Come behind the scenes and into the jobs, the challenges, the highlights, and the personalities of the people who work at the Department of Conservation (DOC).

Today we profile Hannah Edmonds, Biodiversity Ranger – Species.

Name: Hannah Edmonds.

Position: Biodiversity Ranger – Species.

Sharks need love too

At work…

What kind of things do you do in your role?

Monitoring, translocating and recovery planning for the following species:

• short-tailed bats
• long-tailed bats
• mohua
• saddleback
• kiwi
• Fiordland crested penguins
• lizards
• orange-fronted parakeets

Setting Gee Minnow traps out for Sinbad Skinks,
Sinbad Valley

What is the best part about your job?

Working in some absolutely stunning parts of rugged Fiordland, on interesting and challenging creatures, oh and with some cool people too!

What is the hardest part about your job?

Trying to monitor and protect species that we know so little about with a limited budget.

What led you to your role in DOC?

I did a Landcare Research Conservation Corps in Nelson when I was about 18. We came down to Fiordland and monitored Fiordland skinks and robins on Breaksea Island among other things, and I was hooked. I ended up doing a suite of pest and species contracts in the Nelson/Marlborough area, and wildlife work overseas for a few years. Then I did the Postgraduate Wildlife Management Diploma at Otago. After that, and another jaunt overseas, I came to Te Anau for a six month contract. That was (gulp) 10 years ago!

What was your highlight from the month just gone?

Taking ‘Kids Restore the Kepler‘ competition winner, four year old Lilli, out to see a kiwi. She was pretty excited and did really well coping with several hours scrambling through bush catching six kiwi chicks!

The beautiful Sinbad skink

The rule of 3…

3 loves

1. My two metre Peter.
2. Friends and family (including the furry ones too).
3. Wilderness and wildlife.

3 pet peeves

1. Anthropocentricity, and anthropomorphism is pretty annoying too. Big words ay, I can tell you’re impressed.
2. Going without real coffee.
3. Trying to come up with three pet peeves.

3 foods

1. Fejoas from Nelson/Marlborough.
2. Scallops from Stewart Island.
3. Berry fruit yoghurt icecreams from Cromwell.

3 favourite places in New Zealand

1. Fiordland of course, in particular the alpine and the special islands.
2. Kahurangi: Mt Owen, Mt Arthur, Cobb Valley.
3. Golden Bay‘s golden beaches.

Lilli the lucky four year old competition winner and myself with Haast tokoeka

Favourite movie, album, book

• Movie: Im a bit of a Tim Burton and Guy Ritchie fan… but I’d have to say The God’s Must be Crazy is a winner for giving you the stitch from laughing so much!
• Album: Oh so many, but the all time bogan classic Hysteria by Def Leppard rocks on! The drummer from Def Leppard’s only got one arm!
• Book: ‘South’ or ‘Endurance’ about Shackleton and his crew’s unbelievable journey of survival.

Deep and meaningful…

What piece of advice would you tell your 18 year old self?

Become a famous rock star before you get to your late 30′s… oh, and moisturise.

Who or what inspires you and why?

There are many people who have done amazing things the world over, and closer to home who inspire me to live the dream. My inspiration also comes from learning more about our lesser known species and wanting to protect them from extinction.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A famous rockstar, or more realistically, a zoologist.

And now, if you weren’t working at DOC, what would you want to be?

A rockstar of course.

What sustainability tip would you like to pass on?

Sustainability to me means to keep the motor running—well that’s a contradiction in terms. I mean the mind and body; look after it so it will sustain you throughout your lifetime.

Which green behaviour would you like to adopt this year—at home? At work?

I’d like to be growing more vegies, catching more trout, and shooting more deer so there are less trips to the supermarket, less packaging and so I know what I’m eating. Oh and I might buy a better bike so I don’t drive to work so much.

Check this out! One of the coolest mammals in the world and it’s endemic to New Zealand! The short-tailed bat is an incredible prehistoric creature with bulk attitude!

If you could be any New Zealand native species for a day, what would you be and why?

I’d like to get into the brain and body of a Sinbad skink so I can find out where else in Fiordland’s extensive alpine they are living!

What piece of advice or message would you want to give to New Zealanders when it comes to conservation?

Think of the bigger picture, or entire ecosystems, and why you are doing what you are doing. A trap line for stoats may protect some species such as kiwi or kaka, but what about controlling rodents for other species such as mohua, bats and lizards?

Welcome to my office! Alpine lizard survey at Terror Peak, Fiordland

By Jane Dobson, Wellington-Hawkes Bay Conservancy

Fresh to the Wellington-Hawkes Bay Conservancy, I heard about the Oroua Blue Duck Protection Project in the Ruahines and an inspired volunteer team led by Janet Wilson. Needing to know more I contacted Janet and invited myself along on the January trap line check and rebait.

Oroua volunteers with coordinator extraordinaire Janet Wilson: Jen James, Janet, myself, Henry Milne and Thierry Stokkermans

Janet arranged to meet us all at the Oroua River car park with equipment, advice and a refresh on DOC 200 traps. As beacons, maps, eggs and rabbit bait were split between packs, Janet told us about the previous weeks training where a man ‘just blanked’ and let his free hand slip and set off a trap. “That’s never happened before, he was lucky to get away with grazed knuckles. “Have fun and look after each other up there,” Janet looked at me. Apparently matching people with similar fitness levels is one of her many challenges.

Jen the Crossfit trainer, Henry the anaesthetist, and team leader/ mechanical engineer Thierry set off with me in tow. We planned to get to Iron Gate, split into teams to reach the Ngamoku Ridge tops and Triangle Hut, return to Iron Gate, then walk out the river line on Sunday. I reassured myself that I was fitter than I looked – for ‘a lady from the Wellington office.’ They’d been warned.

Olearia colensoi, leatherwood, below the Ngamoko tops.

Jen and I headed up the ridge. The thought of an evening swim in the Oroua’s emerald pools propelled us from trap to trap. Before long we had an efficient leapfrog system. The beech trees, lime green crown ferns, glorious leatherwood and tussock covered tops made up for any squeamish moments with the stoat and rat carcasses. I even imagined rabbit ‘jerkey’ could be tempting if you were in a tight spot.

Thierry and Henry walked upriver spotting several trout AND a whio/blue duck perched on top of a DOC 200 trap in the river, with three young ducks nearby. Was this cheeky whio mocking the stoats from its macabre pedestal, or alerting Henry and Thierry to the missing trap.

The girls didn’t see any whio but were rewarded nonetheless with Guiness at dinner (fantastic leadership Thierry) and choice bombs on Sunday. The low river, blue sky and cool and clear  river made for a stunning walk out.

Total count: 13 stoats, 13 rats. 

January 2013, Team Oroua in action

Meanwhile, Janet spent her Sunday checking the self-resetting traps up the Tunupo Stream, a tributary of the Oroua. In May 2012 volunteers helped install 37 of these new A24 traps made by NZ company Good Nature. They were bought with funding from the He Tini Trust and Horizons Regional Council. These traps don’t need to be checked as regularly as DOC 200’s, but need re-gassing every six months or so. A down side is there is no clear pest count – the dead critter tends to breakdown or disappear from under the trap.

