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 Paul McGee, Conservation House Officer in Wellington

At work…

Some things I do in my job include:

I organise property and facilities requests of all sorts, working with DOC staff all over the country, managing contractors and liaising with outside agencies. Some of the most common themes are: furniture, security access, office kits, tours, health and safety. But also do we need more forks? What fridge needs to be replaced? Wow, look at those beautiful plants!

Prepping for a swim at Cleopatra’s Pool

This helps achieve DOC’s vision by:

Supporting a space where others can work their best, all within the goal of efficiently using our resources.

The best bit about my job is:

Working with everyone. In this role I get the opportunity to work with staff around the country and talk to people from a diversity of jobs and backgrounds. Usually it takes time to interact with so many other groups, but in this position, I got to know everyone very fast.

Also, while travelling, in the field, I see our tracks and huts, historic and cultural sites. Really awesome! And I’m proud to tell visitors, yes, I’m part of that!

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

When someone got stuck in a Conservation House elevator. Through the glass passenger lift doors I could see panic in their eyes and I was getting pretty worried.

Doing the Kawarau Bridge bungy jump, in budgies

The DOC (or previous DOC) employee that inspires or enthuses me most is:

 I really like Nicola Malloy and it always brightens my day to see her.

On a personal note…

Most people don’t know that:

I speak (or spoke) fluent Malagasy. I lived in Madagascar for a couple of years, in a village where I was the only English speaking person. Not only did I call this village home, I was there to work.  And I’m chatty. So, I was motivated (needed) to learn the local dialect. I’m quite slow with learning languages so this was a bit of a challenge but I got there in the end.

The song that always cheers me up is:

Led Zeppelin, ‘Fool in the Rain’. This song is about a guy who is on the edge of heartbreak, thinking he was stood up by a date. Then realises he’s waiting on the wrong corner. Or pretty much anything from Hot Chip or Beastie Boys.

My happy place is:

A dense forest, I immediately feel calm when surrounded by the shade of large trees.  Also, Goldings Free Dive bar – they host so many delicious New Zealand beers : )

My first trek South!

Before working at DOC:

I was living in Seattle. It’s a beautiful city, with fresh air, near mountains and water. Physically and culturally, there are many parallels with Wellington. I worked as a sexual health counsellor at a non-profit for six years then moved to a large corporation where I managed training systems. Feel free to ask me which I had more fun with.

Deep and meaningful…

My favourite quote is:

“It’s not who you are but what you’ve done, that matters.” I find this encouraging, to focus on the present, instead of worrying about the past.

I have also prescribed to the line “eat it up or it will go to waste” which I sometimes think about getting as a tattoo.

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

Remember, we’re all just people. A school teacher told me this as I was prepping for a speech I was really nervous about. It helped calm my nerves then, and still does.

Kayaking at Abel Tasman National Park

In work and life I am motivated by:

People. Learning from others and having fun while doing it. In and out of the office, it’s making and keeping relationships where I find the most meaning.

My conservation advice to New Zealanders is:

Experience more of this beautiful country – in the forests, on the beaches, over the mountains and plains. It’s such an amazing place and the more that enjoy it, the more will be motivated to help conserve it.

By Morgan Couch

Each year, in late October, six students from around the country are chosen by DOC to combat the biosecurity risk known as white bryony. Bryony (Bryonia diocia) was discovered in Mokai Valley in 1991, and since 1999 DOC has been actively working towards its eradication. We are currently working in partnership with MPI on the project.

The white bryony summer eradication team

The weed is a climbing vine, which grows from seedlings up to 6 meters, and grows small white flowers. The females show berries that turn red and are dispersed by birds. The vine can smother tree plants with curled tendrils and shade smaller plants. It is also slightly toxic to animals. Our job is to locate the plants and dig up the underground tubers, which we cut and paste with poison.

The vines shoot out in the spring and die back in the winter, therefore the eradication team is largely made up of university students such as myself seeking summer work and conservation experience. The Rangitikei River is an absolute gem to work on; we had the opportunity to work where few people get to see, with spectacular views daily.

Spectacular views

A lot of our work consists of grid searching the bush land on either side of the river, along the cliff lines and through the surrounding paddocks for the dreaded bryony. The entire group’s fitness and bush-bashing abilities have significantly improved over the summer.

Target acquired

Later in the season, to get to the remote areas on the riverbanks of the Rangitikei, the team is flown in by helicopter to search. The helicopter also flies in a raft, which we use to travel down the river from each destination to the next.

Getting helicoptered to sites

Working for DOC in the remote outdoors is so unlike any other summer job I had ever experienced. It was hard physical work at times, but it was also exciting, and most importantly rewarding in the endeavor to eradicate the plant entirely from the area. In fact, I may have to return next summer.

War on Weeds

Hundreds of invasive weeds are smothering our native forests, wetlands and coastal areas, harming our wildlife and transforming our natural landscapes. We invite you to join with DOC and Weedbusters to fight this war on weeds.

If a picture tells a thousand words, a new book compiled by a DOC ranger speaks volumes about the beauty and importance of New Zealand nature.

The new book celebrates the art of 29 artists

Chrissy Wickes from the Million Dollar Mouse project has brought together the work of 29 artists from the conservation community to create a new book celebrating their talents.

Chrissy Wickes put the project together

‘Creative Conservation: a celebration of artists who are wild about nature’ is a personal project for Chrissy, who has worked for DOC for twenty years.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to have worked in some of New Zealand’s most stunning places,” she says. “Raoul, Campbell, Adams, Rangatira and Stewart Island… I love islands, the sheer volume of life on them.”

Garden Cove by Angela Newport

It was working with passionate artists in these beautiful places that first sparked the idea of creating a book.

“The idea came from years of working alongside a whole variety of talented artists out there in the scrub,” says Chrissy. “When I put the call out for artists I was flooded with the most amazing response from the far North to the deep South.”

People from all regions – as far afield as Raoul Island – contributed pictures of their work along with a short piece of writing explaining their connection to nature and how they express it in art.

Director-General Lou Sanson contributed the foreword for the book.

Chrissy says she is now approaching publishers to get the book out there where the public can enjoy it.

Kaimanawa by Sonia Frimmel

“I wanted to celebrate the wonderfully talented and mostly unknown artists who are working in the field of conservation.”

29 artists featured in the book include many DOC staff, past and present.

