Our people
When you join the BioBonds family you buy into connection and community. Here you can meet our people and see your investment in not only land, but people too.
Each of these collaborators have been instrumental in the creation of BioBonds.
We honour all our family members from the native tree nursery, green team (planting team/local iwi), council, businesses and ecologists.
Paul Van Dorp
In 2021, Paul invested in Tāmata Hills. He didn’t know at the time this was to be a journey of endless discovery.
KMR played a crucial role by actively contributing to the establishment of connections and the successful submission of grant funding applications. Paul appreciates their dedicated efforts in bringing this project to fruition. The Council and Kauri Park came onto the scene and from there the project only gained momentum.
Tāmata Hills was purchased, covenanted, and planted in 100% New Zealand native species. With the success of the first forest, what began as a lifelong dream flourished into a passion project for Paul, who was determined to take his idea to the market.
Paul was born in 1960 in Gisborne and grew up in a farming community with his three brothers. Love for the land and his community started at a young age as his relatives were hard-working Gisborne farmers who dedicated their lives to their land. Hunting, fishing and helping out on the farm were regular activities.
In his early twenties, Paul found himself travelling the world. After several years, he returned to New Zealand where he was disheartened at the decline of the biodiversity of the land, seeing Pinus Radiata had begun taking over vast areas of countryside. From there, a dream to one day buy his own land grew stronger.
In 2021, Paul and his business partner brought their first farm Tāmata Hills. With a bigger picture in sight, Paul launched BioBonds in 2023 and is now allowing others to get involved in the repurposing of steep grade farmland into native forests.
“I came back to New Zealand because it’s the best country in the world”
– Paul Van Dorp
Kyria Mailman
I have always felt a strong connection to Mother Earth. This connection helped me to see how urgently we need to move towards sustainability and appreciate the natural world. I co-founded BioBonds as a sign of my dedication to preserving and mending the environment.
During my travels, I realised that spending time in nature is good for our minds and the environment. Nature can heal mental illness and soothe minds. This conviction fuels my passion for BioBonds.
To me, BioBonds is a movement and a commitment to the environment, not just a business. I am a protector of nature and want to leave our planet in a better state, than I found it. My goal is to show the world that we can bring about peace, happiness, and healing for the planet, and ourselves.
As a daughter of our beautiful planet and a defender of its treasures, I commit my life and career to this cause. I’m not just creating a company with BioBonds; I’m fostering a hope of a future in which we coexist peacefully with nature, appreciate its blessings, and preserve it for future generations.
Kelly Kemp
Kelly Kemp is a strategic thinker with a strong passion for operations, dedicated to making a positive impact on our planet for future generations. Her extensive experience and expertise make her an invaluable member of the BioBonds team.
Kelly’s decision to join BioBonds is driven by her desire to give back and play an active role in creating a more sustainable future. Her commitment to sustainability aligns perfectly with BioBonds’ mission. Her strategic mindset and operations expertise make her an asset to our team as we work together to create a greener and more sustainable future.
Louis Sammons
Planting Team
Green Team Kaipara was founded in 2017 by Kaipara born brothers Tane and Whetu Henderson in partnership with Kauri Park Nurseries. The brothers have remained connected with the whenua and uphold strong values within Kaitiakitanga, collectively being the foundation for The Green Team and its vision for a cleaner and more sustainable New Zealand.
“We use our skills and knowledge about the land and indigenous planting and placement methods to help generate the most effective and productive growth for native plants and trees.” – Tane Henderson
“Green Team Kaipara first met Paul and his team in 2022 when we were tasked with taking grade seven, steep mountainous land and finding the right placement for the natives to achieve the most harmonious growth outcomes. This was an amazing project to be a part of and by involving our team of planters from our local area, we immediately felt connected to this project and its purpose. Our crew proudly planted the 820,000 trees for this project. We were out there every day, planting for a better, more sustainable future and a cleaner greener Aotearoa”.- Tane Henderson
Planting Teams
Green Team
Green Team Kaipara was founded in 2017 by Kaipara born brothers Tane and Whetu Henderson in partnership with Kauri Park Nurseries. The brothers have remained connected with the whenua and uphold strong values within Kaitiakitanga, collectively being the foundation for The Green Team and its vision for a cleaner and more sustainable New Zealand.
“We use our skills and knowledge about the land and indigenous planting and placement methods to help generate the most effective and productive growth for native plants and trees.” – Tane Henderson
“Green Team Kaipara first met Paul and his team in 2022 when we were tasked with taking grade seven, steep mountainous land and finding the right placement for the natives to achieve the most harmonious growth outcomes. This was an amazing project to be a part of and by involving our team of planters from our local area, we immediately felt connected to this project and its purpose. Our crew proudly planted the 820,000 trees for this project. We were out there every day, planting for a better, more sustainable future and a cleaner greener Aotearoa”.- Tane Henderson