Jen James baiting for high-altitude stoats

Due to Janet’s nightly phone calls, training trips, constant advocacy and more, the project’s volunteer base is ‘committed and developing.’ Enthusiastic people are needed to prevent the situation the Manawatu Deerstalkers found themselves facing in 2011 with the same few people doing all the work. The coordination takes ‘AGES,’ Janet told me. ‘The Palmerston North tramping club is a great help, Manawatu Deerstalkers still help, the DOC newsletter Keep Tracking On advertises for volunteers. I also put notices in the huts with tear off numbers. We’ve got a committed but developing volunteer base. I’m investing in the training weekends, hoping it will pay off.’

Whio enjoying the view from a washed out trap

Janet won the 2012 Individual Manawatū Rangitīkei area Conservation Award, which recognised her on-going commitment to protecting wildlife through stoat control in the Te Potae o Awarua project, the Manawatu Gorge, and for rescuing the Oroua Blue Duck Protection Project from folding in 2011.

You’re an inspiration Janet Wilson – volunteer coordinator extraordinaire.

Click here to find out how to get involved.

Evidence of an ‘A24’ trap kill up Tunupo Stream

Come behind the scenes and into the jobs, the challenges, the highlights, and the personalities of the people who work at the Department of Conservation (DOC).

Today we profile Taranaki based biodiversity ranger, Kelly Eaton

My dad, brother (graduating as a Navy officer) and me!

At work…

What kind of things do you do in your role?

Well I do a range of field work and office tasks. I am mainly in the field doing things such as maintaining and checking the stoat trap network on Mt Taranaki; whio and Dactylanthus taylorii surveys; coastal herb field weeding to improve the habitat for rare plant species and the endangered Notoreas ‘Taranaki’ moth; along with a range of other threatened flora and fauna work—while also attempting to get volunteers involved to help me get these jobs done.

What is the best part about your job?

Seeing positive results and finding what I’m looking for, such as a whio and Dactylanthus.

One of our whio, looking handsome

What is the hardest part about your job? 

The struggle to get everything done; I want to do everything I can but there just isn’t enough time to do it all.

What led you to your role in DOC? 

Ever since I could carry a pack my father has been dragging me into the bush, taking my brother and I hunting in various spots throughout New Zealand. So somehow, although I was rather against going bush as a kid, I managed to grow up with a passion for our native wildlife.

Originally my goal was to become a zookeeper, which inspired me to obtain a degree in Zoology and a Certificate in Captive Wild Animals. After, I started to look for opportunities to gain that valuable experience. Along the way I met the right people who gave me that essential foot in the door. I gained a temporary job with the Historic Team in our National Office, which was followed by a year carrying out forest surveys with various organisations from Northland to Stewart Island, which finally lead me to my present dream job in Taranaki. Yay!

What was your highlight from the month just gone?

Getting into the rivers and tracking down whio to add to this season’s tally, and finding my first ducklings (totally cute!).

2011 Living Legends planting day

The rule of three…

Three loves:

1. Sleep—it’s amazing.
2. Food; those who know me will know that it is a rare moment to not find me snacking on something.
3. Massages, especially after a massive field day.

Three pet peeves:

1. Waiting in line. If there is a big line I am just going to go somewhere else, life is too short.
2. Disorder.
3. Trying to find something trendy to wear when I don’t have to wear a uniform.

Three foods:

1. Pizza.
2. Chocolate.
3. Meat and three veg.

Three favourite places in New Zealand:

1. Tongariro National Park.
2. Mt Taranaki is fairly up there.
3. Anywhere with sunshine, golden sands and a bottle of wine.

Favourite movie, album, book:

Movies: Kill Bill 1 and 2, and anything Peter Jackson does.

Album:   Nothing comes to mind, I like a range of things. For Today by Headband may be my favourite song. Just don’t give me any of that angry screaming rubbish.

Book: Edmonds Cookery Book… well it’s the one I use the most.

Feeding a magnificent giraffe at Wellington Zoo

Deep and meaningful…

What piece of advice would you tell your 18 year old self?

‘Go out there and volunteer, gain experience and make connections. It will make obtaining the job you want a bit easier’. I pass this onto many of the potential future rangers I meet.

Who or what inspires you and why?

Steve Irwin was fairly cool—that bubbly positive personality, out there, doing what he could with a passion. He taught so many people about conservation values. And Captain Planet… he’s a hero…. Are you singing the theme song in your head now?

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Very briefly I thought I would be an artist, but after a few school trips to the zoo, becoming a zookeeper became my focus. I knew I wanted to work with animals.

And now, if you weren’t working at DOC, what would you want to be?

A house wife/gardener/popping out a few kiddies or saving endangered wildlife in Africa… oh the options!

What sustainability tip would you like to pass on?

Compost your biodegradable kitchen waste; it’s amazing how well the garden will grow with a bit of homemade compost.

A team of us got to help out with the Rena disaster. I was crop feeding oiled birds for a week, exhausting but rewarding

Which green behaviour would you like to adopt this year—at home? At work?

At home: car pool and ride my bike more. At work: hassle people about the ‘Check Clean Dry’ message more.

If you could be any New Zealand native species for a day, what would you be and why?

I think a New Zealand fur seal would be quite cool, flying through the water and discovering a whole new world.

What piece of advice or message would you want to give to New Zealanders when it comes to conservation?

Bored? Looking for something new to do? Interested in conservation? Your local DOC office could probably use your assistance with a project or two. Give them a call and let’s get some work done!

I had to do it at least once, I made it to the top and my certificate proves it

By Wendy Sullivan, Project Coordinator

World Wetlands Day is celebrated on 2nd February and promotes wetland protection throughout the world. Wendy Sullivan, DOC Project Coordinator, tells us about the current wetlands restoration project occurring in the Canterbury high country.

O Tu Wharekai Wetlands

O Tu Wharekai Wetland Restoration Project its situated in the high country of Canterbury. The project is one of the best examples of an inter-montane (between or among mountains) wetland system remaining in New Zealand, and is nationally important for wildlife. It contains a mosaic of diverse wetland habitats nestled amongst high country tussocklands and set against the towering Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri o te Moana. The project includes the braided upper Rangitata River, and the 12 lakes that make up the Ashburton Lakes, along with ephemeral turfs, streams, swamps and bogs.

Lake Emily in the Hakatere Conservation Park

New Zealand has experienced significant loss of wetlands. Over the last 150 years approximately 90% of inland wetlands (swamps, marshes, fens and bogs) have been converted to other land use. Many of New Zealand’s remaining wetlands are also under threat, mostly the result of human activities including nutrient run-off, pest invasions and drainage.

O Tu Wharekai is aiming to help stop the decline of wetlands through intensive management of the wetlands, researching and trialling new methodologies and raising awareness of the plight of wetlands. It is one of the three Arawai Kākāriki sites, a national wetland restoration programme.

The project has good populations of native and sport fish. Threatened bird species include Australasian bittern, black-fronted tern, wrybill and Australasian crested grebe. There are a number of lizard species including the threatened lizard species scree skink and long-toed skink. The glacial moraines of the high country produce kettleholes which are home to a rare habitat type – ephemeral turfs. Ephemeral turfs are one of the most poorly recognised wetland types. They occur where surface depressions in the land – kettleholes – become ponded with water during wet seasons or wet years, yet are partially or wholly dry at other times. Vegetation consists mainly of herbaceous plants forming a ground-hugging and often dense carpet of intertwined plants. Species present change with changing water levels. They are home to many threatened plant species.