Our photo of the week is of Angelus Hut, in Nelson Lakes National Park. It is one of the 950 DOC-managed huts throughout the country.

Angelus Hut, Nelson Lakes National Park. Photo by Alastair Meehan.

Angelus Hut is perched high on the ranges between Lakes Rotoiti and Rotoroa in Nelson Lakes National Park. Alastair Meehan described the area as one of the most spectacular parts of New Zealand he’s seen.

DOC huts are unique places to stay, a refuge from bad weather, or rest and recover when you’re out exploring New Zealand’s great outdoors. Do you have a favourite? Let us know in the comments below!

One of our newest rangers made headlines when he helped a tourist retrieve her passport in time for her international flight. He tells us more about that day in February and his life as a Tiritiri Matangi island ranger.

Ranger Matthew Mould

Matthew Mold was one month into his new role as Tiritiri Matangi island ranger when he took a call from panicked tourist Montserrat Sureda.

He chuckles when he remembers his first thought when he answered the phone call, which came as he was preparing dinner (around 6 pm).

Montserrat was due to check in for her flight back to Europe in three hours. Her passport was still on the island.

“I thought, she’s gonna miss her flight!” says Matthew.

Matt was quick to snap into action, grabbing a bunch of spare keys and trying them all until he got into the gift shop, where the passport was sitting on the counter.

Tiritiri Matangi

The New Zealand Herald wrote a detailed account of the epic dash it took to get Montserrat’s passport back to its owner – which involved Matt driving a Mule down to the shore, paddleboarding out to a fishing boat and convincing the family on board to take the passport back to Gulf Harbour.

One of the details left out of the story is what happened when Matt phoned one of the two local shuttle services on Whangaparaoa Peninsula, seeking a shuttle to meet the fishing boat in Gulf Harbour.

“I rang the first one and a lady answered, and she said they could do it about 8.30pm. I said we won’t be able to do that, let me see what else I can do.

“I rang the other one and the same lady answered – she owns both!”

The second time was the charm and Matt successfully coordinated for the shuttle to get the passport back to Montserrat, within ten minutes of her check-in time.

The relieved tourist was quoted in the Herald as being “immensely grateful” to Matthew.

Since the story came out, life on the island has returned to normal. Lost property still gets left on the island, but the most common items left behind are far from precious travel documents.

“We do get things left on the island where people ring up and we arrange for them to be ferried back. It’s not an uncommon occurrence – mostly it’s jandals, believe it or not.”

Matt comes to DOC after 20+ years in construction project management. Those skills came in handy when handling the passport crisis.

Takahē on Tiritiri Matangi

“When you’re project managing, pretty much all you do is spend your whole day solving problems. Coming from a construction background, you have to think pretty quickly when you’re on the dash.”

Matt has quickly taken to life on the island. He found the job when searching for opportunities in the area, having grown up around Whangaparaoa Peninsula.

He admires the work done by the Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi and DOC to restore biodiversity to the island.

“It’s heaven, without a doubt,” he says, as tui sing to each other in the background.

“I feel really lucky to have a position like this. I’ve never really had a job that has nurtured the soul as much as paying the bills.”

This story was originally posted on the Tiritiri Matangi Facebook page.

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 Keri Ford, Knowledge and Information Advisor in Wellington.

Keri Ford

At work…

Some things I do in my job include:

I work on DOC’s document management system, developing ways to help people create and store all their work electronically.

This helps achieve DOC’s vision by:

I help people find the information they need to do their job and give them a sound base for decision making. I also help to ensure that we comply with our legislative responsibilities under the Public Records Act.

The best bit about my job is:

That moment when you know you’ve really helped someone, that may be giving them a new search technique that helps them find just what they want, or recovering the work they feared was lost. I have found DOC staff to be likeable and appreciative and I thoroughly enjoy interacting with them.

Document management training

The funniest DOC moment I’ve had:

It was actually in my own time, going to Kapiti Island. My great great grandfather Thomas Ransfield came from America and was a whaler based there, so I feel  a personal connection to the place.

When we landed, the ranger told us stories of the island and how we mustn’t feed the birds and that this might be hard as the birds are insistent. While he spoke a kākā listened thoughtfully and afterwards my partner brought out a large home baked Anzac biscuit, as the talk had made her hungry. The kākā spying that biscuit landed on her shoulder and stepped up her arm. He got a firm hold of the biscuit, fought and won possession of it. He then flew, the biscuit in his beak, eyed the ranger within an arms-length and I felt he delivered the punch-line of the story.

The DOC (or previous DOC) employee that inspires or enthuses me most is:

Well I don’t want to pick one. DOC to me is about what we achieve together. If I had to choose a single person I’d choose Lucy Hoffman, because she is an ideal leader, she gets things done, is a joy to work with, brings out the best in everybody, will make the tough decisions but always relying on the best advice she has available and with it all maintains a great sense of humour.

On a personal note…

Most people don’t know that:

My father was a successful artist, John Bevan Ford who has works in museums around the world, I really like his works. He was prolific, energetic and I thought his work kept getting better as he got older, there are plenty of New Zealand birds and landscapes nestled under the cloaks that he wove in the sky. On top of that he was a thoroughly likeable human being. Through him art became an integral component of my life, my love of music and painting came through him, I even quite like playing with Photoshop:

A beautiful spot!

My happy place is:

Riding through the Queen Elizabeth Park on the fantastic new cycle lane. I think bicycles are amazing pieces of technology, they don’t burn fossil fuels, they give you regular exercise and they don’t cut you off from the environment around you. You see the ranges on one side and blackberries and scrub on the other. It is fantastic riding with no smelly cars blowing smoke in your face on a route that has been designed for bikes, no steep inclines, beautiful winding rises.

My hero is:

Elon Musk, he is that rare capitalist who has a great sense of vision and belief  in that he seems to be a business man who is driven by a desire to build a better future. This will transform our transportation so it doesn’t run on fossil fuels. He has created electric cars that are fast, good looking, safe and people really want. By the end of next year they hope to be building an affordable mass market car that will have a range in excess of 200 miles and I think it could be a game changer. On top of that he’s chairman of SolarCity, speeding the uptake of renewable energy production and if that is not enough he’s working on developing reusable rockets and establishing a human colony on Mars. Oh and then there is the hyperloop.

