Our team

City Sanctuary staff are employed by the Dunedin City Council and are based in the Parks and Recreation team.

Kate Tanner

Project Coordinator

Kate is our Project Coordinator and has years of conservation experience in Dunedin. She has previously worked for the Halo Project, Otago Peninsula Biodiversity Group, the Department of Conservation and the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust. There isn’t a lot Kate doesn’t do: you’ll see her out installing traps, working with volunteers, engaging communities, and planning operations.

“Everyday I wake up and feel blessed that I am able to connect people to nature through the work we do. I am humbled and inspired by the positive changes we are collectively making to support, enhance and better Dunedin’s natural environs. We are so fortunate to live in this amazing part of the world.”

Emily Peterson

Community Trapping Coordinator

Emily joins the City Sanctuary team from The Valley Project in North East Valley. She is passionate about supporting the community and taking positive local environmental action, and also loves to volunteer. Emily’s role comes from a contract City Sanctuary has with The Valley Project to help residents and volunteers get involved in predator control in Dunedin’s northern suburbs.

“I feel privileged and excited to work alongside the City Sanctuary team and wider community, taking steps to achieve this momentous environmental milestone of a predator free Dunedin!”

Mammalian Corrections Unit (Contractors)

Mammalian Corrections Unit (MCU) is a predator control company based in Te Anau and Dunedin. MCU carries out a broad range of conservation fieldwork in the lower South Island and is City Sanctuary’s key contractor.

The MCU team have helped us design, set up and manage trap lines in urban parks and reserves. They also conduct our seasonal predator monitoring.