Genetians growing in high country kettleholes

While the area is relatively pristine, there are always threats lurking on the doorstep. There is the potential for water abstraction and storage for irrigation and stock water, and degraded water quality due to sediment and nutrient inputs from intensified farming practice. Broom and Russell lupins threaten the braided rivers, while grey and crack willow threaten the hydrology of lakes, streams and swamps by increasing sedimentation. Swamps, bogs and ephemeral turfs can be damaged by vehicles, rabbits and hares and stock. Predators such as ferrets, stoats, weasels, feral cats, hedgehogs and possums threaten birds, lizards and invertebrates.

Community involvement is also an important element to the project. There are a number of groups, businesses and individual assisting with monitoring and management such as weed control, bird monitoring and riparian planting. Further information can be found on the DOC website.

Australasian crested grebes

By Jack Mace, West Coast Tai Poutini Conservancy Office

Camping on top of the Price Range

I recently spent the weekend camped on top of the Price Range just north of Mt Cloher. For those who don’t know where that is, it’s in the coastal ranges between the Whataroa and Waitangi Taona Rivers, just north of Franz Josef. This wasn’t a jolly recreational camping trip though – we were up there to work, taking an inventory of plants, birds and mammals.

Our campsite itself was tucked into a snow basin, thankfully almost all of the snow melted. We camped on the eastern side of the ridge, in an area dotted with the bright yellow of snow buttercups (Ranunculus sericophyllus), and with views out over the Perth and Whataroa Rivers as far as the Garden of Eden Ice Plateau.

View from camp towards Mt Victoria and the Garden of Eden – (L-R) Chippy Wood, Mike Perry, Anneke Hermans, Pete Doonan

We spent 3 days working down in some hellish steep and uncomfortable country but were well rewarded. Over 75 species of plant in our 20 metre x 20 metre plot, including Mt Cook buttercups, native foxgloves, eyebrights, alpine cress and several species of prickly speargrass.

Kea swooping around camp

We spotted a good number of tahr and chamois through the binoculars, including a few potential trophy heads, and had kea and pipits cavorting around our campsite. We even got see the endangered rock wren and giant alpine weta.

Male rock wren scolding us for intruding in his territory

Not bad for a weekend’s work.

The view from the top of Price Range

By Bronwyn Aalders, Team Lead – Graphic Design

Last year I took a walk in the park; a Great Walk, and the first of many I hope—the Milford Track.

The team on day one

As part of an initiative by Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre, DOC staff and local frontline staff were invited to experience first hand Fiordland’s Great Walks. I didn’t need any convincing and chose the Milford for its reputed beauty and tendency to fill up for months at a time.

Overhang at Mackinnon Pass

The opportunity to get out of National Office and into the outdoors is always a welcome experience, but this time particularly so. As the team lead of graphic design in the Publishing Team, my team and I have been working on lots of collateral around the Great Walks this year so experiencing one of them first hand was incredibly useful.

Lush foliage on the journey down toward Dumpling Hut

It can be challenging to know just what our customers are wanting from a brochure, route guide or piece of merchandise, so to put yourself in their shoes for a few days certainly gave me an insight which I could return to the design studio with.

Reflections at Mackinnon Pass

The Milford Track didn’t disappoint and also convinced me that it can get pretty warm across the ditch (I’m from Australia). We were blessed with brilliant weather for our first three days, tramping in 28C heat amidst the sound of thunderous avalanches above us. This was also to be my first hut experience as I generally prefer a tent and the sight of no one. But I’ve come round to the idea now, aided by earplugs that actually worked and recognising the benefits of a sandfly-free refuge.

Whio – spotted during the walk out on day three

Highlights included seeing Mackinnon Pass in perfect weather twice – an evening hike up from Mintaro Hut on Day two (followed by an arctic swim in a tarn) and perfect morning mist on Day three. There were sounds of kiwi and kaka lulling me to sleep (followed by a weka quickly reversing that trend), and whistling whio on a drizzly final day walk out. This is starting to read like one of DOC’s brochures… maybe we’re not as far off as we think! It was the perfect Great Walk experience.

Heading toward the most scenic outhouse in New Zealand

To see the Great Walks brochures , check them out on the DOC website (the Tongariro Northern Circuit brochure is coming soon):

Lake Waikaremoana
Whanganui Journey
Abel Tasman Coast Track
Heaphy Track
Kepler Track
Milford Track
Routeburn Track
Rakiura Track

Come behind the scenes and into the jobs, the challenges, the highlights, and the personalities of the people who work at the Department of Conservation (DOC).

Today we profile Sharleen Briden, Technical Advisor (Historic), based in Otago.

Sharleen and Brian sure get into some tricky situations at times-
kōiwi recovery, Huriawa Pā, Karitane

At work

What kind of things do you do in your role?

I advise on historic matters, archaeological excavation (including kōiwi – human bone – recovery), archaeological reporting, historic surveys and assessments, monitoring earthworks, and recording new sites into the New Zealand Archaeological Association database.

What is the best part about your job?

Survey work and recording, seeing people up skill, and having the opportunity to see such beautiful country.

What is the hardest part about your job?

Survey work and helping people up-skill.

Bendigo Bakehouse excavation with Matt Schmidt, Historic Places Trust

What led you to your role in DOC?

There are not too many jobs where I can dwell amongst bones until my heart’s content. Finding cultural material while I walked my dog along the beaches led me to study archaeology. I have a natural affinity for bones and geological stone sources.

What was your highlight from the month just gone?

Seeing historic work supported by areas.

Excavation at Pukekura Pā, Taiaroa Head, with Brian Allingham

The rule of three…

Three loves:

• Hakky
• Scrimshaw
• Food

Three pet peeves:

• Bad drivers
• Religion
• Unfairness

Three foods:

• Nice cheeses, particularly feta
• Vogel’s bread
• Humus

Three favourite places in New Zealand:

• Rock and Pillar Range
• Dunedin
• Nevis valley

Favourite album, book:

• Book – The Hunger Games (three volumes)
• Music - Ladi 6

Te Atatu judo champ aged six

Deep and meaningful…

What piece of advice would you tell your 18 year old self?

Stand tall and be proud.

Who or what inspires you and why?

Jill Hamel at 80 still going strong protecting our historic heritage.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A professional soccer player.

And now, if you weren’t working at DOC, what would you want to be?

An archaeologist – I think I’m in the right role.

What sustainability tip would you like to pass on?

Turn the lights off and save the moths.

Which green behaviour would you like to adopt this year—at home? At work?

Walk more often.

If you could be any New Zealand native species for a day, what would you be and why?

A bird – they are just so graceful. I like them dead or alive and enjoy identifying their bones.

What piece of advice or message would you want to give to New Zealanders when it comes to conservation?

Be open minded.

Whittens Creek, Nevis – Loch Linnhe Tenure Review survey

By Trish Irvine, Ranger Community Relations

After humble beginnings in January 2009 with only 22 Auckland youth, this year, MAD (Make A Difference) Marine launched its 5th year with a record 48 secondary school students from 25 schools across Auckland.