Returning home to Bag End with my daughter

Deep and meaningful…

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

“When things get hard remember to enjoy something everyday”. My sister Stella shared this with me when I was going through some hard times, there is no way of going through life without having some, tough times will occur at work or home, everyone will experience the death of friends and family. It came in handy last year when Stella died of cancer, she showed me how tough situations can be faced with good grace and humour. Miss you Stella.

In work and life I am motivated by:

Having great people around me who are happy to share their excitement on Information Management issues (they’re a bit geeky) and also talk of music, art, culture travel, climate change and conservation and whatever amuses them. It makes all the difference working in a fantastic Team.

My conservation advice to New Zealanders is:

Albatross World by my father John Bevan Ford

Appreciate what’s around you, make your back yard abundant with vegetation, natives, fruit trees, vegetables, flowers and not concrete. Trust and nurture the impressions of joy you get from nature, it’s good for you. I think only if we love nature will we preserve it, our species and all others depend upon it. On that note I’ll hand you over to William Wordsworth:

……And I have felt

A presence that disturbs me with the joy

Of elevated thoughts; a sense sublime

Of something far more deeply interfused,

Whose dwelling is the light of setting suns,

And the round ocean, and the living air

And the blue sky, and in the mind of man;

A motion and a spirit, that impels

All thinking things, all objects of all thought,

And rolls through all things.

By Trish Grant, Communications Advisor

Zero great white butterfly detections for more than 14 months indicates the DOC-led programme to eradicate the pest in Nelson Tasman has been successful but further searching over autumn will help confirm this.

Female great white butterfly

Since the great white butterfly eradication programme was launched in November 2012, concerted searching of gardens and public reports resulted in 2,696 butterfly, caterpillar, egg and pupae infestations being found.

The last detection was on 16 December 2014 when a male butterfly was caught.

The eradication team had carried out more than 90,000 property searches since the last butterfly find and it was encouraging that these had not turned up any further infestations.

Hungry caterpillars chewing through on a plant

DOC’s advisors have told me that more searching and time is needed to establish if the great white butterfly population has been eradicated. If we continue to have no butterfly detections over the next four months, we will then consult with our experts to assess what the likelihood is of eradication success.

There has been a fantastic team of committed DOC rangers doing a great job in hunting out the great white butterfly. The tremendous support of the Nelson Tasman community has also been essential to knocking down the butterfly population.

DOC is grateful for the support of other agencies including Vegetables New Zealand who have contributed funding. The Ministry for Primary Industries has also funded research to assist the eradication programme and allowed use of its Exotic Pest and Diseases hotline for public reporting of butterfly finds.

Amanda Jennings and Pete Hall search mustard plants

Introduced wasps Cotesia glomerata and Pteromalus puparum that parasitize white butterfly caterpillars have also played a significant role in suppressing the butterfly population.

The great white butterfly poses a major threat to native cresses and to commercial and home brassica crops, including sheep and dairy forage crops. Its caterpillars voraciously feed in mobs, rapidly skeletonising host plants.

Amanda Jennings searches broccoli plants for caterpillars and eggs

An assessment by an independent economist found that if the butterfly became widespread in New Zealand it could cost the country $14.5 million a year. The costs would be incurred in spraying home and commercial crops to protect them from butterfly damage and in protection measures for threatened native cresses.

The great white butterfly was first discovered in a Nelson garden in 2010. It spread in the city and into Tasman but has been contained in the region. If it is not stopped it could spread to others parts of New Zealand.

By Andrea Crawford, Communications Advisor.

DOC’s northern royal albatross cam has been running for two months and the engagement we’re getting is incredible. The chick is bringing people together, enriching their lives and connecting them to nature.

Royal cam has captured the public’s hearts, not just in New Zealand but around the world. Viewers from 101 countries are watching the chick’s progress and talking about it. The web page www.doc.govt.nz/royalcam has been viewed 93,000 times, and more than 37,000 hours of live streaming have been watched – if you add that up, it’s four and a half years of video!

The chick at 17 days old.

Connecting and contributing to conservation

Royal cam has inspired a devoted group of commenters, with some people checking in every day. In total we’ve had over 1,300 comments on the chick and its parents. Some commenters have said they want to take DOC staff out to lunch when the chick fledges about September!

Coastal Otago ranger Lyndon Perriman says the web cam is bringing economic and social benefits. “People on the guided tours to the observatory at Taiaroa Head say they’re coming to view the albatross because they’ve seen the web cam. People are taking real ownership of the chick and now have a connection to it. They’re realising the trials and tribulations they’re seeing with one chick is happening 26 times over. They’re getting a glimpse into the management needed from DOC staff to ensure survival of the other chicks here.”

A recent visit from dad.

Keen viewers

We’ve heard stories about groups and businesses who are devoted watchers of Royal Cam. For example, a class of Bay of Plenty school children has been playing Royal cam in the background all day. It has inspired them to write stories about the chick and its parents. Their teacher Lesley says Royal cam is actively engaging the kids in learning. “Their written language is improving with all the oral discussion centred around their observations of the weather in Dunedin, the parent bird leaving the baby alone and activity in the harbour. So much learning is taking place.”

Highlights

Many viewers have commented on the highlight videos we have posted. You can see watch these on the DOC website.

Although many viewers are from New Zealand, we’ve also reached people across 101 countries. Our top five countries are NZ (83%), US (5%), Australia (4%), Russia (2.1%) and Canada (2%).

Followers are sharing Royal cam on social media – Facebook, Twitter, and public blog posts.

The royal cam chick at 38 days old.

The chick is now two months old, and we’ll continue filming until the chick fledges around September.

Watch live

Today’s photo of the week is of rodent detection dogs Tike and Cody, during a working day in Ipipiri/Eastern Bay of Islands.

The rodent detection dogs were brought in after routine monitoring found evidence that rats had managed to make it to four pest-free islands.

Of the six rats detected, four have been trapped; two on Poroporo Island, one on Urupukapuka Island, and one on Round Island. Single rats remain on both Okahu and Urupukapuka.

The rats were detected using tracking tunnels (an ink pad in a tunnel that shows footprints), wax tags (a wax block that rats chew on) and rodent detection dogs. Control methods include trapping and poisoning.

The rats may have swum to the islands or hitched a ride on a boat. It’s another reminder to clean and check your gear for unwanted pests before visiting pest-free areas.

By Chrissy Wickes, Biodiversity Ranger

Over the summer my family and I enjoyed a fantastic trip completing sections of the West Coast Wilderness Trail.

