About Project Janszoon
OUR STORY
Project Janszoon is a privately funded trust set up to restore and preserve Abel Tasman’s rich wildlife for all to enjoy.
Named after explorer Abel “Janszoon” Tasman, Project Janszoon was launched in 2012 with the generous support of New Zealand couple Neal and Annette Plowman, who went on to establish the $100 million philanthropic NEXT Foundation. The Plowmans committed up to $25 million to make transformational change in the Abel Tasman National Park.
Over its lifetime, Project Janszoon’s focus has been to reverse the trend of ecological decline in the park. We’re working with the Department of Conservation (DOC) and the community-led Abel Tasman Birdsong Trust to remove pests and weeds, bring back native birds and bush, educate young people and inspire a culture of care for Abel Tasman.
Project Janszoon is part of the Tomorrow Accord, one of several game changing conservation projects under an agreement with the New Zealand government. Once the projects achieve the agreed biodiversity outcomes, the government will maintain those gains. Project Janszoon is now at this stage.
On 1 July 2026 we will entrust the future of our work into the hands of DOC, mana whenua iwi and local communities. The significant philanthropic investment and mahi by all involved has indeed transformed the ecological prospects of one of the region’s taonga, as well as creating a community of kaitiaki who hold the park close to their hearts.
OUR MISSION & GOALS
Together with our partners, Project Janszoon set a goal of transforming the ecological prospects of the Abel Tasman National Park.
To ensure the gains are protected for future generations we have signed an agreement with the Government called the Tomorrow Accord. This agreement ensures that once agreed restoration outcomes are achieved, Project Janszoon hands responsibility for maintaining those gains to the Department of Conservation.
Biodiversity targets achieved before the handover to DOC in 2026 include:
- Biodiversity values in the park are no longer threatened by incursions of invasive weed and pest species
- Populations of key indicator species of birds, animals and plants are robust and show favourable trends on all vital measures
- Strong investor and community interest ensures the improvements are secure
- Visitors to the Park applaud an outstanding conservation success and look for ways to further enhance it
- The model created by this project is being surpassed on other parts of New Zealand public conservation land
SECURE
From the start, Project Janszoon prioritised securing the existing ecological values of the park by controlling the key factors contributing to ecological decline. A key transformational investment has been the control of weeds like old man's beard, coastal invaders like marram grass, predator species such as rats, stoats and possums and browsing pests like feral goats.
RESTORE
By accelerating the natural restoration of the park we have been able to reintroduce lost or threatened birds and restore key ecosystems such as the wetland at Hadfield Clearing. These include the planting of key species such as rātā and kāhikatea, and the reintroduction of birds once missing or in low numbers such as kākā, kākāriki, pāteke and whio. We have also seen increases in numbers of forest birds in the park's lowlands in response to predator control.
FUTURE PROOF
Central to the project’s success is nurturing the passion of future generations, to ensure locals and visitors continue to care for the park and its ecology. Our education programme has taken thousands of students into the park and our Abel Tasman Youth Ambassadors programme has given young people a pathway to leadership and careers in conservation.
MEET THE BOARD
Project Janszoon is a charitable trust established in accordance with the Project Janszoon Trust Deed and overseen by an independent Trust Board.
MEET THE TEAM
Project Janszoon is delivered in partnership with the Department of Conservation, ensuring effective use of resources and expertise.
PROJECT JANSZOON DOC TEAM
Jim Livingstone
Jim’s role is Senior Ranger – Biodiversity. He provides administrative and technical support of field operations, and liaises frequently with the Project Janszoon team. He’s been with DOC for 16 years, in locations as diverse as the central North Island, the Kermadec Islands and South Westland. He studied and worked in forestry and landscape architecture in Scotland, Australia and Switzerland before moving to New Zealand.
Helen Otley
Helen is the biodiversity ranger supervisor and joins the team after ten years working for DOC on the West Coast. She grew up in Tasmania where she did a BSC and spent time studying the Tasmanian platypus. Spreading her wings she then worked in the Galapagos and Falkland Islands in a variety of roles including working with King Penguins, environmental planning and as a fisheries observer. A love of tramping and mountain biking brought her to New Zealand – both hobbies she plans to pursue in the Tasman district.
Josh Preston
Josh is a Biodiversity Ranger for DOC and has been working in the Motueka office for five years. You probably won’t see Josh on the tracks much as most of his work happens off track controlling weeds and pests. His role includes managing the weed control programme in the park, supervising contractors undertaking pest control in the park and working alongside the Abel Tasman Birdsong Trust as the DOC Liaison.
John Henderson
John leads the team that monitors the many species that are being returned to the Park, including pāteke/brown teal and kākā. You will often find him with an antenna in his hands, searching for birds we have released with transmitters. He’s also involved in the wasp control programmes. John has been with DOC since 2002 and says he gets a real kick out of exploring the Abel Tasman and restoring its birdlife.
OUR PARTNERS
Project Janszoon is a team effort and we couldn’t do it alone. We’re proud to work with the following organisations:
TRUST DOCUMENTS
Project Janszoon Annual Reports
Photos courtesy of Dave Buckton nelsonphototours.co.nz and Ruth Bollongino fernphotos.com
