Aroha For Te Taiao

Charmaine Bailie humble and powerful. New Zealand's Environmental Hero of the Year (2022), she is a TeTaiao Practitioner, the Director of Uru Whakaaro, a Hauraki Gulf Forum Board Member, and is on the Kaipatiki Project Board.

‍

She is an inspirational and active community leader and has been for more than 20 years.
Her work has had a demonstrable and profound impact on communities and the land. 

‍

Charmaine works with multiple Iwi and nursery programmes which aim to restore 20 million native plants!

Say Their Names

Language is powerful.

‍

Charmaine's dedication to teaching people the te reo names of plants is one of the things that stood out as we filmed a planting day with over 100 volunteers on a cold, rainy morning on Motutapu Island.

‍

Amidst the downpour, we heard laughter, and we heard Char teaching people the names of native plants. Always sharing her depth of experience and aroha for the whenua, Char lights up any space she's in.

‍

With a smile on her face, young and old alike delighted in learning from Char.
And, we did too!

‍

Char is a true hero of ours and we're grateful to share her story, insights, and energy as part of Heal The Hauraki!