The red rail bridge near Greymouth

For our first day on the trail we parked our car along the road just short of the great red rail bridge south of Greymouth and started the trip of a lifetime through virgin forest, past streams inhabited by fresh water crayfish, and with kererū loudly swooping through the canopy above.

Avenue of trees approaching Kumara

There were plenty of tales from the past to discover at various historical sites along the way and a range of possible accommodation options.

Our favourite place to stay was at Cowboy Paradise, a crazy place in the middle of the bush where an enthusiastic local has created a ‘Wild West’ like atmosphere complete with cowboy hats. The experience was made all the more authentic by the local bandits—weka wandering into our cabin to steal our bread.

Another great section of the trail was from Lake Kaniere to where the road meets the track. It’s a neat section following a water race from an old power station in the area.

We biked 17 kilometres each day over 3 days choosing sections that were not on the road. My partner and I would then take turns biking back at the end of a delightful day to retrieve the car and bring it around.

Old mining remains on the Styx river

It was a neat trip and taught me something valuable. To do those 17 kilometres with our child took all day but we saw so much. When we biked back at the end of the day it often took less than 2 hours and you hardly saw more than your front wheel on the purpose built bike track in front you… it’s good to slow down!

The West Coast Wilderness Trail provides a unique immersion into the landscape of the West Coast, find out more over on the New Zealand Cycle Trail website.

Sam Sutherland tells us about her time working for DOC in South Marlborough over the summer…

I very quickly realised that they were not kidding when I was told in my interview for DOC that I needed to be confident on steep terrain. It was my second day on the job (and second ever time in the South Island) and I was well and truly in the thick of it.

Enjoying the vistas of Molesworth Station after work

The sun was blaring down and my pack filled with essential field equipment such as a GPS unit, radio, clothes for the extremes and a large supply of water (important in Marlborough), felt heavy on my back. We had slowly been making our way up for over an hour with only sporadic animal tracks to follow. I was now perched on a narrow ledge attempting to measure the diameter of a small threatened plant which grows on unstable limestone bluffs.

For the past three months I have been working as a Flora Assistant Ranger with DOC. Basically this involved assisting another ranger with a flora survey, monitoring threatened plants within the South Marlborough region.

Rocking the high-vis during a Carmichaelia muritai (tree to the right) survey

Marlborough is unique in that it has a high number of threatened plants many of which are endemic which means they are only found within the region. The work has been varied and has covered a range of environments, which have been totally foreign coming from Auckland, where I was more familiar with working in forests.

Much of the work occurred at Molesworth Station where we got to don outfits reminiscent to something out of Ghostbusters and use weed wands (yes that is the technical term) to dab herbicide onto weeds present within a tarn (mountain lake) which dries up over the summer. This tarn contains eight threatened plant species including the Nationally Critical Craspedia “tarn”, known only to exist at this site.

Hunting for new plants near Clarence River

Over the summer I felt like an explorer as I trawled over wetlands and river terraces of the Clarence River in Molesworth Station hoping to discover new threatened plant records (of which we ended up finding several). Waist deep rivers have been waded to find that Dysphania pusilla (a plant thought to be extinct prior to 2015) with a star fish like growth habit is still present on river banks in the Clarence Valley. Finally there has been scrambling up coastal cliffs clinging to any vegetation available to make my way to coastal tree brooms Carmichaelia muritai with anticipation to see whether the tree is untagged and therefore a new recruit.

Dysphania pusilla

This has been a summer of learning, not only about threatened plant management but also other skills and lessons. These include that nothing ever goes to plan (particularly on a Monday), how to use a metal detector and that no two gates are the same, and I have certainly opened a lot of gates. I have seen amazing scenery, found some pretty neat plants and worked with great people.

I have loved every minute of my summer working with DOC and look forward to my next adventure.

To acknowledge the UN International Day of Forests we profile the team behind DOC’s Kauri Dieback Recreation Project who are working hard to protect our magnificent kauri forests.

Meet the team

Team: Kauri Dieback Recreation Project. We are a team of people working on this project – some full time, some doing a few days a week.

Tane Mahuta in the Waipoua Forest

What’s one interesting fact about each team member?

Richard Balm became the acting project manager in February when Shana Harding left to have her baby (she had baby boy Farrin in March and everyone is doing great).

Richard Balm

Alistair Smith is the man on the ground for the project – he’s the senior works officer and in charge of the on-the-ground track work. Alistair has nine years of experience managing track upgrades for DOC at a variety of locations including Masterton, Great Barrier Island, Warkworth and now regionally based in Whangarei. His claim to fame is winning a couple of surfing events in Wairarapa and travelling to Japan as an expert in construction of fencing.

Tony Beauchamp is one of DOC’s Threats Advisors and contributes to the project and to the wider Kauri Dieback Programme. Tony is an amazing source of knowledge and studies ornithology in his spare time.

Lynnie Gibson is seconded to the project and is in charge of iwi and community engagement. Lynnie loves kauri trees almost as much as she loves the ocean and tries to swim at the beach across the road from her house every day, even in winter (that is a ‘Northland’ winter).

Abi Monteith is seconded to the project and works on communications. Abi works part time on the project and when not at work drives a taxi that specialises in after school transportation for her two children and the various activities they do.

Abi Monteith and kids camping

Helen Ough Dealy works 1.5 days a week on long-term Kauri Dieback behaviour change. She recently reconnected with her Mexican heritage with a 5-week long trip to Mexico over summer.

What are your team’s favourite things?

Clean, mud-free shoes, gear and vehicles and short meetings.

What are your team’s pet peeves?

The misconceptions about kauri dieback. There’s a lot of false information about, including that sterilising agent rots boots. The scientists seem to be saying that it isn’t the steriliser but the scrubbing which is wearing the boots down!

Hard at work

What’s your team’s role at DOC?

We run the Kauri Dieback Recreation Project – this is DOC’s on-the-ground response to the disease killing kauri trees from Hamilton northwards. The project is one of DOC’s main priorities and involves work on 200 tracks over three years, starting next month.

One of the kauri dieback cleaning stations

How does this help DOC achieve our goals?

By protecting our iconic kauri trees – they are dying from kauri dieback and there is no cure. We’ve got to act now to save them.

How is your team structured?

Richard leads the project and under him is Abi, Lynnie and Helen who look after communication, community/iwi liaison and behaviour change. Alistair manages the on-the-ground work and Tony provides the science advice. We all feed into the joint agency response run by the Ministry for Primary Industries.

