Toimata Foundation

Our Structure

Toimata Foundation supports two nationwide programmes:

Te Aho Tū Roa

Te Aho Tū Roa national team works directly with a range of local participants including teachers and community members. Poutautoko roles are being established to provide local support to participants.

Enviroschools

The Enviroschools national team works closely with 15 Regional Coordinators employed locally by our partner organisations. Regional Coordinators support teams of Facilitators who in turn support a group of schools and/or ECE (Early Childhood Education) centres.

The support model for these two programmes is shown in the diagram below.

National Management Team

Heidi Mardon, Chief Executive

Heidi has overall responsibility for the strategic direction of Toimata Foundation and relationships with key national funders. She supports all Toimata programmes and the national team, with a focus on Toimata remaining creatively on the leading edge of Education for Sustainability.

Heidi has been an instrumental, driving force for the organisation throughout her 25-year involvement. She has worked with Enviroschools almost since its inception in the 1990s as a small community project in Hamilton, and still plays a pivotal guiding role today.

With a background in sustainable architecture Heidi continues her passion though involvement in a number of eco-building and healthy home projects.

Tuihana Bosch, Kaiwhakahaere Matua, Te Aho Tū Roa

Tuihana guides and supports the team of Te Aho Tū Roa, leading the programme’s ongoing development. Alongside this role, Tuihana works within Enviroschools to integrate Māori Perspectives throughout the programme.

One of the founders of Te Mauri Tau – a community based Māori Education, Environmental and Health trust – Tuihana remains a coordinator of Te Mauri Tau and is their representative on the board of Toimata Foundation.

Educational initiatives that share Māori language and cultural perspectives have been a focal point for Tuihana for over many decades. Her work has included developing teacher training programmes, a role in the development of Kura Kaupapa Māori and tertiary lecturing.

Esther Kirk – Enviroschools National Manager

Esther Kirk is the National Manager for the Enviroschools Programme and leads the Enviroschools Team. With a background in Marine Biology, Applied Science and Teaching, she is passionate about empowering students to investigate, explore, design, plan and take action for their environment and communities. Esther has been involved in the Enviroschools kaupapa for over 20 years, as facilitator and Regional Coordinator for the Bay of Plenty region, then as Professional Development and Resources Manager for Toimata Foundation.

Esther is constantly amazed at the creativity and innovation from students, Enviroschools and communities around all parts of our environment. She loves sharing and exploring the amazing places that New Zealand has to offer alongside her two children and husband.

Kristen Price – Strategy & Operations Manager

Kristen has worked in the Foundation for around 20 years and has had a range of responsibilities during that time.

Her current role includes leading the internal operations of Toimata, supporting the organisation’s strategic direction, and working closely with the Enviroschools team to manage and develop regional funding partnerships.

Before joining Toimata Kristen worked in management consultancy and project management. Her private sector experience spans a variety of industries, within New Zealand and internationally.

Board of Trustees

A Board of Trustees governs Toimata Foundation. Our Trustees have a range of skills and experience. The current trust board members are:

Dean King-Chair Business Manager, Resource Use, Waikato Regional Council. Hamilton.
Hilary ChidlowEducation for Sustainability Specialist. Auckland.
Julian InchBusiness Development Consultant – Health Sector, Small Business, NGO, and Government collaboration. Wellington.
Tuihana BoschCoordinator, Te Mauri Tau. Whaingaroa.
Kanapu Rangitauira Director of Land Engagement, Whenua Oho. Rotorua.

Founding Partner: Te Mauri Tau

Te Mauri Tau Incorporated is an educational, environmental and health organisation based in Whaingaroa/Raglan. Te Mauri Tau works in creative ways, drawing from the wisdom and knowledge contained within traditional Māori understanding to enhance the well-being of the individual, whānau and community. The organisation was a partner in the development of the Enviroschools Programme in the late 1990s, and subsequently when The Enviroschools Foundation was formed in 2003, Te Mauri Tau became a founding organisation with a permanent member on the board.

Development by Te Mauri Tau of the Māori perspectives content in the Enviroschools Programme, as well as the development of Te Aho Tū Roa, is integral to all strands of the work of Toimata Foundation. Te Mauri Tau operates from a site that is designed as a living and evolving model of sustainability. From this base Te Mauri Tau provides the venue and manaaki for the events that ground participants in the kaupapa of both Te Aho Tū Roa and Enviroschools.