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Who we are

Taupiri Bridge walkway

Photographer: C van Schravendijk-Goodman, Image © Swampfrog

Meet our team

Cheri van Schravendijk-Goodman

Co-Director, researcher, administrator
Te Atihaunui-a-Pāpārangi, Ngāti Apa, Ngāti Rangi, Dutch

Mother of 3, passionate about the environment especially our native birds, repo/wetlands and our Rivers. Cheri does the landscape design, leads planting projects for the team, and advice on restoration projects. She also manages the admin and H & S; and co-leads research projects and contracts with Rangi Mahuta. Cheri loves whiteboard sessions.

Cheri is a new PhD candidate with Zoology at Otago University and is also affiliated with MBIE-funded programmes: Project Kainga co-led by Professor Merata Kawharu (Otago) and Future Coastlines Aotearoa led by Dr Scott Stephens (NIWA Hamilton). The focus of her PhD is two-fold: (1) Historical salinity-induced changes to wetland ecosystems (flora and fauna) in the lower Waikato River delta system to better understand potential climate change induced impacts on Te Puuaha whānau and communities. And (2) The role of WAI 262 and protection of Māori IPRs (intellectual property rights) within decision-making regarding the use of e-DNA as part of that investigation.

Dan

Co-Director
Ngāti Pākehā

Father of 5, hubby to Cheri, and passionate about working with trees. He is a qualified arborist with over 10+ years of climbing experience in the industry. He has recently broadened his skill set to include native wetland and bush restoration, and garden maintenance. He is also a bit of a handy man and is known to pick up a hammer, or drive a digger where required by our clients. Dan also supports the Arb tutoring team at WINTEC on a casual basis.

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Rangi Mahuta

Senior Researcher for Swampfrog
Waikato

Rangi has over 30+ years experience in the social and environmental sector and is basically a walking encyclopedia of useful information. She is the heart of the Swampfrog research team and is well respected across many organisations for her direct, honest and insightful opinions and experience. Rangi also likes whiteboard sessions.

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Jack Edmonds

Groundie and Junior Arborist
Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Ngāti Pākehā

Jack holds an arb qualification but has taken a stronger interest in the managerial components of arboriculture and is also really keen on horticulture. Jack has a strong interest in native plant propagation. He is the bubbly life of our arb team, always with a smile on his face, a great conversationalist and pretty handy with the videoing and photography for our Facebook and Instagram pages as well.

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Kaleb Burrell

Junior Arborist
Ngāti Kahu

Kaleb is the newest member of our team and is currently working towards his arboricultural qualifications at WINTEC. He is interested in becoming a climbing arborist and enjoys challenging himself. In his spare time Kaleb is a talented sportsman occupying his time with soccer and martial arts. Although one of our more quietly spoken members of the team, Kaleb has a great sense of humour and enjoys a good natter/kōrero with his fellow team members.

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Jake White

Groundie
Ngā Puhi, Tonga, Ngāti Pākehā

Jake is a loveable, hard worker with background experience in farm work. He is a down-to-earth guy, with a great sense of humour and is a lot of fun to be around.

Jake has an interest in arboriculture and is keen to start working towards his qualifications next year (2023). Jake is a keen rugby player and talented boxer and brings some musical diversity to the crew with his rap and hip hop (as opposed to heavy metal, Pearl Jam and 60s/70s music played by others in the team!).

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Paul ‘Ozzie’ Dahler

Labourer
Ngāti Ozzie

Ozzie is a super handyman who can put his mind and hands to any work required to get a job done. He is a casual member of the team coming on to assist with any additional building work or to drive a digger as needed.

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Iti Paretovich-Wara

Research and Landscaping Assistant
Waikato

Iti holds a level 3 qualification in Arb and has extensive experience in mahi-raranga (weaving and working with harakeke and kiekie). She is passionate about the environment and holds a deep connection to the Waikato River.

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Pearl McKenzie

Landscaping Assistant
Waikato

Having recently finished high school, Pearl is now working towards a qualification in horticulture with the Open Polytechnic of New Zealand. She has a passion for gardening and self-sufficiency in the form of maara kai (vegetable gardens, and orchards) and other means of raising kai at home. Raised around the papakaainga and kohanga reo in Raahui Pookeka (Huntly), Pearl is enjoying learning more about her connections to the Waikato River system via the native species she is working with, and the role we can play collectively to support its protection and restoration for future generations.

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Kees Goodman

Junior Arborist
Te Atihaunui-a-Pāpārangi, Ngāti Pākehā, Ngāti Apa, Ngāti Rangi, Dutch

Kees is a qualified arborist and the son of Dan and Cheri. He has long had an interest in working in nature having studied horticulture at school and then at WINTEC before switching to arboriculture where his real passion lies. He knows a lot more about native plants and their ecosystems than he likes to let on having been brought up on restoration sites and planting days with mum.  Kees is a direct and honest person, super fit, and super hard working.

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Tessa Wakefield

Right Hand Admin
Waikato

Tessa joined the Swamp Frog team as our admin contractor back in 2022. She is a mum of 2 busy boys and runs her own admin business, Right Hand Admin, which includes teaching Dan and Cheri how to take deep breaths and to maintain their sense of humour.

In a nutshell, we at Swampfrog reckon Tessa is a very sharp cookie, and we would be lost without her!

Tessa really enjoys the challenge of learning new industries and helping business admin run smoothly. For her, the ultimate outcome is to see owners get back to their role and the things they love doing, and not being stuck under paperwork.

our services

Arboriculture

Our highly experienced team are fully insured and prequal approved for council work. We are on call 24/7 to assist you with all of your tree maintenance requirements including hedge trimming, pruning, removal and mulch supply. We can also assist you with your tree and hedge planting providing the complete package of services from suitable tree selection, sourcing, delivery and planting.

Restoration

We have over 20+ combined years’ experience in native forest, riparian and wetland restoration. Coupled with our strong networks of native ecosystem experts, we can help you with the guidance and networks you need to select the right native species for your projects.

Biosecurity

Our team has been involved in the periphery of Kauri Dieback and Myrtle Rust for over 10 years and work closely with incursion networks to remain informed about risks to our native ecosystems. We can assist you to build the information and expert advice you need to address these issues for your own projects.

Stump-grinding

Our team is available to assist you with you stumpgrinding needs. Big or small, we can provide you with the assurances of fast and reliable service.

Gardening design and maintenance

Our team can assist you to build a plan together to enhance your home, and help you source the plants and even install them. We have a network of experts in the building, concreting and hard landscaping spaces that we can also connect you with to make your vision become a reality. We offer monthly garden maintenance packages. Talk to us about your needs today.

Community -based Environmental research

Our research team has over 40+years combined experience in environmental-related research including reviewing policy, planning and co-designing environmental research with communities. You can see more about what we are currently working on via our projects page.

ASK us

If you have any further questions for us or enquiries, please contact us.

Contact Us

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Clients

Some of our clients

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Contact information

Address

61 Great South Road Taupiri, New Zealand 2721

Phone Number

022 017 8486

Email

swampfrogadm1n@gmail.com

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