Rene Davies - Te Ūpoko o Te Ika a Maui Regional Coordinator and National Moderation Manager

Just as you can not learn kaitiaki from a book you can not learn to surf from a book. Being a kaitiaki and a surfer connects you to the Earth. Good surfers use all their senses to learn. Renē is a good surfer and he, like most of us, learns best when we do something - this is his style of teaching.

Rene’s strong connection to the earth through surfing and growing up in the naturally stunning Coromandel peninsula, coupled with a curious nature led him to study Environmental Science. ‘Eco apathy’ struck him through. It wasn’t until he started coordinating a citizen science project restoring water quality in a local awa that he realised the value of taking personal action. Witnessing the community building from working toward a common good was empowering and soothed anxiety.

Soon he became involved with NGOs caring for natural areas. Seeing that people care motivated him to generate more opportunities to take action in his community. Teaching was the natural progression, primarily to inspire taiohi to become kaitiaki. “Sustainability isn’t about hugging trees. For me, it is about enhancing society's sense of Hauora or wellbeing; physically, mentally and spiritually.