Jul

A Warm Welcome For Olivia Robinson

The Hauraki Rail Trail welcomes Olivia Robinson to the team in her role as Sales and Marketing support for the Hauraki Rail Trail Charitable Trust.

Over the coming weeks, many of you will get to meet Olivia, whether she’s out on Trail, or making a visit to our Official Partners, local information centres, and keeping everyone informed and updated on all things Hauraki Rail Trail.

We’re thrilled to have Olivia join the Hauraki whānau, and took the opportunity to find out a little more before too much work abounds.

Who are you? Tell us about your family

My name is Olivia and I live in Te Aroha with my husband Matt and two young children, Sadie (7) and William (4). Matt is a fourth-generation dairy farmer from Waitoa, but I’ve only lived here permanently for four years.

I have historic ties to Te Aroha. My Great Grandfather was a local and worked as a dairy shed inspector. Coincidentally, he inspected the shed on my husband Matt’s family farm many years ago, and we later found his notes in a shed diary belonging to Matt’s Grandfather.

We like that Te Aroha is a quiet, friendly and safe town. It’s also very central to lots of great activities, as we love to go biking and fishing. It’s also really easy to navigate with small children in tow.

Photo: Olivia setting this little fella free...

What appealed to you about the role, and led to your application?

I saw it as a wonderful opportunity to be involved in something in the community in which we live and enjoy. My kids love the Rail Trail so much, it’s pretty much our backyard.

I also wanted to bring my experience and skills to help develop and grow the Trail, to encourage tourism in the region, help local businesses and of course encourage other families to get out on the Trail.

What aspect of this next project excites you most, and why?

I feel lucky to be doing something I love (like biking) whilst working, rather than be in a corporate world behind a desk. It doesn’t get better than being in nature, whilst contributing to something within the community.

I am really looking forward to getting out and meeting our Official Partners, listening to their valuable stories and ideas, and looking at ways I can offer my skills and experience to help build strong and effective relationships.

Tell us about your love of cycling

We are usually on the Trail with the kids at least once a week along the Te Aroha Section, and sometimes we squeeze in a longer ride.

Our favourite ride is from Paeroa through the Tunnel into Karangahake Gorge. The kids can now easily manage a 14 km round trip, so we hop off the bike and do fun things, and stop at the Victoria Battery for some kai, before heading back home. William is now on his first bike with gears and there’s no stopping him.

Photo: Sadie and William exploring Victoria Battery

As a family we have a total of 15 bikes! Matt is an outdoor education teacher and has undertaken many races over the years including mountain biking, road racing and triathlon. I have been his packhorse/driver/mechanic/chief bottle holder for all of them.

He is primarily a road cyclist, and has been with the Morrinsville Wheelers Cycling Club for 17 years. This past summer, William joined the Te Aroha BMX club and thoroughly enjoys racing in the Sprocket class.

Photo: In the beginning; Sadie age 5 and William age 2 enjoying the Trail

What is your background and how does it complement your next chapter?

Since returning from my big OE in 2011, my career has been mostly based in environmental teams, including Waikato Regional Council with the Integrated Catchment Management team, the Department of Conservation with the Jobs for Nature programme and operations support, Pūtake Taiao team within the Raukawa Charitable Trust, as well as managing a 350 cow family owned dairy farm.

I was really fortunate to work with Raukawa Charitable Trust in the South Waikato, the iwi that I whakapapa to on my mothers side, which afforded me the opportunity to not only learn some valuable history and tikanga, but also the opportunity to use my skills and knowledge to give back to my iwi.

Whilst working in the local government sector, I have gained some great experience, developed a broad network of contacts and background knowledge to help me support the trail, establish new relationships, and foster existing ones.

Whilst Matt and I are no longer milking cows, we still own a small herd of pedigree Ayrshires, Brown Swiss and North American Holsteins that we breed and show around the countryside.

We’ve enjoyed evolving this little business ourselves and growing our herd, which has involved some embryo work as well.