Marine debris

The three day leadership hui held on pest-free Motutapu Island kicked off city-side, at the Voyager Maritime Museum, with a welcome and blessing from iwi, a presentation by marine guru Roger Grace, and a talk about marine rubbish from Sustainable Coastlines. The students explored nearby city streets to identify and photograph rubbish-filled drains.

MAD Marine students working in the Motutapu Restoration Trust nursery

Once all the gear and food had been inspected for potential stowaways, we set off for Rangitoto Island which is linked by a causeway to the much older, Motutapu Island. On arrival, we walked in the sunshine to Motutapu Restoration Trust’s (MRT) nursery where students carried out various tasks to help the Trust.

Later, at our base (the Motutapu Outdoor Education Centre), there were presentations about marine mammals and ecological restoration on the island, followed by a night walk to see the freshwater ecology.

Day two began with a dawn walk up the hill to the WWII battery, and after breakfast, a beach clean-up led by the Watercare Harbour Clean Up Trust.

The groups really began to bond with each other and the natural environment during the rocky shore id session … “Aaah look at that tiny cushion star … There’s a cat’s eye … Do you see the half crab? … Who wants to hold the kina? … Can you feel its tube feet?”.

Beach clean-up

Kayaking proved to be challenging for some students but they determinedly overcame their fears. Snorkeling in the bay’s unofficial marine reserve revealed an underwater world that was less familiar but full of surprises—snapper up close. Auckland Council’s Waicare team introduced some science and the marine planning session encouraged student’s creativity. In the evening, student leaders inspired everyone with the actions they had taken in their schools and communities, outlining the support they experienced, and the barriers they faced and overcame to “make a difference”.

Did we mention the food? Each year, with great leadership from Cate Jessep Auckland Council, we provide food from scratch, with the help of the students. There’s pizza, French bread, pasta, sushi, salad dressings, stewed plums and biscuits!

Interactive pizza making

On the summit of Rangitoto, students looked across to the city and contemplated their actions for 2013. Back down the hill, Marian from the Rangitoto Island Historic Conservation Trust shared a glimpse of a simpler time, showing students the (award winning) restored Bach 38 museum; how people connected with the land, re-used and salvaged materials to build these humble baches that are now an icon. After hilarious skits from each group we journeyed home exhausted and inspired.

One student kicked off her actions the following day with this blog - Ignore that jellyfish costume! One student’s article was even published in Element Magazine.

And aside from the formal evaluations filled in by students we’ve had some fantastic unsolicited feedback:

Another student:

“It was such an inspiring atmosphere to be amongst. Being surrounded by such motivated and change-making adults as well as young people made me feel a great sense of hope for years to come.

“In a society that focuses so much on the negative and so-called ‘dead-end’ state of the environment around us, it is refreshing to see people not only with the aspirations to make a change, but the motivation to follow through.

I hope to FINALLY implement a successful and efficient recycling system, beginning with a rubbish audit, upon my return to school. Although something more revolutionary would be more likely to fulfil my desire to make a change, I figure it’s best to start with baby steps.”

A parent’s feedback:

Please accept our thanks for providing such a fun and educational excursion. It sounded like it was full on but my daughter returned home with a fresh and perceptive understanding of why it is so important to look after the waterways.

“She has been treated to a rich experience in marine education and I hope this will manifest itself into becoming a responsible and assertive caretaker for the future.”

MAD Marine snorkelling and kayaking

The challenge for students who attend MAD Marine is to take their learning and inspiration back to their schools and communities and “make a difference”. This is just the start of the journey, which is ongoing—with catch up events planned each school holiday where students share knowledge successes and challenges with each other, and participate in another volunteer event.

MAD Marine is a partnership between DOC and the Auckland Council. We share the enormous amount of planning and resourcing that makes this annual event such a success.

By Hamish Coghill, Department of Conservation Intern

The DOC Internship Programme is celebrating its fourth successful year as the interns near the end of an exciting summer. A major highlight of the National Office summer interns’ time at DOC was the opportunity to spend two days in the field on Kapiti Island. Hamish Coghill presents an overview of what the interns got up to while on Kapiti.

The Summer Interns of 2012/2013 with Ash, Pete and Shannan

The intrepid interns braved early starts to carpool up to the Kapiti Coast on a bright December morning to catch a morning ferry out to Kapiti Island.

After ambling through the dunes to the breakers upon a giant trailer behind a tractor, our boat pushed its way out into the channel between the mainland and the once-island fortress of Te Rauparaha.

Meeting us on the shore was DOC ranger, Genevieve Spargo (Gen), who welcomed us all ashore and arranged for our overnight stay in ranger accommodation. Providing an introduction to the island was a local iwi representative, who explained some of the Māori history of the island as well as introducing many of the rare and wonderful species that seem to exist on the island in abundance.

Listening to Eric talk about the feeding programme on the Island for the Hihi

While those members of the public on a day trip headed off up the tracks to the summit, the interns—accompanied by staff from DOC National Office, Arshdeep Singh (intern coordinator), Shannan Mortimer (Capability Development Advisor), and Peter Hiemstra (Geospatial Analyst)— who demonstrated that National Office softies aren’t ones to shy away from a bit of hard yacka, and got to work pruning back some of the overgrown foliage along one of the tracks. A beach cleanup later that day was also undertaken by the group, filling a number of large rubbish bags with various items.

With night closing in, the group was led by Gen to observe some of the local nocturnal wildlife. Attempts were made to locate a kiwi whose calls were heard close to the houses, but to no avail, and a little blue penguin nest that smelt like a sardine factory was also unfortunately without its occupiers. However, the group was lucky enough to see the return of a couple of the penguins from a hard day fishing at sea, as well as spotting a number of rare geckos lounging in the flax bushes.

NZ wood pigeon/kereru

On the second day the group headed up the track to the summit of the island which teemed with rare native bird life including saddleback, kaka and kōkako. Along the way, DOC ranger Eric introduced us to his work in trying to support the very threatened and fragile population of hihi. This involved regular monitoring and provided what seemed a very popular food supplement in sugar water.

At the summit of the track we were treated to stunning views out across the Cook Strait to Marlborough and up the West Coast to Mt Taranaki. After descending from the summit of the island, the group made its way back to the ferry pick up point and said its goodbyes to the island staff after a wonderful stay, before making the trip back over across the channel to the Kapiti Coast and back home to Wellington.

Ranger Gen on Kapiti Island

Planning your visit:

After landing at Rangatira we recommend you go to the public shelter to listen to the introductory talk. There are two main tracks, Wilkinson and Trig, to reach the highest point of Kapiti Island, Tuteremoana. We took the Wilkinson Track, a 3.8km track, stopping at the hihi feeding station a third of the way up, while a few members of the group tackled the Trig Track, a 2km steady uphill climb. The view from Tuteremoana summit is truly fantastic – on a clear day you are able to see the top of Mount Egmont to your right and the Marlborough Sounds to your left. There is also the option of being dropped at the north end. These tracks include Boulder Bank Loop Track, Okupe Loop Walk or Lagoon Walk.

Arranging your visit to Kapiti Island:

1. Get a permit from DOC
2. Arrange your transport over to Kapiti Island.
   

Check out the DOC website for more information.

Hamish and the breathtaking view

Come behind the scenes and into the jobs, the challenges, the highlights, and the personalities of the people who work at the Department of Conservation (DOC).

Today we profile Genevieve Spargo, Island Ranger, Kapiti Island.

