Our Team

Dr Hayden Cawte Phd, MA, PGDipBus, BA

Managing Director - S45

Born and raised in Ashburton, Hayden is the director of Underground Overground Archaeology and has over 20 years' of global experience in cultural and heritage resource management and archaeology. He specialises in mining-related heritage management, prehistoric and urban archaeology, and the archaeology of buildings and built environments. Hayden’s academic background includes a PhD in Archaeology from the University of Otago, postgraduate studies at University College London as a Marie Curie Fellow, and at Cambridge University as an Evans Fellow. He has lectured at the University of Otago and James Cook University and brings expertise in urban design, property development, and GIS-based heritage risk management strategies for corporate and government clients.

hayden@heritageproperties.co.nz

027 600 6152

Sheryl Cawte

Operations Manager - Archaeozoologist

Raised in Malaysia and Wellington, Sheryl moved to Dunedin in 2003 to pursue an academic career in Archaeology. She has a Masters degree in Archaeology with a specific emphasis on faunal analysis and material culture. Sheryl specialises in archaeolozoology and has been working professionally as a specialist archaeozoologist for almost 20 years. Sheryl has extensive experience analysing fragmented Pacific Island, South East Asian and New Zealand remains. This includes bird, fish, reptile, mammals, sea mammals and shellfish. Since having their children, Sheryl has taken on the role as the company Operations Manager alongside Hayden.

sheryl@heritageproperties.co.nz

027 407 0919

Dr Dawn Cropper

Director of Archaeology - Dunedin Branch Manager - S45

Dawn has over 20 years of extensive experience in cultural heritage management in Aotearoa, Australia, Canada and Jordan. She holds a PhD in Archaeology from the University of Saskatchewan Canada, with a focus on technological analysis of flaked stone tools. Dawn specialises in the management of large and complex projects and has directed excavations of historic and indigenous sites for the commercial, government and public sectors. Dawn has a particular interest in built heritage and understanding how buildings have been adapted through time and has developed a GIS-based historical mapping project that has been successfully used to gain archaeological authorities for large infra structure projects.

dawn@heritageproperties.co.nz

021 0822 0868

Kirsa Webb

Christchurch Branch Manager - Principal Archaeologist - S45

Kirsa has been a part of Underground Overground since early 2012 and is now the longest-serving staff member. Kirsa is born and raised on the Otago Peninsula and gained her science arts degree at the University of Otago before heading north. Along with being the branch manager, she specialises in built heritage, having recorded over 70 historic buildings, many of which were demolished as a result of the Christchurch earthquakes. Kirsa’s other specialities include West Coast archaeology, with a particular interest in industrial archaeology such as mining and railway.

kirsa.webb@underoverarch.co.nz

021 236 1126

Amy McStay

Invercargill Branch Manager - Principal Archaeologist - S45

Amy is the Invercargill Branch Manager and oversees our Southland based projects. She is one of our most experienced archaeologists on staff with over 20 years industry experience having previously worked at Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga in Christchurch and in Crown Land Disposal. She has an extensive understanding of the legislative obligations around archaeology in Aotearoa, as well as having a special interest in managing archaeological material. Amy has experience working on Māori archaeological sites, working with taonga tūturu and chemical characterisation using electron microprobe. Amy has an MA in Anthropology with distinction from the University of Otago and has achieved Nat Cert in Museum Practice (Level 4). She ensures clients in this region have the best representation possible. Amy works closely with local and regional councils, iwi and clients providing expert advice and services to ensure projects run smoothly.

amy@heritageproperties.co.nz

021 251 3763