20/05/2025
We are proud to announce that Tahu Mackenzie is bringing her more than 20 years of experiential education leadership to The Otago Peninsula Eco Restoration Alliance - The OPERA, Monarch Wildlife Cruises, and The Otago Shore & Land Trust where she will serve as Head of Education for the two sister companies and supporting charitable trust. Her most previous role has been the Learning Experiences Outside the Classroom education officer at Orokonui Ecosanctuary for the past 18 years.
Tahu spent her early childhood growing up in Broad Bay and is excited to be returning to her roots by focusing her passion for education and the love of all things natural on the Otago Peninsula. She started her environmental education journey with underwater wonders at the New Zealand Marine Studies Study Centre and Aquarium in 2004 and moved to celebrate endangered forest wildlife at Orokonui in 2008. Through the years her experiential education excellence has been celebrated in her being recognized as Educator of the Year, Otago Person of the Year, and New Zealanders of the Year Kiwibank Local Hero, as well as numerous other awards and accolades.
In her new role, Tahu will help develop, fund, and implement education programmes that allow children of all ages to experience nature in its natural habitat on both land and sea. Her focus will help us develop new offerings focused on the education sector and bring to life a goal of ensuring every school-aged child in Dunedin (and beyond) can personally experience nature. She will also help manage research undertaken at The OPERA.
