The Waitaki Whitestone Geopark Trust is the body steering our geopark waka (canoe), from deep time and into a future as Oceania’s preeminent geopark. They provide guidance, enlist support for the project and look for funding and partnership opportunities.

A word from the Waitaki Whitestone Geopark Trust’s new co-chairs, Mike Gray and Helen Jansen.

“The trust is maturing, we’ve grown recently and taken on members, allowing Gary Kircher to step down as Chair of the original establishment trust. Our new trustees have broad economic and business understanding and diverse employment histories. They aren’t paid, we are a charitable trust (all donations are tax deductible - we’ll even hand write you a receipt!). At the moment we are working with Waitaki District Council to secure an outcome that will be of the greatest benefit to the district.

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We’re hoping to formalise some of our working relationships as we build on our successes, which include the launch of a Geogastronomy sector group, geo-education in schools, MOUs with Lincoln and GNS and increased community engagement. We’ve got timelines with UNESCO that we’re working towards and we’ll keep the community updated here, as things progress.

Thank you for your interest.”

In September, Co-chair Helen Jansen was on Real Radio 104 and talked about what a Geopark is and its great opportunities for the community. Missed it? No problem, you can listen to it here.

Got questions? Please email info@whitestonegeopark.nz 

The Waitaki Whitestone Geopark Trustees

Back row (l-r): David Higgins, Mike Gray, Gerald Carter

Front row (l-r): Helen Jansen, Melanie Jones