Our December  speaker  was Dr Mels Barton

An environmental scientist turned coordinator, campaigner, organiser, networker and environmental advocate, Mels works with community organisations and not-for-profits including the Kauri Rescue Trust and The Tree Council.She is Chair of both the Titirangi Residents & Ratepayers Association and the Combined Waitākere Ranges R&R Group and is a former Trustee of Ecomatters Environment Trust and the Weedfree Trust.

Mels currently works as the Project Coordinator for Kauri Rescue and was the National and Auckland Coordinator of NZAEE Seaweek from 2011 to 2019. She was a leading member of the Waitākere Rāhui campaign working to support Te Kawerau ā Maki and has been campaigning for better management and awareness of kauri dieback disease since it was discovered in Piha in 2006.

Mels has a degree in Geology and Physical Geography and PhD in estuarine sediment transport processes. In the UK she worked for Environment Agency Wales for 9 years, culminating as the Water Quality Consents Manager for Wales.

Since arriving in NZ she has mostly been self employed but did spend 5 years working for Te Atatu Labour MP and Minister Phil Twyford as his Issues Assistant.

Mels runs her own consultancy business Subliminal Ltd, which enables her to work on many environmental projects including Seaweek, and the citizen science initiatives Kauri Rescue and Marine Metre Squared.

Mels has lived in Titirangi, west Auckland for 24 years since emigrating from Wales in 1999 & in her spare time she enjoys hanging out with her horses and walking her dogs.

Mel related her journey to obtain the protection of the kauri forests in the Waitakeres and Hunuas. She told us about a phosphite which helps trees fight against the kauri dieback disease, which was very encouraging for the audience. She continues to advocate and support the ongoing fight for our native icon.