My name is Sarah Nason and for the last 5 months I have spent my time wrangling kiwi birds in Haast as an intern for the DOC biodiversity team.

Haast kiwi intern Sarah Nason handling a juvenile kiwi at Orokonui Ecosanctuary in Dunedin. Photographer: Leon Berard.

Haast is an isolated little community of about 300 people in South Westland and has been a unique place for my stay in New Zealand. I am originally from Canada and came down under in November 2015 to begin my working holiday after completing a Bachelor of Science back home in a much colder, drier, flatter place.

Haast kiwi intern Sarah Nason holding an adult male Haast tokoeka kiwi named Raupeka. Photographer: Rose Hanley-Nickolls.

I was very excited to be selected by DOC for the Haast kiwi internship: I couldn’t believe I was coming to New Zealand to work on wildlife, and the country’s most iconic bird no less!

Since my arrival I have been mostly working in the Haast Tokoeka Sanctuary, an 11 000 hectare area located between the Waiatoto and Arawhata rivers just south of Haast along the Jackson Bay highway. It also happens to comprise some very steep hills and some very thick rainforest (especially for a Canadian mostly familiar with our open, spacious boreal forest!).

There are only an estimated 400 Haast tokoeka kiwi in the wild and they are mainly threatened by stoat predation of chicks and juveniles. The population is primarily managed through Operation Nest Egg (ONE) whereby eggs are removed from nests in the sanctuary, artificially incubated and hatched in captivity, and then the resulting chicks are kept in predator-free crèche sites until they gain enough weight to be considered stoat-proof and released back into the wild.

My internship has been a combination of field and office work, with a strong emphasis on building skills in the field. The field work has included tracking kiwi using radio telemetry, caring for and transport eggs, catching adult birds to change their radio transmitters, small mammal indexing, helicopter work, and travelling to Orokonui Ecosanctuary, one of our crèche sites in Dunedin, to help with chick health checks. Trips to Orokonui are always amazing – nothing beats hanging out with kiwi chicks!

In the office I have performed searches of scientific literature to help inform our management practices and I have been responsible for coordinating an inventory of the stoat traps in the sanctuary.

Gaining practical skills working in conservation has been incredibly valuable for me, and at the same time I have been able to travel and experience beautiful New Zealand!

A juvenile Haast tokoeka kiwi takes a break during its health check at Orokonui Ecosanctuary in Dunedin. Photographer: Leon Berard.

Coming to New Zealand has been an unforgettable experience and I would like to thank DOC for welcoming me into the country and providing me with the opportunity to learn about ecology and conservation through my internship. I would strongly recommend other young biologists to apply and come to intern in Haast – if you’re keen for some steep hiking!

While many New Zealanders spent Easter weekend hunting for Easter eggs, a crew of keen volunteers on horseback were out in their big back yard searching for wilding conifers/pines. Anne McLean from the QEII National Trust shares a story about their long weekend weedmuster.

Wilding conifers are a huge problem, invading massive areas of high country in New Zealand.  Approximately 1.7 million hectares, almost 6% of New Zealand, have already been affected to some extent by these unwanted trees, and the problem just keeps growing.

Wilding conifer seedlings in hard to access areas are expensive to control using contractors and helicopter access. Using a ‘conifer cavalry’ of volunteers on horseback was the brainchild of Jesse Bythell, a QEII National Trust regional representative. Her novel idea combines her love of horse riding and her passion for protecting the environment!

The volunteers ready for the weekend. Photo: QEII National Trust.

Ten volunteers set up camp in a paddock on Coronet Peak Station and spent all of Saturday and Sunday in and out of the saddle searching for and destroying wilding conifers on the Crown Range between Queenstown and Wanaka. This is one of several models supported by the QEII National Trust Weedbusting Project for community involvement in controlling the conifers at low densities.

An important element of the Easter weekend event was to put together a  ‘how to’ guide for people who are interested in the idea for other parts of New Zealand, including health and safety plans, mapping of the work done, and logistics of feeding and watering both two and four legged participants in remote areas.

When planning the work Jesse looked for an outlying area of wilding conifer saplings at a low enough density for the riders to control. It is a great way of engaging a different part of the community, raising awareness about weed issues and up-skilling riders up to control wilding conifers.  It is a useful approach in areas where trekking in on foot would be tedious and time consuming.

Volunteer Eva Leunissen deals to a lodgepole pine while her horses Poki and Brucie wait patiently. Photo: QEII National Trust

The owner of the property has an extensive wilding conifer control programme in place, and further supported this pilot project by supplying food for volunteers and the horses. The neighbours also helped out by donating the use of their land, woolshed, and shearers quarters for the group to camp and to paddock the horses.

QEII Community Weedbusting Project Advisor Anne Brow helped to organise the weekend and described it as a win for everyone. The land manager gets help with weed issues, spread of wildings from scattered seedlings is reduced, and recreational riders get to enjoy high country areas that they usually wouldn’t be able to access.

