Leslie Haines is a lecturer in plant ecology. Trained in horticulture science at Massey University, she followed this degree with a Master of Science in ecology at the University of Auckland, investigating the establishment of weeds in native urban forests.  

Leslie has developed the ecology courses within the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA) at Unitec and lectures in plant ecology within the BLA and Diploma in Garden Design. Her particular focus is the functional ecology of the remnant urban forests and re-vegetation within the urban Auckland landscape.