About Us
From New Zealand's first addiction treatment centre to thriving wildlife sanctuary, Rotoroa Island has always been a place of transformation. Today, the Rotoroa Island Trust is restoring it as an important sanctuary—a remarkable story of resilience, purpose, and second chances.
A timeline of Rotoroa's history
The Salvation Army
Addiction Treatment Centre
Rotoroa Island Trust
Rotoroa Island Transformation
Rotoroa Island began as the first catalytic project funded through the generosity of Neal and Annette Plowman , who later founded the NEXT Foundation to support large-scale environmental and education initiatives across Aotearoa. Their vision transformed the island into what it is today - a flourishing wildlife sanctuary and a place for learning, discovery, and connection with nature. Just a short boat ride from Auckland, Rotoroa is now open for everyone to explore and enjoy.
Our Impacts (2026)
Predator Free
Since 2014
A safe haven where native wildlife thrives
Forest Restoration
350,000 native trees planted since 2008
20,000+ pines removed
27 native species and counting
45,000 more trees in the ground in 2026
Community
10,000+ annual visitors arriving by ferry and private boat each year
110 volunteers, 864 hours given in 2026
Rated 4.9 on TripAdvisor, ranked #31 of 607 things to do in Auckland
Wildlife & Conservation
An 80-hectare predator-free sanctuary
145 kiwi chicks raised and translocated back to the wild since 2015
6 takahē released, now breeding and raising chicks
2 resident pairs of kererū
Honey bees re-established; island honey sold in the kiosk (a nod to the self-sustaining Salvation Army heritage)
Education Programme
5,556 children from 57 schools since 2023
Heritage
Off-limits to the public for over 100 years.
Around 12,000 people supported through The Salvation Army's alcohol and drug rehabilitation over that century.
Opened to the public in February 2011, for the first time in 100+ years.
A place of recovery and renewal, then and now.
Meet our Island Team
Island Manager
Dean Oxborough
After 20 years in the arboriculture industry, Dean feels very lucky to be part of the restorative work here on Rotoroa. His interests are trees and their preservation in a historical context, alongside good old-fashioned arboriculture.
Visitor Services Ranger
Sandi Fitzgerald
With a hospitality background and recent experience in remote parts of Australia, Sandi is well suited to island life. Her role spans public facilities, holiday accommodation, volunteers, the souvenir kiosk, and welcoming visitors - with a keen interest in nature, wildlife, and conservation woven through it all.
Relieving Ranger
Al Grant
Al grew up cruising the Gulf Islands and wanted a way to give back to Tīkapa Moana – and so began a journey of working on Rotoroa. His favourite times on the island are summer evenings on Ladies Bay and taking a moment to take in the views from North Tower.
Relieving Ranger
Al Riach
Al loves the varied relief ranger work—from guided walks to mowing paddocks for takahē. Camera always in hand, he captures wildlife moments and is amazed by the island's transformation from farm to thriving bush since his first visit in the 1990s.
Relieving Ranger
Garry Boles
Garry has a passion for the Hauraki Gulf and enjoys being a relief ranger on Rotoroa Island. Garry's life experiences enable him to ensure visitors enjoy a safe and clean environment while on the island. He greets everyone with a smile and always has a can-do attitude.
Relieving Ranger
Chris
Chris has 30 plus year’s experience working on islands in the Hauraki Gulf. Firstly, as the Relieving Ranger for the Hauraki Gulf Maritime Park, based on Kawau. Then as a Ranger on Motuihe Island, Senior Ranger for the northern Hauraki Gulf and as Assistant Chief Ranger based in Auckland. He has extensive experience in pest management, marine reserves and freshwater fish management.
Meet our Management Team
Executive Chair
Andrew Poole
Since 2017, Andrew has been the Executive Chair of the Rotoroa Island Trust. He also holds governance roles in the education and government relations sectors, as an Advisory Board member of Iron Duke Partners and a founding trustee of The Education Hub. For over 30 years Andrew was a practising partner, Chief Executive and Board member of two of New Zealand's leading law firms. He also provides coaching and management consulting services to a range of professional services firms.
Operations Manager
Jo Ritchie
Jo is passionate about creating predator-free sanctuaries where nature can thrive. With a background in planning and ecology, she's led numerous pest eradication successes and loves sharing conservation moments with curious visitors.
Accountant
Leigh Cooke
Leigh is a Chartered Accountant with extensive experience across the education, for-purpose and financial services sectors. Her passion for helping people and organisations achieve their goals has seen her serve on a number of boards and in senior financial management roles. Leigh brings strong expertise in financial management, reporting, governance and strategic decision-making. She is known for her practical, collaborative approach and ability to translate complex financial information into clear, meaningful insights. Outside of work, Leigh enjoys spending time in nature and exploring new places.
Marketing Manager
Lauren Baker
Since 2019, Lauren has worked alongside conservation groups in the Hauraki Gulf, including Te Korowai o Waiheke, helping share the stories of wildlife and restoration taking place here. With a lifelong love of birds and a strong connection the Gulf, she brings enthusiasm, care, and a deep respect for the work happening to protect Aotearoa’s native species.
Meet our Board Of Trustees
Trustee
Simon Plowman
Simon is a Founding Partner of Evergreen, which he established in 2017. He has been a director of numerous private companies, past and present, including Triton Hearing Clinics, Image Centre, Fiordland Lobster Hi-Way Stabilisers, Orthotic Centre, Alpine Retirement Group, NZ Scaffolding Group and NZ Fine Touring Group. Alongside Rotoroa Island Trust, Simon is a trustee of the Diocesan Heritage Foundation and a director of the NEXT Foundation. Away from work, Simon has two school-age children and is a keen surfer, fisherman and musician.
Trustee
Janine Donaldson
Commissioner Janine Donaldson is the Territorial Commander of The Salvation Army in New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa, and Chair of the Territorial Governance Board. Over more than 39 years of service alongside her husband, Commissioner Robert Donaldson, she has held senior leadership appointments in New Zealand, Zambia, South Africa, Australia and at The Salvation Army's International Headquarters in London. Janine's connection with Rotoroa Island reaches back to childhood, when her parents held a Salvation Army appointment in Auckland and the family holidayed on the island. She and Robert renewed that connection as Territorial Leaders from 2013 to 2016, and she has continued it since becoming Territorial Commander in 2025, sustaining a deep appreciation for the island's unique Salvation Army heritage and its ongoing community impact.
