When Hannah Rogers wanders through Waikato University’s shade house, she moves with the quiet confidence of someone who has spent years listening to plants.
Hannah Rogers at the university’s fernery. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
The 26‑year‑old former Tamahere Model Country School student is now in the final stages of her PhD. Her research has already drawn national attention and sits at the heart of a major $5 million gift to the university this week.
The funding, from the wind‑up of the George Mason Charitable Trust, will support environmental and biological research for generations to come. But for students like Hannah, it’s much more personal.
“Without funding like this, doing a PhD simply wouldn’t be an option for many of us,” she says.
Hannah, who went on to attend Hillcrest College, met Mason early in her doctoral studies. She remembers him as warm, curious and deeply invested in the next generation of scientists.
“He was incredibly passionate about research, particularly in the Taranaki region. I was grateful to meet him and discuss my plans at the beginning of my PhD.”
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Professor Bruce Clarkson from the School of Science, George Mason Charitable Trust Trustees Elise Smith, Barry Upson (seated), Brian Milestone, vice chancellor Neil Quigley, University of Waikato Foundation Chair Dr Andrew Smith (seated), chancellor Susan Hassall and Director of Fundraising Nicole Bassett. Photo: Supplied
Those plans have since grown into a sophisticated study of epiphytes -the plants that grow on other plants – and how they cope with the pressures of urban environments. Her work is already helping councils and restoration groups understand which species will survive in warmer, drier cities like Hamilton, and which need the shelter of gullies and mature forests.
Hannah’s path began close to home. Raised near Cambridge, she credits her parents and a string of inspiring science teachers for sparking her interest in ecology.
“My parents were always pointing things out, asking questions about the environment. And I had a whole group of science teachers who were really encouraging.”
After completing a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science (Research) with First Class Honours at Waikato, she moved straight into her PhD – supported by a George Mason scholarship.
George Mason in 2016. Photo: Dean Carruthers
Her research is as intricate as the plants she studies. Over 11 months she collected epiphyte seedlings, grew them in carefully controlled conditions, and then ran a 12‑week experiment testing how different species respond to drought and varying light levels.
In the shade house, she gestures to the remnants of the experiment – rows of pots, shade cloths, and the last surviving ferns.
“Some of them are incredibly resilient,” she says.
“Even after 12 weeks without water, they bounced back. Others really struggled. Understanding those differences is crucial for restoration work.”
Her findings are already helping explain why cities like New Plymouth, with older forests and more sheltered habitats, support richer epiphyte communities than Hamilton.
The $5 million endowment to Waikato ensures that research like Hannah’s – practical, applied, and deeply connected to place – will continue to honour Mason.
He died in 2024 at age 94, having spent his life supporting environmental research across New Zealand.
He was known for his sharp intellect, his generosity, and his habit of turning up to meet the very students he funded.
“He loved talking to the students,” says Prof Bruce Clarkson, who worked with Mason for nearly 50 years. “He wanted to know the details – the genetics, the adaptation mechanisms, everything.”
Trust chair Barry Upson, says the wind‑up and transfer of funds was part of Mason’s long‑term plan.
“By transferring responsibility back to the university, that’s exactly what this gift will achieve.”
Waikato University’s fernery was opened in 1998 by Raglan MP Simon Upton, a ‘fern nerd’. There are 75 species of fern donated by the McKenzie Fern Trust.
For Hannah, the timing feels symbolic. She is close to finishing her PhD, but her work – and the questions it raises – will continue long after she hands in her thesis.
“We’re seeing warmer, drier cities. Some species will cope, others won’t. Understanding that now helps us plan for the future.”
What survives in the canopy, she says, will increasingly determine how liveable urban environments remain.
And for the Tamahere community that watched her grow from a curious student into a nationally recognised young scientist, the $5 million gift ensures that many more will follow in her footsteps.
“It’s pretty special,” she says, looking around the shade house where her research took shape.
“I feel very grateful.”
Established in 1995, the George Mason Charitable Trust has provided millions of dollars for environmental and biological research and postgraduate scholarships. The trust first gave to Waikato over in 2008 and has supported 20 scholarships and research projects.
This final gift to Waikato will support multi-disciplinary research for the natural environment in the Te Aka Mātuatua School of Science and Te Kura Mata-Ao School of Engineering, research that reveals the connections within and between nature and society to inform action, build new technology and support innovative policy and solutions-focused research that aligns with Dr Mason’s vision.
Waikato’s $5 million allocation forms part of a wider distribution of approximately $25 million to universities across New Zealand, reflecting Dr Mason’s long-standing commitment to higher education and environmental research.
Hannah Rogers, watched by Professor Bruce Clarkson, explains her research work in Waikato University’s fernery. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
