The New Zealand Sea Lion Trust was established in 2003 by researchers to support their voluntary research on one of New Zealand’s most charismatic species. New Zealand sea lions have only returned to the mainland of New Zealand since the 1970s after subsistence hunting and commercial sealing. This provides an ideal opportunity to study a recolonising population and educate the public as sea lions re-establish themselves and return to areas within their historic range. The research undertaken is therefore focused on New Zealand sea lions on the mainland, particularly the Otago region.

Chairman – Stevi Broni

STEVI has BSc (Hon) degree in Zoology(Marine) from Glasgow University and an MSc in Marine Ornithology from University of Cape Town after which he joined a private expedition to Antarctica making 3 voyages south and wintering over for 11 months. He has also spent time on NZ subantarctic islands, Gough Island, Tristan da Cunha and Falkand Islands in South Atlantic and worked as guide and interpretation coach at Denali National Park Alaska. He was 15 years with Department Conservation in Dunedin after which he returned to a wildlife tour guiding and interpretation coaching for a few years. He now works fulltime at University of Otago as Director of the Otago University Advanced School Sciences Academy.

Treasurer – Brian Templeton

BRIAN is Owner/Operator of Elm Wildlife Tours, based here in Dunedin.

Trustee – Shaun McConkey

SHAUN began studying sea lions at Otago University in 1994. He completed an MSc in 1997 and has continued his research in his spare time. You may see him out on the beaches with his video camera and orange camera box. He currently works for Elm Wildlife Tours.

Trustee – Katie Wise

After graduating from the University of York (UK) with a Masters degree in English Literature, Katie travelled to New Zealand to follow her passion for wildlife, conservation and the outdoors.
Originally just intending to be away for three months, Katie fell in love with the unique kiwi way of life and decided to stay.
She is lucky enough to have visited most areas of New Zealand and has had some truly memorable encounters with some of this country’s incredibly special animals.
She can often be seen helping her fiancée and fellow Trustee, Shaun, with his sea lion research on the Otago Peninsula beaches.    

Trustee – Neville Peat

NEVILLE is a Dunedin writer and photographer specialising in natural history, nature conservation, geography and the environment. He has written more than 30 titles, including a book that explores the world of the New Zealand sea lion – Coasting: The Sea Lion and the Lark (Longacre Press 2001).

Who are we?