At work

Name: Genevieve Spargo.

Position: Island Ranger – Kapiti Island.

Ha Long Bay, Vietnam – UNESCO World Heritage Site

What kind of things do you do in your role?

The Island Ranger role on Kapiti is varied. Some days I pretend to be a visitor assets ranger, other days I pretend to be a biodiversity ranger, and there’s also a great deal of effort that goes into the interpretation and relations aspect too. Not to mention the logistics/coordination, biosecurity and surveillance, building infrastructure and fire equipment maintenance of course!

What is the best part about your job?

I pretty much pinch myself everyday, it’s a great privilege to live and work on a nature reserve. I think the best part of my job is bumping into regular Kiwis (the human variety) along the tracks and watching their expressions as they see and hear hihi, kōkako, tīeke, korimako, toutouwai or have a flock of kererū fly past, or even meet face to face with a cheeky weka or takahē. Magic.

What is the hardest part about your job?

Realising that I’m not a superhero and that there are only 24 hours in a day. It is a huge responsibility helping to take care of Kapiti Island.

Whenua Hou domestic terminal

What led you to your role in DOC?

Extremely encouraging fellow DOC workers and friends. You all know who you are, so a big cheery thanks! The natural world has been an obsession for a while. I was lovingly told off as a child for chasing wildlife and lifting rocks to see what was under them—this is ok if it’s not outback Australia!

I had my eye on DOC while I was at uni in the UK and, after I moved out here, I took a job on the front desk in National Office, answering phones and delivering mail. It was a cool way to get to know the Department and the people that worked there.

I got involved with island field trips as soon as I could via volunteering and work development opportunities. I also started bird banding with the Ornothological Society New Zealand and doing some work for the Department’s vet which was great fun! So, after a stint with the Standard Operating Procedures System team I got an exciting chance to go weeding for a while on Hauturu/Little Barrier (thanks heaps Ross and the Walles), the rest is history….

What was your highlight from the month just gone?

Converting a bunch of gecko fearing school kids into mini gecko ambassadors.

Building stuff on the farm with Dad

The rule of three…

3 loves

1. Butter (urrm… I mean my other half)
2. My crazy awesome nephew
3. A hot cup of tea and chocolate with pals after tramping to an epic New Zealand hut

3 pet peeves

1. Tailgaters
2. People who won’t try to listen
3. Having no butter in the house or forgetting butter when tramping. Devastating.

3 foods

1. Butter…
2. Butter and
3. Butter

Favourite place in New Zealand

This changes all the time as I explore new parts of the country. At the moment it’s Taepiro Stream on Kapiti Island. It blew me away and I can’t help but imagine ancient wildlife stomping through the undergrowth. Its goosebump type of stuff.

Favourite movie, album, book

• Movie: Stand by me (1986)
• Album: It’s a tie. Santigold – Santigold, and Tango in the night – Fleetwood Mac
• Book: Rainforest (Thomas Marent, Ben Morgan)—more for the photography than the text

Working with incredible vollys on an off-shore island at the Rena Recovery.

Deep and meaningful…

What piece of advice would you tell your 18 year old self?

Time is ticking, so don’t be fearful and get on with it!

Who or what inspires you and why?

All the DOC staff who put in the invisible and unpaid hours to get the job done. People who have busy lives, jobs, families etc. and still find the time to be passionate and involved through volunteering in conservation – got to respect that!

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A police dog handler or an RSPCA Officer.

And now, if you weren’t working at DOC, what would you want to be?

Running some sort of restoration trust getting kiwi kids off their couches and into the outside – preferably on an island.

What sustainability tip would you like to pass on?

If you can, leave the car at home sometimes and go for a walk.

Which green behaviour would you like to adopt this year-at home? At work?

Perhaps introduce a ‘swimming to work’ programme for Kapiti Island DOC staff.

If you could be any New Zealand native species for a day, what would you be and why?
Probably a gannet, as I reckon it would be a pretty exhilarating life, and the views would be spectacular!

What piece of advice or message would you want to give to New Zealanders when it comes to conservation?
Enthusiasm is usually infectious. You have the ability to influence everyone around you in a positive way by encouraging the respect of our natural resources. No really, you do.

Penguin monitoring

By Angeline Barnes, Community Outreach Coordinator

Welcome to Piripiri campsite

Last week, while out with DOC’s Manawatu Area team, I met a young girl named Hannah. She had planned and arranged a camping trip for her group of friends and they were camping at Piripiri, a free DOC campsite, along the Pohangina River.

Cooking on the campfire

Along with a little bit of help from her mum she had organised the camping trip. She had developed invitations, food plans, budgets, travel plans, sleeping plans and more.

Making gifts from natural materials

To make it happen they allowed one adult to come, purely for health and safety reasons! But the adult’s attendance (in the form of Hannah’s mother) came with rules – she had to sleep in her own tent ‘outside’ of the campsite territory, which was marked with colourful bunting spread amongst the trees.

The campsite was so lovely – a young girl’s dream  – nature as the backdrop, colourful bunting, tents, friends and lots of giggling.

Chocolate damper dough hands!

Hannah’s mum was allowed to accompany them to the river where they swam (beautiful swimming spot), jumped off a ledge and had a fabulous time. I went and had a chat to them and they were all so happy – creating their childhood memories.

Crowding around the campfire

By Dave Houston, Technical Advisor – Ecology

Dave supports biodiversity programmes anywhere between Auckland and the Auckland Islands, but specialises in the Chatham Islands.

Using a band or ring has been vital to the monitoring and conservation of birds for more than 100 years.  Yellow-eyed penguins were first fitted with leg bands as part of a landmark population study by schoolteacher-biologist Lance Richdale in the 1930′s.

A flipper-band on a yellow-eyed penguin

Unfortunately, leg bands proved to be difficult to read and also caused some injuries so, by the late 1950′s, flipper bands became the standard for marking penguins.

The current banding programme for yellow-eyed’s started in the 1970′s and has enabled the monitoring of penguin survival (to a ripe old age of 24 years) and allowed researchers to know the age and history of the individuals at the focus of their research.

Flipper bands are not without problems.  They decrease the underwater efficiency of the bird and, particularly if poorly fitted or maintained, can cause feather wear and injury.  Alternatives to bands have been explored and one under investigation at the moment is the use RFID tags of the same type used in dogs and cats.  While safe and long-lasting, they do have the downside of  requiring electronic readers to find out if a bird is marked and who it is.

Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust staff inserting a RFID tag into a penguin chick

Ranger Mel Young showing Wane Begg and Jim Fyfe the best way of measuring head length

Volunteer Monika Fry with penguin chick ready for weighing

Ranger Mel Young talking penguins with Jeff Corwin

The opportunity to assist with this work, and spend a few days on the beautiful Otago Peninsula in no less than spectacular weather, was very much worth the being stung by nettle, scratched by gorse, bitten, beaten and pooped on by penguins.

Dr Thomas Mattern and Jeff Corwin waiting for a GPS-fitted pengin to return

Postscript

Since my visit some 57 adult yellow-eyed penguins on the Otago Peninsula have died suddenly, possibly due to a marine biotoxin.  Birds found dead on the beach have been identified by their tag, enabling rangers to locate the nest and keep a close eye on their almost-fledged chicks.  Understanding how the penguins encountered the bio-toxin will be helped by the GPS and dive logger data.

