The National Environment Service has appointed a team of three to manage, conserve and protect our national park. This is the first time the Suwarrow team has a female majority, with two women among the three-member crew, NES said in a statement.

Suwarrow Park Ranger, Johnnie Tangaroa will lead the team and will be accompanied by Assistant Park Ranger, Tracey Terei, and Karen Silk, who has been appointed to the new role of Suwarrow Nature Officer. This position focuses on monitoring and surveillance of wildlife and the natural environment, as well as data collection and management.

Tangaroa, returning to Suwarrow this 2025 season, is looking forward to the next six months ensuring the national park is protected.

He will monitor and regulate activities, particularly the movement of visiting yachts. He will be working closely with newly appointed Assistant Suwarrow Ranger, Tracey Terei, who brings strong communication skills, a passion for the environment and values traditional conservation practices.

Karen Silk, formerly the National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan (NBSAP) project coordinator, steps into the new Nature Officer role.

She previously worked with island communities across the Pa Enua to update the strategy and align stakeholders with the Global Biodiversity Framework. Silk also brings experience in seabird monitoring, invasive species tracking, data collection and has worked with both local and international NGOs.

“Johnnie and Karen both have military backgrounds, with Johnnie having served as a combat engineer in various international deployments, and Karen having worked in operational roles with the New Zealand Defence Force and Police,” NES said.

“Over the last three weeks, the trio have completed border-control agency training and are in the process of completing their final preparations before departing for Suwarrow on the next available vessel.”