What is the hardest part about your team’s work?

Getting people to listen to us – the disease is killing kauri trees and there is no cure. We’ve got to stop the spread of soil and DOC staff play a key role in this, by educating the public and displaying best practice.

Kauri are one of the most ancient trees in the world

What is the best part of your job?

Seeing the results – the new cleaning stations we are testing are getting great compliance rates (yay), the on-the-ground track upgrades start next month and we had a great response from DOC staff.

What is special about the kauri tree?

The kauri is New Zealand’s largest and most famous native tree and are among the most ancient trees in the world. The largest kauri in existence is Tane Mahuta (Maori for ‘Lord of the Forest’). Tane Mahuta is 4.4 metres in diameter and 17.7 metres to the first branch.

The oldest tree is estimated to be 2,000 years old. This is Te Matua Ngahere (Father of the Forest), also in Waipoua Forest.

Practice your pronunciation

The word ‘Kauri’ is often mispronounced as ‘cow-ree’ – proper pronunciation is ‘Kauri’ as ‘Ko-ree’ (as in Go).

Want to know more?

The DOC website is the first place you should visit to learn more about the Kauri Dieback Recreation Project.

For more information on the joint agency response to kauri dieback run by the Ministry for Primary Industries visit the Keep Kauri Standing website.

By Lou Sanson, Director-General

Toyota Kiwi Guardians launched

It was great to see our new conservation education programme, Toyota Kiwi Guardians, officially launched by the Minister of Conservation at Maungauika/North Head on Friday 11 March.

Toyota Kiwi Guardian medals

Toyota Kiwi Guardians is about getting kids aged 6-10 into the outdoors with their families, where they can learn about nature, grow their confidence and work towards a Kiwi Guardians medal.

The $1 million partnership with Toyota is allowing us to roll this programme out to families in 20 locations across New Zealand, with a planned expansion to 50 sites by the end of 2016.

DOC ranked in Colmar Brunton public reputation index

I recently spoke at the Colmar Brunton breakfast where DOC was ranked number 4 out of 31 organisations included in the inaugural Public Sector Reputation Index.The NZ Fire Service received the top ranking..

This survey is a measure of the public’s perception of public sector organisations in terms of leadership, fairness, social responsibility and trust. This is a great recognition of the place conservation occupies in the hearts of Kiwis.

US National Parks Centenary – Tongariro Crossing

On Wednesday 2 March we hosted US Ambassador Mark Gilbert and his wife Nancy along with 20 US Embassy staff on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, to mark 100 years of the US National Parks Service. Yellowstone and Yosemite National Parks were the first national parks created in the US and Tongariro (established 1887) was the first national park in New Zealand.

US Ambassador Mark Gilbert with wife Nancy Gilbert and the Ngati Hikairo Kaitiaki guides at Tongariro

We talked about the Healthy Nature Healthy People initiative and the significant profile being given to this movement in the States, where it’s being promoted by the US National Parks Service. National Geographic magazine recently published an excellent piece on the health benefits of nature and will continue to profile national parks throughout 2016.

We were joined by four of our new Ngāti Hikairo conservation guides and hut wardens, who told us stories of their ancestors and the maunga. A haka at Ketatahi was a particular highlight of the journey.

DOC Partnerships Director Nicki Douglas with Pou Tairangahau Huia Lloyd on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing

At night we dined with the four Iwi of Kahui Maunga: Ngāti Hikairo-Ngāti Tuwharetoa, Ngāti Rangi, Uenuku and Ngāti Haaua. There we paid respect to Horonoku Te Heuheu Tukino IV, the Ngāti Tuwharetoa chief who originally proposed Tongariro, Ngaruhoe and Ruapehu be protected as a national park in 1887. This was a remarkable development for the time, coming just 15 years after the world’s first national park was established at Yellowstone.

Old Ghost Road – one of the world’s greatest rides?

On the first fine autumn weekend in March I was able to join a group of friends to bike the Old Ghost Road. 85 kilometres and 2,600 climbing metres later, I have to say this must be New Zealand’s ultimate mountain biking track. Combining gold-mining history, alpine tarns surrounded by alpine flowers, prolific birds (great spotted kiwi, whio, kererū, robin and bellbirds), some of New Zealand’s highest densities of powelliphanta snails and a superb set of huts, the track takes you through so many of the West Coast’s wonderful environments in such a short time. The 17 kilometre Mokihinui River Gorge really is quite breathtaking as is the alpine section around Ghost Lake. Since it opened on 1 December 2015, a total of 2,500 people have biked or tramped the track.

Cycling the Old Ghost Road

Old Ghost Road is a real credit to Phil Rossiter (project manager), Marion Boatwright (from Westport’s Rough and Tumble Lodge) and Bob Dickson (DOC’s operations manager, Westport). To see the level of external fundraising and volunteer hours (from 400 volunteers) that have gone into this remarkable new experience is incredible. It is the wildest ride in New Zealand!

Marion ‘Weasel’ Boatwright and Phil Rossiter

Waitomo Caves

I recently met with our Te Kuiti staff to discuss the partnership between iwi, commercial tourism and DOC to manage the Waitomo Glowworm Cave, which attracts around 300,000 visitors a year.

This was the first historic Treaty claim settled (WAI 51, 1990) with an agreement to share management and revenue from the caves with Ruapuha Uekaha Hapu Trust. The visitor attraction is today managed by Tourism Holdings Limited (THL) on behalf of the Trust and the Department. It is one of THL’s major commercial tourism ventures along with Maui campervans and the Kiwi Experience bus tours.

Gordon Hewston, THL; DOC ranger Benji Davis; DOC partnership manager Dave Smith; Ruapuha Uekaha Hapu Trust’s Josephine Anderson and Miria Davis; DOC operations manager Natasha Hayward; Lou Sanson

DOC, the Trust and THL have taken a very proactive stance on catchment protection to protect water quality at the caves with fencing and planting programmes over the last 25 years. Some of the best cave science in the world is being done by Waikato University to monitor CO2 levels in the caves associated with peak visitor numbers. (High CO2 levels from humans can dissolve the stalactite and stalagmite formations.)

They’ve experienced huge growth in visitor numbers since 2011 but are careful to limit visitor numbers during peak times to preserve the cave formations.