Yellow-eyed penguin foraging tracks. Credit: Dr Thomas Mattern

Come behind the scenes and into the jobs, the challenges, the highlights, and the personalities of the people who work at the Department of Conservation (DOC).

Today we profile David Lynn, Ranger—Visitor and Historic Assets, in DOC’s Gisborne/Whakatane Area Office.

Out mucking in, helping capture, weigh and measure
North Island weka, at Motu

Some things I do in my job include…

Track maintenance, hut maintenance, track inspections, managing the awesome Anaura Bay Campground, managing ‘Gateway’ school students, my Duty Officer role, fire fighting, as well as around 12 years at DOC as a Conservancy Records/Admin officer.

Fire training. This is a house at Opotiki. A learning experience, as only months later I witnessed a real house on fire at Pahiatua. I was first on the scene, kicked the door down but, through our training, knew it was too late

The best bit about my job is…

Getting out there and walking our lovely tracks and rivers. I’ve often stopped and looked around—whilst in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of a fresh water river—and looked at the great scenery, and thought…’What an awesome job I have’.

The scariest DOC moment I’ve had so far is…

At a social event—hoping like mad that all my workmates had also dressed up as rock stars on our social club pub crawl—before I walked into the pub we were all meeting at.

The Gene Simmons stunt double! It won me Best Dressed
at one of our social club fixtures

The DOC employee that inspires or enthuses me most is…

It has to be the staff I see walking kilometres with big chainsaws, and loaded with gear, into tracks to cut trees. We have some real work horses out there doing great work.

Most people don’t know I…

A bit gross to some, but most people don’t know that I endured 31 years on and off of having plastic surgery to my face. My nose has been made from skin from my forehead, my top lip is actually 1/3 of my bottom lip, but hey this is me now and I’m amazed at what doctors can do in this field of surgery. This happened due to a type of growth that occurred within a week of birth that wiped out my top lip and nasal area.

My stomping ground is…

Gisborne, known to most as Gizzy. A neat town, off the beaten track some say but the beaches, fishing/diving and weather are tops.

The project: getting over 150 boxed steps built at Cooks Cove, Tolaga Bay. This is step two of many—weighing and getting all the wood/gravel/building equipment transported, ready for pick up by heli to the work sites. A massive job I got to manage from start to finish

My best ever holiday was…

Taking the wife Anne, and children Jessica and Daniel, over to Surfer’s Paradise last year. What an awesome place.

My greatest sporting moment was when…

I was selected for the North Island Indoor Bowls team in 2003 and then again in 2004. Only 10 men and 10 woman get selected in this team. We lost to the South Island in 2003, but got revenge in 2004.

North vs South Island winners 2004

Deep and meaningful…

My favourite quote is…

Live life to the fullest , you never know what is around the corner.

The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is…

Your best friends will be by your side in every way, you will learn fast who your best friends are.

In work and life I am motivated by…

I think in both work and life I’m motivated by doing the very best I can and seeing the rewards after. I’ve been very successful in my sport and education, and have always had employment from the age of 17 (25 years of government service was just achieved in January this year).

My conservation advice to New Zealanders is…

Get out there and see what New Zealand has to offer. Some of the places I have seen (through working at DOC and travelling the country in my sport) are just great.

Question of the week…

‘Question of the week’ will differ each week. If you have any suggestions for questions, please leave us a comment.

Which celebrity would play you in a movie about your life?

I would have to say that I actually need two celebrities: one called Paul Kaye off the film Blackball—a little known comedy about bowls—and his stunt double, a younger Clint Eastwood could jump in, in places, but without without Clyde the Orangutan (off Every Which Way but Loose).

By Trudi Ngawhare, Community Relations Ranger, Gisborne

Bobby Rangihuna-Harema, a high school student aspiring to be a farm manager, got the opportunity to be a ‘Ranger for a day’ at Motu near Gisborne after winning a Conservation Week competition late last year.

Ranger Joe Waikari showing Bobby how to set a possum trap

The Gisborne Herald gets behind Conservation Week every year. They were looking for a different angle and asked if we had a reader’s giveaway. The DOC ‘Ranger for a day’ was an initiative that we had always wanted to do, and this felt like the perfect opportunity.

Bobby, a 14 year old Lytton High School student who will enter a trade academy this year, was entered into the competition by her mum Jenny who thought it would be a good vocational experience. She saw it as an opportunity for Bobby to experience another view of Tane Mahuta (God of the forest).

“This is another area to have a look at when it comes to land management and farming,” said Jenny.

A full day was planned, with the first stop being a photo session for Bobby and her mum at the Gisborne Herald.

Then, after an hour’s drive to Motu, Bobby helped Ranger Joe Waikari track and complete a health check on Tom, a male kiwi.

Joe listening for Tom the kiwi’s transmitter

The work to address the decline of North Island Brown kiwi (and the protection of other threatened species within the Whinray Scenic Reserve) is part of an important recovery programme run by Whinray Ecological Charitable Trust (WECT), with support from the Kiwis for Kiwi Trust.

During a quick check on the weka traps, Ranger Joe was able to introduce Bobby to a North Island Weka.

Ranger Joe introducing Bobby to a North Island weka

Finally, Bobby and Joe took a short hike on the upgraded Pakihi Track (part of the Motu Trails national cycleway) for a bit of native frog spotting.

Ranger Joe Waikari and Bobby checking out a Hochstetter frog

By the end of the day, Bobby was a very happy but exhausted ‘Ranger for a day’, who experienced three rare native species in one day that many never see in a lifetime!

Bobby and her mum praised Ranger Joe for leading them up long steep ridges and through thick bush…. No, not really, but it did provide for a humorous and entertaining hikoi (walk).

Thanks to Bobby and her mum for being such keen ‘Rangers for a day’; and to the Gisborne Herald for supporting Conservation Week and providing an awesome avenue to promote conservation.

There are many reasons why I’m excited about Dulux partnering with DOC to protect New Zealand’s backcountry huts.

Firstly, I’m excited that we have a new partner investing in conservation. As Ecclesiastes says: “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.” In other words, together we can achieve more – and we all want more conservation.

Secondly, as an avid (but amateur) interior decorator and home renovator, I’ve personally been in a relationship with Dulux for years. And while a lot of people don’t love work spilling into their private lives, most of us would agree that it’s pretty great to have the things we enjoy in our private lives spill into work.

A small sample of Dulux from my personal collection. And despite what it looks like, my husband didn’t decapitate me and artfully place my head on our bucket of Dulux Ceiling White!

Thirdly, to celebrate this new partnership, there’s a competition. Winning would be amazing (who wouldn’t want a fabulous, fully hosted wilderness weekend for two in Mt Aspiring National Park?!) but the cool thing is that creating an entry is actually a fun experience in itself – so you really can’t lose! You should have a go:

Head to the Protecting Our Place website, summon your creative genius, paint a DOC hut (virtually of course – none of that annoying real life preparation or messy clean-up), and be in to win.

Tarn Ridge Hut: Some real life before and after photos to inspire you

So, hopefully by now you’re as excited as me about putting the colours of New Zealand to work for conservation!

Come behind the scenes and into the jobs, the challenges, the highlights, and the personalities of the people who work at the Department of Conservation (DOC).

