Wayne O’Keefe
Principal Advisor and Trainer
Wayne O’Keefe is deeply passionate about the flora and fauna that make Aotearoa New Zealand unique, and has spent more than 20 years working in the conservation sector supporting and leading diverse initatives. In this time Wayne has gained particular experience in managing large-scale habitat restoration and afforestation projects. He is a specialist in getting new environmental initiatives off the ground and stepping in to troubleshoot and redirect projects that have stalled or lost their way. Wayne is able to look at the whole picture and combines practical experience with the clear planning, relationship management, budgeting, and contractor oversight needed to see a project through to success.
Wayne is also passionate about navigating the human side of conservation. He is skilled at bringing diverse stakeholders together, including government agencies, community groups, mana whenua, interest groups and industry, ensuring everyone is aligned and working toward the same goals. This collaborative approach was central to his time as Operations Manager for the Kōkako Ecosystem Expansion Programme (KEEP), an ambitious multi generational project with a goal to connect isolated populations of kōkako in the Bay of Plenty.
A key component of Wayne’s career has been working directly with the people who live on and care for the land. During his ten years as a Regional Representative for the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust, Wayne worked closely with private landowners to implement open space covenants, manage restoration projects, and protect vital habitats on their properties. This deep experience with landowners is matched by his work with Project Crimson and Trees That Count, where he provided technical advice and funding guidance to help people successfully establish new native forests.
Throughout all his work, Wayne ensures that ecological goals respect and align with the tikanga and aspirations of mana whenua. He is also dedicated to capability building, having spent five years training and mentoring the next generation of conservation leaders for one of his clients, Bay Conservation Alliance.
Wayne brings two decades of trusted, hands-on experience to help communities create a lasting legacy for the land.
Testimonials
“We worked with Wayne on a native planting project on our ancestral maunga, Rangiuru. This was an important kaupapa for our iwi, as significant landscape changes are occurring within our generation, and we are working to establish a planting that will endure for generations to come.
Wayne supported us in developing a thoughtful, three-phase approach to the planting, identifying which rākau would naturally belong on our maunga, which species would serve cultural purposes, and which would support the establishment and growth of future rākau rangatira.
He also connected us with organisations that provided resources and ongoing monitoring of rākau health and growth.
On the day of the planting, Wayne was respectful in his approach. He offered guidance and support while allowing our iwi to lead the kaupapa, which created a space where whānau of all ages felt empowered to participate.
Overall, the planting project was deeply meaningful for our iwi, strengthening our connections with one another, with the rākau, our tūpuna, and our maunga”.
Hiria Te Amo, Pou Tūhona Taiao, Tapuika Iwi Authority