What I was really impressed with was the interaction of science, cultural values and commercial business to protect the caves and ensure the quality of this visitor experience endures. Our Te Kuiti office really sits at the heart of the New Zealand tourism industry.

To celebrate his ‘hatch-day’ today’s photo of the week is everyone’s favourite spokesbird, Sirocco the kākāpō.

Sirocco hatched 19 years ago on Codfish Island, a small pest-free island off the west coast of Stewart Island.

At three weeks old Sirocco suffered a respiratory illness which led to him being taken away from his mother and hand-raised by kākāpō rangers. He had to be raised away from other kakapo and this led to him being imprinted on humans.

Sirocco’s story had been shared on a variety of documentaries and television shows. In 2010 New Zealand Prime Minister John Key appointed Sirocco as the Official Spokesbird for Conservation.

You can wish Sirocco a ‘Happy Hatchday’ and follow his updates on Facebook and Twitter.

It’s always a great time to start planning your first true Kiwi hut experience.

DOC looks after over 950 huts of all shapes and sizes so we asked some of our staff for their experiences and picks, particularly huts suitable for first time trampers. Take a look:

Wellington

Powell Hut

Powell Hut. Photo: Keith Miller

Powell Hut is extremely popular and the fastest way to the top of the Tararua Ranges in Tararua Forest Park. The spectacular views are only a 1.5 hour drive from Wellington, easily accessed by Holdsworth Road near Masterton.

Atiwhakatu Hut

Sunset on Jumbo Circuit near Atiwhakatu Hut. Photo: Jack Mace

The near new Atiwhakatu Hut is an easy walk from Holdsworth Road. It’s popular as part of the beautiful Jumbo Circuit – a two to three day tramp involving a climb through beech-podocarp forest to some of the best alpine views in the Tararua Forest Park.

“The Holdsworth area in the Tararua’s is perfect for an overnighter. I recently walked to Atiwhakatu Hut with my girlfriend. It’s an awesome walk.” – Matthew Robinson, DOC Web Assistant.

Rangiwahia Hut

Rangiwahia Hut. Photo: Peter Daly

Further north of Wellington, “Rangiwahia Hut is quite cool.” Says Jack Mace, National Advisor for Operations.

“It’s about a three hour drive from Wellington and a two hour walk to the hut. The track up is great, an easy benched track, with a beautiful arched bridge near the top. On a good day you will get spectacular views of Ruapehu and the Rangitikei.”

Totara Flats Hut

Totara Flats Hut. Photo: Brian Dobbie

Totara Flats hut is found on the Holdsworth to Kaitoke Track, Tararua Forest Park.  The track follows the Waiohine and Tauherenikau Rivers for 36 km between Holdsworth and Kaitoke and is a good introduction for trampers new to the Tararuas.

“A couple of female friends got all dressed up and walked in for a proper ladies afternoon tea once. Think it gave the old guys at the hut a bit of a surprise.” – Recreation Manager Richard Davies.

Relaxing in the hot pools on Great Barrier Island. Photo: Andris Apse

Great Barrier Island, Auckland

Mt Heale Hut

Aotea/Great Barrier Island is Auckland’s only multi-day wildness walk in the region.

The Aotea Track features Mt Heale Hut with breathtaking views.

“The track takes you through magnificent scenery to secluded hot springs and waterfalls” – Jana Beer, DOC’s Auckland Office.

View from Mt Heale Hut. Photo: Andris Apse

Kaiaraara Hut

Kaiaraara Hut. Photo: Andris Apse

Great Barrier’s Kaiaraara Hut offers rustic charm. The track has a combination of easy walking tracks, boardwalks, steep climbs, stairways and bridges, and is suitable for reasonably fit beginners or experienced trampers.

Depending on your fitness level and how you plan to walk it, the Aotea/Great Barrier Island tracks can be completed in two days and one night, or three days and two nights.

Christchurch

Mt Somers Forest

Woolshed Creek Hut. Photo: Jorg Nittmann

Woolshed Creek Hut

The Mount Somers area in mid-Canterbury has amazing volcanic formations and deep canyons.

A group of keen locals built the tracks, forming the Mt Somers Walkways society.

It’s a 1-3 hour walk to the hut or, a few days if you take the more advanced track – Mount Somers Track.

Packhorse Hut

Packhorse Hut. Photo: Jon Sullivan

There are a couple of trails to choose from to get to the historic Packhorse Hut. The hut was planned as part of a series of ‘rest houses’ for those journeying between Christchurch to Akoroa. The shortest walk to get there takes about an hour 20.

Bealey Spur Hut

Bealey Spur Hut. Photo: Jason Blair

If you want a true taste of history, this is a classic example of an original New Zealand musterer’s hut. You’ll be pleased to know that the original uncomfy chaff sack mattress bunks have been replaced. It’s a beautiful walk in through the famous Arthur’s Pass area.

All of these huts are short walks (under 4 hours to walk to). Do you have a favourite hut you would recommend? Share your recommendations below.

By Anita Anderson, Outreach and Education Programme Developer, DOC.

Two nine year olds and a ten year old have just screamed down the hill at me – excited to be the first to find the Kiwi Guardians marker post at Maugnauika/North Head. It’s grey, it’s raining but these kids don’t care. They are excited to be outside, exploring and taking part in the launch of the Toyota Kiwi Guardians programme.

Checking out the historical features of the maunga. Photo: Emma Boyd

Children from three schools joined the Minister of Conservation, local iwi, DOC and Toyota New Zealand on Friday 11 March to officially launch the programme designed to get kids out into nature.  We had a mix of children from South Auckland, and those that live nearby and regard North Head as their maunga. After a rousing round of Tūtira mai ngā iwi, a few speeches and some delicious kai they were fuelled up and ready to go outside and explore.

The children were excited to be the first to take part. Photo: Emma Boyd

The highlight of the day was definitely the tunnels, and there were plenty of scares, screams and laughter. Piri, one of the DOC conservation dogs based at Maungauika/North Head, was also huge hit. Quite a few of the children knew who Piri was, and were excited by the chance to get up close and personal with him. He even got a personal mention from the Minister of Conservation who acknowledged the important role that he has in keeping the gulf islands pest free.

After the kids had explored the area using their adventure maps, they applied for the first-ever kiwi guardians medals online. We asked what they enjoyed the most:

“Going through the spooky tunnels and scaring people.”

“The tunnels and the big hills and slipping over.”

“The buffet, exploring north head with friends and screaming a lot. Jumping off the roof.”