Today kick starts Whio Awareness Month. To celebrate, we profile whio fan Tim Allerby, Ranger—Biodiversity Ranger, in DOC’s Te Urewera/Whirinaki Area Office.

The first whio chicks on the upper Tauranga river (November 2012) since 2008, well worth the early start

At work

Name: Tim Allerby.

Position: Biodiversity Ranger.

Office: Te Urewera/Whirinaki Area.

Some things I do in my job include…

• Providing advice/support for whio related operations throughout the Te Urewera/Whirinaki Area and its surrounds.
• Implementing and managing stoat control operations for whio with the Northern Te Urewera.
• Carrying out outcome monitoring of whio and kōkako.
•  Assisting with the trialling of A24 self resetting traps.

The best bit about my job is…
Catching stoats and seeing whio chicks on rivers.

Flying stoat traps into the upper Tauranga River site 2012

The funniest DOC moment I’ve had so far is…

The eruption of disgust, laughter, and bewilderment from thirty-plus totally sucked in kids and adults after I tasted stoat poo (Marmite) to confirm that it was indeed stoat poo during a mock up whio mortality scene investigation.

The DOC (or previous DOC) employee that inspires or enthuses me most is…
Captain Whio (aka Andrew Glaser)—without his passion and persistence for whio protection we would not be in the position we are at with respect to whio recovery.

Captain Whio (Andrew Glaser), Duck Boy and the motley Te Urewera Mainland Island crew

On a personal note…

The song that always cheers me up is…
All I ever need is you – Kenny Rogers and Dottie West.

My stomping ground is…
Waimana Valley in the mighty Te Urewera National Park.

If I could trade places with any other person for a week—famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional—it would be…
Donald Trump. I would cover every bit of New Zealand conservation land in double set DOC200s (traps) and set aside enough money for those traps to be checked once a month for the next 100 years.

If I could be any New Zealand native species I’d be…
A karearea. They are definitely the boss of the sky.

If I wasn’t working at DOC, I’d like to…
Become an astronaut. I’d like to look back at Earth from space. Maybe one day Jet Star will do cheap deals?

Looking and feeling awesome after stopping a branch from hitting the ground with my head (kōkako translocation 2009)

Deep and meaningful…

My favourite quote is…
What’s the worst that could happen? – Kobey Brebner.

The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is…
No hunter will ever have surplus brownie points so you just have to realise this and accept it.

In work and life I am motivated by…
Doing the best that I can. I always have high expectations of myself in whatever I do so I always push myself to reach those goals.

My conservation advice to New Zealanders is…
Do as much as you can whenever you can, no matter how little or insignificant you think it may be.

Inserting a transponder into a whio

Question of the week…

‘Question of the week’ will differ each week. If you have any suggestions for questions, please leave us a comment.

What’s your signature dish?
Not being the greatest cook I don’t think I can claim a signature dish however I can cook venison a thousand ways. While I am in the bushes I am particularly fond of venison heart, garlic, and onions all fried in a generous lashing of butter.

Watch this video of Tim Allerby talking about his work saving whio/blue duck:

This week is Seaweek (2-10 March), so to celebrate, we share an interview with sea lover and Technical Advisor (Marine), Andrew Baxter.

Taking a bit of R&R beside a whale-free Golden Bay beach

How did you become interested in marine biology?

I grew up on a mixed cropping and sheep farm in mid-Canterbury, miles from the sea, with a salmon fishing rod in one hand and a rifle in the other. I suppose my interest in marine biology began with family Christmas holidays as a kid at Kaikoura—plenty of rock pools to explore and fish to catch—and gradually unfolded while I was at Canterbury University.

Learning to dive at this time was also a big eye opener. From there I went to Taranaki for a couple of years, and then had a few years in Wellington before heading to Nelson in 1987 to work for DOC (where I have remained for more years than I care to count).

What is it about the sea that presses your buttons?

Definitely its mysteries. We know so little about it compared to the land—new things are being discovered all the time: from several new species each week, to the intricate complexities and linkages that tie everything together.

Also the sea’s vulnerabilities. The sea is hugely important to New Zealanders. Yet people often take it for granted because it’s huge and it looks “fine” from the surface. But take a closer look and it’s not as robust as we might otherwise think.

A blue whale that washed up on the West Coast, just north of the Patutau river

Why the interest in marine mammals in particular?

My job involves everything from snails to whales. However, with such a diverse array of marine mammals and the number of strandings we get, marine mammals can be a significant part of my job at times.

If whales are so smart, how come so many of them strand themselves on beaches?

Many of course simply die at sea from natural causes and wash up on our shores. Live strandings are more of a conundrum and there are many theories why whales and dolphins strand. In a lot of cases I suspect there is not just one causative factor but rather two or more in combination.

Like us, whales breathe air, and like us, they presumably will have a strong aversion to drowning. So when they become sick or injured a natural reaction will be to seek shallow water. For a highly social species, including pilot whales, their strong social bonds and natural instincts to look after one another can turn against them. One sick individual can lead to a chain reaction and a mass stranding unfolds.

Accidents happen (even for whales) and for a species that also echo-locates, gently shelving beaches like those in Golden Bay are particularly risky. The whales’ sonar disappears into the distance rather than being reflected back and Farewell Spit forms the perfect whale trap.

Volunteers and DOC staff work hand in hand at strandings

What’s the first thing people should do when they come across a stranding?

Contact DOC (0800 DOCHOT) and let us know all the details from location, species and number of animals to weather and sea conditions.

And the second?

Be careful! Whales (even the smaller ones) are hugely powerful and can cause serious injury if they lash out. In particular, avoid the area around the tail. If you are able to, keep the whales wet and covered with a sheet, avoiding the blow hole they breathe through.

Many species strand, from smaller cetaceans (e.g. dolphins and pilot whales) through to the largest animal on the planet, the blue whale

Are we any closer to figuring out how to stop whales from stranding in the first place?

Not really. They are, after all, natural events.

People sometimes suggest putting in sonar reflectors, acoustic deterrent devices or underwater speakers that play orca sounds (or perhaps Barry Manilow music?). Aside from the question of cost, the difficulty is that whales are not totally stupid (despite what people might think from them stranding) and could just swim around or investigate them.

Several years ago we trialled the use of a bubble curtain—a compressor and a long perforated hose to create a wall of bubbles that reflect a whale’s sonar. It worked initially, but once one whale discovered it was effectively an illusion by accidentally breaking through the “wall”, they all began to ignore it.

Loud acoustic devices or ones that play orca sounds could cause panic and drive whales ashore. Also, we don’t want to drive away other species that inhabit coastal areas.

If you could talk to whales, what are some of the first questions you’d ask them?  

Obviously, “Why can’t you get your act together and not strand?”

It would also be good to ask them what they think about our management of the oceans, from noise, pollution and “scientific whaling” to tourism and fishing. I also wonder if whales have forgiven humans for hunting some of them almost to extinction.

Whale strandings can attract many people, including volunteers willing to spend long and exhausting hours trying to refloat them

What is the strangest stranding you have attended? 

A number of years ago I was phoned on Christmas morning about an orca stranded on HaulashoreIsland. Foregoing bacon, eggs and hash browns (that I had just cooked) and a bottle of cheap bubbly, I rushed down to Rocks Road with a colleague and some binoculars to check it out. There looked to be a small orca on the cobble shore, but with a blustery south-westerly blowing it was very hard to get a good view.

