Our Staff

Che Pauro

General Manager

Che brings a wealth of experience in senior management, with over 15 years in leadership and business management. Strong conflict resolution and HR abilities and mentoring skills developed through previous work experience, volunteering and governance roles. Che has a passion for promoting sustainable business practices and community development with a commitment to creating positive change.

Tiffany Cavanaugh

Sales & Contracts Manager – Nursery

Tiffany studied landscape Architecture as a postgraduate at Lincoln University and the University of Pennsylvania. She began practising as a Landscape Architect at a civil engineering firm outside her hometown of Philadelphia in the USA. Since moving permanently to New Zealand in 2007, Tiffany has managed large-scale native planting projects as a site foreman and nursery dispatch and sales manager.

If you are interested in purchasing plants or developing a project and looking for advice on planting and planning, please call or email Tiffany.

Tania Edwards

Manager – Ecological Contracting

Tania came to Wai-ora after working as a Park Ranger and sharemilker in the North Island. After years leading teams in Ecological Contracting, she now leads the entire division. She studied Environmental Management and Sustainability and worked in nursery production.

Tania has always had a love for the outdoors, so the variety and outdoor nature of her work is perfect for her. She likes working for Wai-Ora because we share a vision and are dedicated to the mission.

If you have a project and are in need of a contractor, call or email Tania.

Tom Ferguson

Resident Botanist

Tom has a passion for botany and started working in Horticulture when he was 15.  He has had extensive experience in plant health and nursery management with various nurseries in the South Island. Tom enjoys growing plants and problem-solving. Working in Ecological Consulting and alongside our Conservation and Nursery Teams, he enjoys the natural environment. He was awarded the Individual Youth Leadership for Sustainability Award, the NGINZ Young Achiever award and second place for Young Horticulturalist of the Year Award. He has a Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology and is the President of the Canterbury Botanical Society and a member of IPPS,  and NZPCN.

Lauren Scott

Ecologist

Lauren has been working for Wai-Ora since returning from Japan in 2019 where she was an ESOL teacher after gaining her Master of Science in Ecology from the University of Canterbury. She now heads up our Ecological Consulting team with Tom.

Lauren is from Christchurch originally and enjoys her work at Wai-ora because she is helping the environment whilst working for a socially conscious company.

If you have a project and are in need of an ecological consultant, call or email Lauren.

Sarah Batten

Grower

Sarah has greatly improved the quality of plants sold by the nursery in the time she’s been here. She brings to her role 4 years of experience in other Christchurch nurseries and enjoys learning about the peculiarities of New Zealand natives. Her favourite thing we do in the nursery is growing plants from leaf litter even though it makes caring for a varied line of plants difficult.

Russell Creasey

Fencing Estimator

Russell joined Wai-Ora in 2022 with over 40 years of construction experience. He is a qualified builder who has been doing estimating in Christchurch since the earthquakes.

Russell has lived in New Zealand since 2005 and enjoys making a contribution to a successful team of people who are passionate about what they do.

If you have a fencing project, call or email Russell.

Meryl Dawson

Accounts Manager

With over 30 years of business accounting, administration and secretarial experience, Meryl helps ensure seamless support behind the scenes to Wai-ora’s operations. With a unique drive to achieve 100% accuracy, Meryl remains mindfully aligned with Wai-ora’s philosophy to help others. “He tangata, he tangata, he tangata.”

Kaiwhakahaere