About Us
Our Vision
We are, at present, undertaking the valuable work of health education among young people. We will be working with all age groups, but our focus is on children, helping them to help themselves with all aspects of health management from 'obesity prevention', through 'asthma attack avoidance' to increasing their activity as well as increasing the activity of the community in general, in a gentle outdoor setting.
We see ourselves as reviving the human connection with the natural environment by promoting bio-diversity conservation, and our heritage of the world's many cultures, in a botanic gardens in north-east Auckland. We are, at present, in the 'Feasibility Stage', investigating various locations for our gardens. Through our work with our partner organisations and by our own educational work we will become a world leader in the teaching of Sustainable Health Systems. We will make sustainable Health and Medicine relevant to those whose needs have not previously been catered for by botanic gardens.
Who we are
The Foundation that governs us is a charitable trust registered with the NZ Charities Commission (CC 46860). The trustees ensure that the institute and its agents all understand our Mission Statement and achieve our Objectives. Our trustees will have experience in many fields (law, accountancy, health, horticulture, research, etc).
The Board of Trustees of the charity
| AM Goldthorp | 'Settlor' & Managing Trustee |
Was Deputy Head of the Islington Green Further Education and Community College in London. She then retrained as a Medical herbalist and practiced as such while running an Organic farm (Soil Assoc.), Wales, U.K. She has had several small businesses as well as experience of setting up an agricultural cooperative. She has also established a number of herb gardens. Her web site is at www.thecelticherbalist.com. |
| Amit Prasad | Treasurer | Senior Accountant, Finance Department, Auclkand University |
| Julia Fettes | Trustee | Emeritus President of New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists |
| Leanne Halliwell | Trustee | President of New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists |
| Ashley Glenn | Trustee | Senior botanist, Missouri Botanic Gardens; Program Manager of the Sacred Seeds program (15 medicinal gardens) and Manager of the Peruvian Medicinal Gardens |
| Deborah Woods | Trustee | Solicitor and owner / manager of a large farm |
| Dr Sandy Smith | Trustee | Marketing academic, Auckland University. |
Advisory Group
| Dr. Keith Hammett | Private Plant Breeder, Formerly Scientist, Horticulture and Food Research Institute of New Zealand Ltd. |
More... |
| Professor Wai Yeap | Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Director of CAIR at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) | More... |
| Mrs. Nicola Oberste-Berghaus | Director at Price Waterhouse Cooper | More... |
| Mr. Tony Stephenson | President, NZ Organisaton for Quality | More... |
| Mr. Brendan Winitana | Chairman Sustainable Electricity Association New Zealand (SEANZ) | More... |
| Professor Grant Cushman | Professor of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Lincoln University |
More... |
| Mr. James McLean | Director, Story Inc. | More... |
| Dr. Xin Chen | NZ Asia Institute, faculity of Business & Economics, Aukland University | More... |
| Mr. Tony van Raat | Associate Professor and Head of Architecture at Unitec | More... |
| Mr. Graeme North | Architect | More... |
| Mrs. Trish Allen | Secretary, Permaculture in New Zealand | More... |
| Dr. James Beattie | Academic staff: Univerisy of Waikato. Specialist in Garden History, Chinese art, Heath and Environmental ideas between NZ and China |
More... |
| Mr. David Brundell | Director Gardenza Experienced ornamental horticulturist with a strong background in the scientific development of ornamental crops |
More... |
| Mr. Malcolm McAll | Architect; Director of Solar Power NZ & Ecos Homes | More... |
| Ms. Xanthia White | Chelsea Flower Show silver medallist | More... |
| Ms. Renee Davies | Head of Landscape Architecture, Unitec | More... |
| Mr. Richard Main | Director, Gardens For Health | More... |
| Mr. Grispin Caldicot | Editor of Earth Building | More... |
| Dr. Mark Goldthorp | Freelance Chartered Doctor of Engineering. He has qualifications in Agricultural Botany, Electronics, Software, and Renewable Energy | More... |