A dedicated conservationist, Nicola led the deployment of the world’s largest shellfish bed restoration (150 tonnes of mussels) in The Hauraki Gulf, has participated in and planted over over 350,000 trees in the Mahurangi to combat the impacts of climate change, and is a co-researcher on mātauranga Māori methods to use natural fibres replacing plastic ropes used for mussel spat.

 

Nicola’s drive to tackle issues head on attracts people to join her in combating threats to te taiao, particularly her leadership in facing the invasion of the exotic caulerpa seaweed where she enlisted experts from California to help address this issue.

 

Nicola is Co-Chair of the Hauraki Gulf Forum, the statutory body responsible for promoting the conservation and management of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park - New Zealand's first and largest Marine Park.

 

In ​2024, Nicola was named the New Zealand Sustainability Leader of the Year, and in 2025 was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the environment.​​​

 

Grounded in te ao Māori, Nicola’s leadership consistently demonstrates her dedication to tangata whenua (indigenous people) and maintaining the balance between our cultural heritage and the natural world.