The Aroha Cambridge Team

Di has been actively involved in community trapping in Cambridge since 2020.

She moved to Cambridge in 2016 with her husband Mike and their two daughters, drawn to the town's vibrant community, accessible green spaces, and relaxed, small-town feel u2013 the ideal place to own and operate her successful Glass Gallery and Studio. Also, an avid cyclist, Di loves exploring the local trails and embarking on more challenging multi-day bikepacking adventures. 

Di Tocker brings energy and direction through her focus on vision, ideas, promotion, and marketing. Di also acts as liaison for Aroha Kaikorai Valley, helping to build connections and momentum across the wider network.

Peter was born and raised in Canterbury and moved north with his wife Niki to Cambridge in 1992. Since then Cambridge has been home and three children later the Russells have become ‘champions’ of the Cambridge environs, undertaking various environmental initiatives along the way. This has included helping establish Predator Free Cambridge in 2017 and volunteering at Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari.

Peter has worked in the biosecurity and biodiversity sector to in the Waikato since 1995, and across the whole country since 2015 through his successful biosecurity consulting business. Peter brings an integrated catchment management perspective to Aroha Cambridge, including experience in managing biodiversity enhancement projects. When not ‘saving the environment’ Peter enjoys tramping, cycling and swimming in it.

Bertrand was born in France and landed with his wife Wendy and two children in Cambridge in 2019, to be nearer to his kiwi spouse’s family. Bertrand’s involvement with Predator Free Cambridge started in 2020, and Bertrand now helps with a couple of traplines along Waikato and Karapiro rivers.

Bertrand works in the water space, having worked as a researcher and in local government and now as a consultant. Bertrand is involved in a number of river management projects in Te Tai Tokerau and Taranaki for Regional Councils, as well as flood management projects in the Waikato. Bertrand has also been involved in number of ecological restoration projects throughout his career, with a highlight being the restoration of an oxbow lake with support work from the local reserve’s volunteer group.

In his spare time, Bertrand coaches lacrosse for different schools across Cambridge and enjoys being on his kayak. Bertrand will regularly sneak in a paddle on the Karapiro Lake before work.

Keith grew up on a dairy farm on Orepunga Road, Horahora. He trained as a secondary school teacher specializing in science and physical education. For many years Keith used his management skills as Executive Officer for NZ Pony Club. He now resides in Cambridge Oaks Lifestyle Village with his wife Lynne. 

Keith has been involved with the ‘Bluebridge’ trapline (set up in 2021) which encompasses 50+ traps. It runs parallel with the Waikato Expressway from Swayne Road to Victoria Road. When not busy with voluntary work, he and his wife enjoy following sport, getting away in their caravan and exploring as many native bush walks which have included Stewart Island, The Catlins, Bushy Park (Whanganui) and Tawharanui Regional Park (Matakana) to mention a few. Their passion during their caravan adventures is to identify all the different species of birds, both endemic and native. Naturally they are keen Forest and Bird members, exploring the whole of NZ with a flora and fauna focus.

Claire brings a unique blend of rural roots, business acumen, and community passion to her role as a trustee of Aroha Cambridge.

Raised on a sheep and beef farm in the King Country and now living on a small farm near Cambridge with her partner Adam, Claire has a deep connection to the land and a strong belief in the importance of environmental stewardship.

She is currently director of mortgage advisory firm My Mortgage, and is a recognised leader in financial services and business growth, as well as an MC for local events and co-host of several podcasts.

Alongside her professional achievements, she is deeply involved in initiatives that give back to the community and protect the whenua for future generations. She currently also serves as a trustee for Rural Communities Trust.

Her passion for biodiversity, predator control, and restoring native ecosystems aligns strongly with the vision of Aroha Cambridge. Claire brings a strategic mindset, a love for native planting, and a drive to support practical, impactful environmental change in her own backyard and beyond.

David brings a wealth of conservation experience, having volunteered at Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari with trapping, monitoring, and maintenance. He was also one of the very first Predator Free Cambridge trappers at Lake Te Koo Utu, where he helped remove 180 possums in the first two years of trapping. Thanks to this dedicated effort, the line has recorded only one possum so far this year – a truly satisfying result!

Not only is Keith a trustee, but he is also our Public Trapline Coordinator. Keith is the go-to person for supporting our 70+ public trapline volunteers. His first major task was to audit all 24 traplines – a job that involved walking 23 km along the lines with a representative from each one. The next stage will be rolling out improvements and providing ongoing support for our volunteers.

View Keith’s full report here

Aroha Cambridge is looking for a well organised 'people' person to head up our backyard trapping team.

If you are interested please get in touch here

Please note: supporting roles in this field are required too

Are you interested in working with others to share the vision of Aroha Cambridge at occasional events? If you are interested please get in touch here.

Please note: supporting roles in this field are required too

Are you keen to help Aroha Cambridge connect with schools to offer education and project opportunities?  If you are interested please get in touch here.

Please note: supporting roles in this field are required too

Are you comfortable with spreadsheets and reporting? We are looking for somebody to retrieve data from Trap NZ and share it with our trapping teams. If you have one day per month to spare and this sounds like you, please get in touch here.