About the Author

Marleen Baling is a wildlife ecologist with a particular interest in New Zealand herpetology. She has been involved in numerous reptile research and conservation projects in the last sixteen years. She has worked with many organisations on their wildlife restoration management including reptile translocations and monitoring. She is a member of the IUCN Reintroduction Specialist Group, Oceania Section. Rod Hitchmough is a Department of Conservation science advisor, specialising in lizard taxonomy, herpetology and conservation, and the assessment of species' conservation status. He has been involved in studies of the taxonomy of New Zealand geckos since the 1970s, and is currently preparing scientific descriptions for new species. He has also co-authored papers on skink taxonomy. Until recently he managed the process of listing species using the New Zealand Threat Classification System, running meetings of expert panels for 28 different groups of animals, plants and fungi. Dylan van Winkel is a wildlife ecologist and consultant herpetologist based in New Zealand. He has a strong interest in the natural world, specifically in reptile and amphibian conservation. Dylan has been involved in numerous research and conservation programmes, including several wildlife translocations and island restoration projects. He is also a technical advisor to the Ministry for Primary Industries, providing species identifications, biosecurity risk assessments, and eradication advice for foreign herpetofauna arriving on New Zealand's shores. Dylan currently works for Bioresearches Group Ltd.