“I loved exploring all the caves and the mountain and learning about how we can get birds and insects to our school gardens.”

“The tunnels, the big green cannon and the adventure!!!!”

“Being one of the first kids in NZ to become a kiwi guardian!”

The kiwi guardian medals. Photo: Emma Boyd

A huge range of people all pulled together to make the launch event happen. We’d like to thank everyone involved for helping us to plan and run the day!

Toyota Kiwi Guardians was launched on 11 March 2016. The programme is about getting kids aged 6-10 into the outdoors with their families, where they can learn about nature, grow their confidence and work towards a Kiwi Guardians medal. The programme rewards kiwi kids for completing at home activities or for visiting a Kiwi Guardians destination. Right now there are 20 sites across Auckland, Napier, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Christchurch and Dunedin, and new sites will be added throughout the year.

By Nicola Toki, Threatened Species Ambassador.

This month has been an inspiring whirlwind of activities in the world of threatened species.  The warm weather has inspired many of our partners to host events all over the country, and I’ve been lucky enough to be invited to many of them.  The recurring theme for me has been a series of very passionate communities who are going above and beyond on behalf of our native wildlife.

Pukaha Mt Bruce Bioblitz

This keen Bioblitzer has discovered a native stick insect and a giraffe weevil for identification.

In late February I attended and participated in the Pukaha Mount Bruce Bioblitz, along with my mate Ruud Kleinpaste (the Bugman), where we assisted with getting a bit of a ‘snapshot’ of the kind of flora and fauna found in the Pukaha bush, along with 85 schoolkids, a dedicated team of scientists (including our own passionate DOC scientists), a number of families and other keen community members.  I was especially impressed with the schoolkids, who between them identified some fantastic finds, including peripatus, cave wētā and freshwater crayfish/koura.  Top nature sleuthing all ‘round.

In addition to the Bioblitzing during the day, Ruud and I hosted a joint talk in the evening for interested locals on “Our Wonderful Wildlife”.  Having two extroverted nature nerds delivering a presentation together was a new experience and a bit of a challenge, but one we thoroughly enjoyed, and we think the crowd might have too.

After our talk, we took the crowd out for a night-time nature walk, which included getting our feet wet with the local long-finned eel population.  I’ve already raved about how much I love our native eels or tūna, but standing in the river at ten-thirty at night with a bucket of meat in one hand while these metre-plus long sinuous creatures bump and wriggle into you is quite the experience!

During the weekend, there were a range of additional talks and acitivites for people to join in on and learn more.  Pukaha Conservation Manager Todd Jenkinson and I gave a talk on trapping predators and demonstrated how to use a Goodnature A24 trap (hint: it’s easy peasy).

The overall results for the Bioblitz are not in yet, but it was fascinating to watch kids and adults alike ‘tune in’ to the natural environment, and quickly begin pointing a huge range of birds, plants, trees, invertrebates and fungi.  I also loved watching scientists interacting with families and individuals as they tried to figure out which plant or animal they were looking at.  This is a great example of how citizen science can contribute to our wider knowledge of what’s happening in our backyards.

Hutton’s Shearwater Fly Safe and Hutton’s Hub opening

In March I also attended the opening of the “Hutton’s Hub”, which marked the start of “Fly Safe” month for Hutton’s shearwaters in Kaikoura.

Members of the Hutton’s Shearwater Charitable Trust (including the awesome and still mountain-climbing nonagenarian Geoff Harrow, who rediscovered this species, in the pink shirt front row, second from right).

Hutton’s shearwaters (Kaikoura titi), are seabirds that nest high in the mountains behind Kaikoura.  The colonies were rediscovered in 1965 by Geoff Harrow, who had heard of seabirds being spotted up there from hunters and farmers, and heard tales of titi from iwi, which piqued his curiousity enough for him to find them at over 1200m above sea level.  The breeding colonies are unique to Kaikoura, although they spend most of their lives at sea, much of that time beyond New Zealand waters, but despite their globetrotting nature, the Kaikoura community has taken these birds to heart.

This volunteer is putting the first crash-landed Hutton’s shearwater into the ‘Hutton’s Hub’ for safekeeping until it’s time to release. Photo: University of Canterbury.

After realising that the number of colonies had dropped from eight to two over the last thirty years the community created a third colony on the Kaikoura Peninsula.  A predator-proof fence was added after and a luxury life of no predators, ocean-views, and being hand-fed sardine smoothies made a great start to the new colony.

“Fly Safe” is a month long event to assist new Hutton’s shearwaters from the mountain colonies.  These newly fledged chicks fly directly over the town of Kaikoura to head out to sea for the first time, but unfortunately on misty nights especially, the lights of the town can disorientate the birds, which end up crash-landing on the road or in people’s yards, and become ‘sitting ducks’ for cats and other predators, as well as not being able to get up and out to sea again.  “Fly Safe” encourages the local community to keep unnecessary lighting to a minimum, and particularly watch out for any stranded birds, which they can now collect and return to the brand-new “Hutton’s Hub”, a purpose-built facility (think shed!) that is a temporary area where the birds can be left safely until volunteers can return them to the ocean.

It is a wonderful idea, a practical solution to a very serious problem, and I was very impressed at the event to see local rūnanga, schools, local businesses, DOC and the council all working together to address a tricky situation for Hutton’s shearwater survival.  This is truly a community that has taken on the challenge of living alongside a threatened species, and it was inspiring to see such dedication.

p.s. A huge thanks to local rangers Dave and Keith, who invited my husband and our hot and tired 2.5 year-old to the DOC staff room and gave Hunter (Mr 2.5) not one but two enormous pieces of chocolate cake!

Maui dolphin day

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of attending Maui Dolphin Day, an annual event hosted by the Raglan community.  The Whaingaroa Environment Trust asked me to attend and say a few words about our rarest dolphin, and I was lucky to be able to help launch DOC’s brand new children’s book “Meet the Maui!”

It was the 14th annual Maui Dolphin Day, and I was really blown away by the passion of the community who led every aspect of the event, from the Zero Waste nature of it, to the local musicians who entertained us, the great local food, and the awesome activities.  A highlight for me was watching the “Recycled Raft Race”, a hard-fought local water race in boats made from recycled materials.  I was itching to get in and give it a go, so I’ve talked the DOC crew (I hope!) into entering a DOC team in next year’s one (to be fair, DOC did enter last year, but I reckon we should give it another crack!).