Luckily a hardy kayaker checked it out and discovered it was an inflatable plastic orca which must have blown off Tahuna Beach.  After initially being pumped up to help rescue an orca, finding it was an inflatable whale was a bit of a let down. Suffice to say we left a bit deflated.

At the end of a stranding, what do you most take away from it apart from exhaustion? 

Depending on the outcome, you can leave elated, frustrated or emotionally drained. Making some hard decisions around euthanasia can be very challenging emotionally. But the biggest thing I always take away from a large stranding is the sense of camaraderie from working alongside iwi, volunteers from near and far, and other DOC staff. Big strandings require a huge team effort.

What is it about New Zealanders’ treatment of the marine environment that depresses you the most?

The “out of sight, out of mind” syndrome, and the false presumption that the sea is vast and can cope with anything.

The attitude that it is always “someone else’s fault” is also frustrating. We are only going to make a difference through people taking personal responsibility. Even simple things such as not littering and sticking to the fisheries limits can make a huge difference if everyone does it.

And what gives you the most hope?

There are some very clever and astute young people coming through the education system.  They are our biggest hope for the future. Working with community groups like Te Korowai o Te Tai o Marokura in Kaikoura has also shown me the power of local communities taking responsibility for their own areas.

Taking samples from a dead whale.

If you were the benevolent dictator of New Zealand, what are a few of the first things you’d do to make it a better place?

Assuming I also had an open cheque book, I would provide significant funding to all the health, social and environmental community groups that are trying so hard to make a difference—often with so little.

If you were a marine mammal, what would you be and why?

There are two options here. The Andrews’ beaked whale (yes, there really is a whale called that), for no better reason than its obviously great name. Though if I had to choose just one, I would pick an orca (killer whale), simply because they are at the top of the food chain and don’t have to worry too much about anything else with sharp teeth and an empty stomach, except perhaps when young.

By Claudia Babirat, Community Relations Officer

Jiggidy jiddigy! To celebrate Seaweek – and the nationwide launch of the fabulous Marine Meter Squared programme – the DOC team in Coastal Otago decided to get hip and do their own version of the Harlem Shake!

The Harlem Shake – Seaweek style!

To those who don’t know, the Harlem Shake is a phenomenon that has swept the world-wide web! So, in our lunch hour, a group of us rocked our stuff dressed in our most fabulous Seaweek costumes. We challenge everyone out there to have as much sea related fun as we did this week!

Happy Seaweek folks!

Come behind the scenes and into the jobs, the challenges, the highlights, and the personalities of the people who work at the Department of Conservation (DOC).

March is Whio Awareness Month. To celebrate this, we profile whio fan Andrew ‘Max’ Smart, Ranger—Biodiversity Ranger, in DOC’s Te Anau Area Office.

Catching juvenile whio in the Arthur for translocation to the Neale Burn

At work

Name: Andrew ‘Max’ Smart.

Position: Biodiversity Ranger.

Office: Te Anau Area.

Some things I do in my job include managing the whio monitoring in the Northern Fiordland Whio Security Site and in four recovery sites. I manage the pāteke/brown teal re-introduction project in the Arthur Valley, liaise between the kākāpō team and the Te Anau Area Office, I’m the species dog certifier for the lower South Island, and assist with other biodiversity work as required (this may be translocations of tīeke/saddlebacks, kōkako, mohua/yellowheads, robins, takahē or kākāpō). I also monitor tawaki/Fiordland crested penguins and check stoat traps in Dusky Sound.

The best bit about my job is surveying for whio in wild and remote rivers with my trained whio dog and working with groups like the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation, to help protect whio habitat. It’s always nice when you feel like you are actually making a difference. Also up there is the opportunities I have had getting to places I wouldn’t normally be able to get to, like the Antipodes and Bounty Islands.

The beautiful whio/blue duck

The scariest DOC moment I’ve had so far is going for a slide down a rock face in the Murchison Mountain whilst on a takahē monitoring trip on 29 February 2004 (leap day). I ended up breaking my little finger on my right hand and breaking and dislocating most of my bones in my left foot. Which surprisingly I was reasonably happy about.

I remember sliding down the face and thinking ‘If I don’t grab that small tussock I’m dead’. That’s when I broke my finger and missed the tussock…. I said quite quietly in my head, ‘Well it looks like I’m going to die, this isn’t quite how I thought it would happen’, then hit the bottom and stopped. I thought, ‘Well that was lucky, I wonder where that big drop that I thought I was going to go over is?’. I looked around and I was less than a metre from it—hence why I was reasonably happy with just a broken foot and finger.

I ended up in hospital for eleven days with a plate and five screws in my finger and five screws and two pins in my foot. I’ve still got the hardware in my finger and quite large bone spurs in my foot where the screws were. My foot gets really sore and stiff after doing a river survey, especially in winter. I keep my screws from my foot in a little jar on my table at work—always a good way to gross people out.

The DOC (or previous DOC) employee(s) that inspire or enthuse me most are Cam Speedy and the other members of the Whio Recovery Group who are so passionate about whio, even after some of them have worked with them for so many years (not looking at anyone in particular Peter Russell and Andy Glaser). This also demonstrates how great a species whio are to work with.

Hard at work, surveying down the Clinton North Branch

On a personal note…

Most people don’t know that I was born in Akaroa and that I have a twin sister (not identical – I have been asked).

My best ever holiday was a nine week trip to North America a couple of years ago. We visited 15 National Parks and numerous National Monuments and State Parks in the USA and another three National Parks in Canada. The highlights of the trip would have been Utah and Arizona (Zion NP, Grand Canyon NP, Monument Valley, Natural Bridges National Monument, Arches NP, Canyonlands NP, Dead Horse State Park, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Capital Reef NP and Bryce Canyon NP), along with New York City and the Labrador Coast. A walk over Clouds Rest in Yosemite NP was also very cool.

Another trip also right up there was when I saw Mountain Gorillas in what was then Zaire, climbed sand dunes and walked to the bottom of Fish River Canyon in Namibia, paddled around in a dug out canoe on the Okavango Delta and got saturated by the spray at Victoria Falls.

In my spare time I tend to do things around the house as we have just built a house and there are always plenty of little jobs to do.

If I could be any New Zealand native species I’d be either a bottlenose dolphin or kareakarea/New Zealand falcon.

If I wasn’t working at DOC, I’d like to still be working with animals. Not sure where but definitely working with animals.

Before working at DOC I worked as a forest technician undertaking time and motion studies.

Hard to believe it but we were waiting for the cloud to break in the valley below, so that we could get down to start a whio survey

Deep and meaningful…

My favourite quote is – (I don’t have one, I’m not really a quote type of guy).

The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is –  I can’t think of what that would be but I’d have to say if it was, it would probably be “Don’t sweat the small stuff”.

In work and life I am motivated by trying to enjoy it as it seems to be getting shorter by the minute.

My conservation advice to New Zealanders is take conservation seriously; it shouldn’t just be a ‘nice to do’ and shouldn’t be seen as a cost, but an investment in the future.

Me and Tea on the way back from a successful day in the Joes River

Watch a video of Ranger Andrew ‘Max’ Smart on a whio egg hunt: