I recently graduated from He Waka Hiringa, a Master of Applied Indigenous Knowledge. My rangahau, Poipoia te kākano, kia puāwai, explored the sacred relationship between wāhine and te taiao, contributing to the collective growth of Kaupapa Māori well-being options for rangatahi, particularly kōhine navigating the passage through te kore, te pō, ki te ao mārama.

This rangahau informed the creation and delivery of Hine Puāwai, a nature-based programme guiding kōhine to activate the tools needed to navigate the transition from kōhine to wāhine and beyond.

I’m committed to growing and sharing this mahi within the community and look forward to contributing to this beautiful kaupapa

Jane Young

Kia ora, I’m Jane Young. For the past 15 years, I have had the privilege of co-coordinating the Nature Education Network Conference – an outdoor gathering that brings together educators, health professionals, and community leaders who share a deep passion for connecting people with te taiao, the natural world. This role has shaped my understanding of the powerful link between nature and wellbeing, and reinforced my belief that healing doesn’t just happen in clinics – it happens under trees, on trails, beside rivers, and in quiet, shared moments with the land.

What makes our conference special is its full immersion in nature – held entirely outdoors, rain or shine – offering delegates a lived experience of connection, inspiration, and groundedness.

In my “day job,” I am a clinical pharmacist based in Whangārei, working across both general practice and secondary care. Alongside my clinical mahi, I also run a pharmacogenomics business that helps tailor medications to people’s unique genetic makeup – a fascinating field that aligns with personalised, holistic approaches to health. I'm passionate about reducing inequities in healthcare and improving access for all communities.

I grew up in Te Tai Tokerau / Northland and now feel lucky to call the Tutukaka Coast home. Outside of work, I enjoy ocean swimming, surfing, multi-sporting, camping, bikepacking, and spending time with whānau and friends.

I’m really looking forward to meeting you all, being part of this Steering Group and contributing to this kaupapa.

Sue Bagshaw

Sue worked as a primary care doctor specialising in youth health at a one stop shop (YOSS) community youth health centre for 10-25 year olds, which she helped to set up, in 1995, now called Te Tahi Youth.

She is working with others to set up a Youth Hub of services, recreation, creativity and transition housing.

She is a senior lecturer in adolescent health in the department of Paediatrics at the Christchurch School of Medicine, and she is an educator with the Collaborative Trust (a research and training centre for youth health and development, which she also helped to set up).

She has a wonderful husband who set up the Canterbury Charity Hospital, 4 adult children and 7 mokopuna and, despite being born in Hong Kong, doesn’t look a bit Chinese.

Vicky Totoro

And last but not least, Vicky Totoro, who is an amazing human that you will all connect with at our hui!

E pōkarekare ana ngā wai o Waiapu. Ka hiki whakarunga ki tōku maunga ko Hikurangi.

Kei reira wōku tīpuna e tū mārohirohi ai e mātaiho ana mai ki runga i a mātau ngā uri o Ngati Porou. Nō Te Tairāwhiti whānui awau..

Ko Taina McClutchie taku ingoa.

I’m a Māori practitioner based in Tairāwhiti, working alongside rangatahi to support their reconnection to education, identity, and wellbeing through Te Taiao and Mātauranga Māori. I was born in Tūranganui-a-Kiwa (Gisborne) and raised within the nurturing framework of Te Aho Matua, grounded in the values and teachings of Mātauranga Māori. My whānau come from Manutūkē, Te Māhia, Ruatōrea and Te Araroa, places of deep ancestral connection and natural beauty where my love for the outdoors was nurtured and continues to shape and sustain my practice.

I have a deep belief in the healing potential of nature, and I weave pūrākau, mahi toi and whakawhanaungatanga into my everyday practice.

My background includes working across alternative education and mental health spaces, with a focus on creating safe, culturally grounded and transformative journeys. I previously worked at Te Hiringa Matua, an organisation focused on mental health and addiction, supporting whānau, particularly māmā and pēpi, to strengthen their overall wellbeing and make empowered, holistic lifestyle choices. This kaupapa deepened my commitment to whānau-centered, strength-based approaches to healing.

I currently serve as Chair of Adventure Therapy Aotearoa and am passionate about supporting its bicultural journey and collective kaupapa. I will be contracting to this project at the lead Pou Whirinaki.

Meg Ryan

Meg is a Counsellor with almost 20 years of instructional experience in the outdoors. She is motivated by understanding the needs of individuals and communities and walking alongside them towards a life of wellbeing. She has been on the ĀTA leadership group for the last 6 years and is now one of our International Reps. In her spare time you’ll find her running, paddling and adventuring with friends. She currently works as a Counsellor in the Outdoors at Waipuna in Ōtautahi

Fergus Knight

Fergus is a Healthy Active Learning facilitator at Sport Tasman, helping educators confidently deliver Health and Physical Education through a bicultural lens, while supporting schools to integrate quality physical activity, healthy eating, and drinking into their environments.

Charlotte Jelleyman

Kia ora

Nō United Kingdom ahau

Ko Ingarangi te whakapaparanga mai

E mahi ana au hei Kaiako ki te Kura Hākinakina o Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau

Ko Charlotte Jelleyman tōku ingoa

I am a senior lecturer in sport leadership and outdoor learning at AUT. It has been a convoluted, yet honest journey to arrive in this place where my connection to te taiao, commitment to hauora and research background meet.

I grew up in a small village on the South West Coast where movement, time in nature and mindfulness were so integrated, we didn’t name them, and I didn’t really recognise them until I began to see the tragic consequences of the absence of those things.

While I enjoy surfing, tramping, sea kayaking and all manner of adventurous pursuits myself, my greatest joy is in introducing people to the outdoors, developing their love for te taiao, and providing them with replicable experiences so that they continue to get outside in their own time – a large part of my role at AUT now.

In 2022 I discovered Compassionate Communication (NVC), which sparked my interest in therapeutic experiences, without necessarily needing to be “therapy”. I continue to develop my NVC skills and am now a certification candidate, meaning that my experience as a committed sharer and practitioner is recognised.

I have a track record collaborative and accessible research, leading research projects with several sector partners such as Hillary Outdoors, Te Papa Atawhai and Sport Auckland.

I am excited to be joining ĀTA on this exciting project.

Gemma Wong

I grew up in Ōtautahi but now live on the Kāpiti Coast and am obsessed with it. My ancestors are from China, Hong Kong, and Scotland.

My academic background is in health psychology, and I'm currently working towards professional registration and hoping to start an internship next year. After completing my masters, I spent time at the NGO level focused on the health and wellbeing of older people, and then moved into policy analysis at the Ministry of Health working on things like primary healthcare access, ambulance funding, the covid response, and Māori health. For the last few years I've been at the Ministry of Education focusing on policy related to learner wellbeing, including rainbow learner safety and inclusion, the earlier days of Ka Ora, Ka Ako (food in schools), and most recently the multi-agency response to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into abuse in state care.

I worked briefly in outdoor rec in Hong Kong in 2009, and did an Outward Bound course in Anakiwa a couple of years ago. I care about equity, sustainability, and social justice. I'm happiest when I'm at home in my vege garden with my cat and a cup of tea, or walking on Waikanae beach.

GET INVOLVED

PROJECT STEERING GROUP