Case studies

 I met and worked closely with Charles Barrie during my time as Environmental Science Manager for Gisborne District Council, while he was a Programme Manager on the team of our Fresh Improvement Fund programme. In addition to overseeing the programme’s operational planning, Charles also assisted me in supervising the newly appointed Haumanu Tū Ora team.

I found Charles to have a strong leadership focused approach, looking to bring people along on the project’s journey; developing others within the project, and in the wider community.  Charles demonstrated a great understanding and passion for Mātauranga Māori and iwi development, and was able to listen to people and work to find collaborative solutions.

A pragmatic project manager, with an open minded yet critical risk based approach Charles has a strong understanding of different perspectives and the need to manage people’s expectations, always looking to provide the best outcomes. 

 Charles is able to take a wide view and look across the needs of your community and organisation, identifying key opportunities and partners and thinking about the wider good. 

Tom Porter - Environmental Science Manager - Gisborne District Council 

I have known Charles Barrie for some time while working for the Department of Conservation and in his extramural interests. Charles contributed towards developing our Iwi's initial strategy for the next two hundred years of the Mangatu catchment restoration.
The impact of Charles work is that he is very thorough, strategic and has much empathy for te ao Māori. In discussions he comes across as a human-being with empathy for what we have lost and what we can do to restore balance.
He has a very genuine approach with people, is very people-oriented which is what stands out to me. Empathetic to our situation as a tribal group and our endeavours to rebalance. Charles as is a bright guy who has a good depth of understanding of human psychology, a commitment to what he does and someone who follows through.

Owen Lloyd - Kahui Āriki, Nga Uri o Tamanui; Chair, Te Taua o Ngā Āriki Kaipūtahi

I met Charles in 2015 while we were both employed at the Department of Conservation. His work focus was community engagement while mine was engagement with Māori communities. Our paths crossed quite often. 

Charles was a great advocate for the Nga Whenua Rahui Fund and the work the staff did connecting with communities. It was through his role that he acted as an intermediary support to explain the role of the Department and its connection to the community. 

The impact of his work was beneficial to Nga Whenua Rahui as it focussed on working with a client base that was unaware of what community/hapu groups were doing with the Department and generally within the district. While our focus was on our immediate stakeholders, he opened our eyes to potential stakeholders for the fund. 

His unbridled passion and commitment to helping people in conservation is outstanding. He is an easy person to have a good relationship with because he is so driven, and he delivers. His drive and commitment are only overshadowed by his passion for what he does. 

I would recommend him to others particularly community groups, and conservation-centric groups. He understands government processes and has a wider strategic conservation mindset. He can think as a big picture thinker, and I have no hesitation in recommending him to any community groups anywhere in the country. 
 

Roland Pomana - Rakaipaaka; Founder/Director - Journey GIS Ltd. 

"I was fortunate to work with Charles while he was with the Department of Conservation. We were involved with various significant local environmental projects, and kept in touch. I recently sought Charles' education programme design experience, and strategic support in the development of a new Level 4 NZ Certificate in Māori Environmental Practices at EIT Tairawhiti.

Charles has a particularly good understanding as a non-Māori person of where we are coming from as Māori. He also has a good understanding of the context from a Government Department perspective. He can look at projects from both a Māori and European view. His best attributes are that he is a systems thinker and gets the work done. He is respectful, easy to work with, a good listener and synthesizer of ideas."

"I first got to know Charles when he was a guest speaker in classes that we ran at EIT Tairāwhiti. Secondly, as a professional subject expert when setting up new programmes. Lastly, he was the project support and lead for EIT Tairāwhiti’s application for funding to run the Ka Hao Te Rangatahi Ecological Land Management programme in Ruatoria. Charles helped with getting kaimahi in Ruatoria into ecological projects and putting in the first proposal.

We found that we needed a Project Manager so seconded Charles while he was at the Department of Conservation. The main components that stood out were his leadership and programme management skills along with handling reporting, coordination with relevant parties which he did admirably. The successful project is still running today after four years.

I would recommend Charles as he has many positive attributes. He is supportive, engaging, collaborative, motivated, energetic, intelligent, culturally aware and a Te Reo speaker. You can rest assured when Charles is in your camp that your project is guaranteed to be a success. "