My afternoon duties included commentating the children’s obstacle course, the “Maui Dolphin Survival Challenge” in the afternoon, but there were so many keen children who wanted to have a go, I talked for an hour and a half before declaring myself beaten by the kids’ enthusiasm.  It was a first for me to run out of the ability to talk!

Thanks to the Raglan community for having me, and for your infectious enthusiasm for protecting your species in your patch!

Project Wild Thing

Last but not least, I joined UK producer David Bond and some keen kids not to mention “Big Boy” the tuatara for a visit to Quail Island near Lyttelton.  David produced the fantastic film “Project Wild Thing”, which is all about reconnecting kids to nature.  I’ll let the trailer of the film speak for itself.

So it’s been a HUGE month.  During this time, I’ve hand fed long-finned eels in the dark, been spat on by a peripatus and (accidentally) nipped by a tuatara.  Badges of honour on any nature-nerds bucket list I reckon!  There is never enough room to fit in all the events and activities I’ve been lucky enough to be involved with, so please feel free to follow me on Facebook and Twitter for timely updates of what I’m doing with threatened species.

By Christina Gilderdale

Over the summer I spent four months working on DOC’s summer weeds team based in Mangaweka. My last job was in a library, so this was definitely a change of scenery!

Here are a few lessons I learned during the season:

1. Watch out for spikes

The first rule of weeds team – it pays to spot any spiky plants before moving forwards into the undergrowth. Ongaonga (native stinging nettle) and bush lawyer are common and abundant in the Mangaweka area, and accidentally walking into a large clump of either one will not improve your day. Happily, most other pointy plants are weeds, like blackberry and barberry, so you can get them before they get you.

Ongaonga

2. Protective equipment is your friend

Chaps will keep your legs from looking like you lost a fight with a tiger, as well as stopping any ongaonga stings between ankle and mid-thigh height. A spray-suit and face-mask will stop you looking like a chemical-contaminated Smurf if an unexpected wind gust shifts herbicide mist back towards you. Admittedly, working in summer means each team member has to find a happy medium between maximum protection and minimum risk of heatstroke.

3. Your appearance is not integral

Spending a full work day bush-bashing off the track and crawling around in the undergrowth searching for the elusive roots of an old man’s beard vine means that you are not going to be impeccably groomed. Your fashion choices should bear in mind that you will be hot, cold, wet, muddy, sunblocked, possibly blood-stained (see spiky plants), with a fancy bugs and twigs accessorised hairstyle.

Spraying for old man’s beard.

4. Life with mobile coverage is possible. Really!

We adjusted quite well to lack of mobile phone coverage during the day – but we did have to train friends and family not to expect speedy message responses, no not even on our lunch break.

5. Enjoy the scenery

A lot of the reserve land doesn’t have tracks, but since it does have weeds, we got to see heaps of places that aren’t easily accessible to the public.

Working beside the Rangitikei River

6. Your garden is important.

Many of the ‘weeds’ we have in New Zealand are things that started out in gardens because they were pretty or useful. Some of these, like sycamore trees and blackberries, are still grown in gardens today. It’s a big boost to weed control efforts when the community gets involved by removing seed sources from their gardens.

Roughly 100 sycamore seedlings, removed from only a couple of square metres!

7. A change is as good as a rest.

Seeing a target weed species in your dreams (or nightmares) is a common side-effect of getting really good at spotting it in the field. (You will also see it on car trips and recreational bush walks. Sorry.) So switching tasks and/or species regularly, even if it’s just for a day, really boosts team morale!

Gabby and Kelly celebrating their victory over a very large and widespread clump of old man’s beard

8. Mangaweka is an awesome place to live and work.

The town and the people are great, and the location puts you right by the Rangitikei River, as well as heaps of cool reserves, like Bruce Park, Mangaweka Scenic Reserve, and Makino Scenic Reserve.

The view of Mangaweka from Mangaweka Scenic Reserve

War on Weeds

Hundreds of invasive weeds are smothering our native forests, wetlands and coastal areas, harming our wildlife and transforming our natural landscapes. We invite you to join with DOC and Weedbusters to fight this war on weeds.

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 Jamin Barkley, Orange Fronted Parakeet Ranger, Operations in Rangiora.

At work

Some things I do in my job include…

I monitor and protect our endangered orange-fronted parakeet/kakariki karaka, including  watching and protecting nests from furry four-footed beasts. I get to spend up to ten days at a time in the Aotearoa wilderness with one or more of our small team, and make the odd island visit to see how some of the birds are doing in predator-free areas. I also help with translocations to and from the captive breeding program at Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust.

Moving eggs from a small hole 10 metres up a tree in mountains to a nest box with adopting parents in Christchurch can be an exercise!

Orange fronted kakariki having a chew on some yummy beech flower.

This helps achieve DOC’s vision by…

I work to keep one of our nationally-endangered species from extinction and to maintain the diversity of our natural heritage.

The best bit about my job is…

Removing precious kakariki eggs from a tree nest.

Working amongst our natural environment – a world with less sign of human footprints. Particularly working with our endangered treasures, as I grew up listening to the story of the black robin, visiting nature reserves and watching birds building nests from my school desk.

The awesome-est DOC moment I’ve had so far is…

Finding my first orange-fronted parakeet nest in 2007!

The DOC (or previous DOC) employee that inspires or enthuses me most is…

There are a couple who have inspired me. Dave Eastwood was a leader on a youth camp when I was 16 years old –  He told us about his work with kiwi while leading us through the outdoor valley I now work in. Wayne King was my first supervisor who taught me about working in the mountains and what it takes to be a good ranger – a good DOC role model. 

A young orange-fronted parakeet is released into the wild from Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust.

On a personal note

Most people don’t know that I… preached a sermon at a (small) church service.

My happy place is… getting home from the wilderness to my wife Magdala and our sons.

My best ever holiday was… doing a one year OE to Ukraine and Canada with Magdala.

My greatest sporting moment was when… I shot my first deer with a bow and arrow. I couldn’t help smiling for weeks, according to my parents.

My hero is… Magdala my wife, who puts up with me being away regularly for work and often looking after our two sons on her own.

Deep and meaningful

My favourite quote is… “The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but a person of understanding draws them out.”

My conservation advice to New Zealanders is… Get outdoors and see the beauty of our country Aotearoa, it’s the reason people come across the world to see it. Then you will want to save it.