Alex Brown Hunt conquers a multi-stemmed lodgepole pine with his trust steed Harley watching on. Photo: QEII National Trust

The volunteers believed the ride made the work fun and special. Volunteer Gilly Darby brought her young mare Fi along for the weekend of recreation (with an environmental angle). Another volunteer Sam Lewis believed doing the work has opened his eyes to weeds – he now sees them everywhere!

Hundreds of invasive weeds are smothering our native forests, wetlands and coastal areas, harming our wildlife and transforming our natural landscapes. The QEII National Trust Weedbusting Project is a partnership between the QEII National Trust and Weedbusters NZ.  The work is funded through the DOC Community Fund, and supports the War on Weeds. We invite you to get involved.

Today’s photo of the week is of Endeavour Inlet, on the Queen Charlotte Track captured recently by DOC’s Director General, Lou Sanson.

The Queen Charlotte track is rich in history, stretching 70km from historic Ship Cove through to Anakiwa in the Grove Arm of Queen Charlotte Sound. The track is a unique partnership between the Department of Conservation, Marlborough District Council and private landowners.

The track is home to an array of birdlife from the bellbird/korimako and tūī , to darting piwakawaka/fantail or South Island robin looking to feast on insects on the forest floor.

Suitable for both walkers and mountain bike riders, the track takes 3-5 days to complete walking, or 2-3 days for mountain bikers. More information about Queen Charlotte Track can be found on the DOC website.

Science writer Sarah Wilcox recently stopped at Raoul Island while on a Heritage Expeditions trip to the Kermadec Islands. She writes about the day she spent with the DOC team on Raoul.

Nikau palms cross paths with pohutukawa on their way to the sun. At almost every step, tui and kakariki fly out from ferns and bracken below. The kawakawa, ngaio and taupata trees are familiar but different. This is New Zealand nature with a subtropical twist.

I’m anchored off Raoul Island on a Heritage Expeditions trip to the Kermadec Islands. Yesterday I had the great pleasure of spending the day with the DOC team on the island. I met Emerson, Lan, Di, Ben, Wolfie, Charlie and Eleanor. Emerson and Lan have been here since September and are staying on to complete their year, but the others are handing over to new staff who are coming up with the Navy today.

The Heritage Expeditions passengers with the DOC team on Raoul

It’s quite a place! Raoul is the only habitable island in an arc of volcanoes that stretch from Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe through White Island northwards. The sheer cliffs that surround most of the island have prevented it being settled permanently but it’s been home to many keen pioneer types through the years.

Most remarkable were the Bell family who lived here from 1878 to 1914.* They brought many plants to the island and some thrived. We enjoyed delicious freshly squeezed orange juice from the Bell’s trees yesterday, but the black passionfruit they introduced has caused huge problems. Weeding it out using grid search methods is time consuming and challenging work for the team here. The aroid lily, which has a leaf like taro, is being left for now as it doesn’t smother the canopy.

I had a chat to team leader Emerson about what he believes are the big issues for the island.

“On an island, pest eradication is pretty much a one-off – once they’re gone, they’re gone – but getting rid of weeds is a long-term proposition. You have to be in for the long haul because as soon as you let up, they’re back. We have to ensure the right amount of resource is committed for the time the work needs”, he says.

“I also think helping people experience the island in ways that doesn’t threaten the environment is really important. A day like today is a real highlight – I get to spend time with people who are here because they’re excited about this special place. They get to see the fruit of all the work that’s been done!”

The creation of a Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary, giving full marine protection to 200 nautical miles around the islands, was announced in September 2015.

“When we heard the announcement, the mood here was really upbeat. We get to snorkel at the Meyer Islands just offshore and the things you see under the water are just stunning, nowhere else in New Zealand has this subtropical ocean environment. When you’re marooned up here it seems like such a no-brainer to protect it – so in my opinion it can’t happen soon enough, it’s super-exciting!”

Sunrise over Meyer Islands. Photo: Sarah Wilcox

Our ship is anchored off Raoul for a few days more. Fortunately the sea is still calm and a group of us are going snorkelling today. There are beautiful corals and plenty of Galapagos sharks, and legend tells of a black-spotted grouper that’s bigger than me! I’m looking forward to seeing it all for myself.

Sarah Wilcox is a Wellington-based science writer who works with DOC from time to time.

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 Monica Garcia, Delivery Planner based in Nelson

At work

Some things I do in my job include:

I am part of the Operations Planning Unit which is a national team based in the regions. We turn DOC’s strategy into planned and prioritised work programmes that get delivered across the country. Our duties include project management, work planning, quality assurance, budgeting, monitoring biodiversity work, business planning, support for Battle for our Birds, national reporting, and any other general coordination between the troops and the chiefs.

My favourite spot—Poor Knights Islands.

This helps achieve DOC’s vision by:

Making sure we are doing the right work, in the right manner, at the right place and at the right time, which also means working as one organisation. We work to administer our planning and prioritisation systems and processes, and with Partnerships to align opportunities for growth.

The best bit about my job is:

The people, the purpose, the landscape, the country. By being part of a national team, I have the opportunity to work across the regions and also with people from all levels of the Department.

I’ve been fortunate to experience the biodiversity of this country, visit incredible places (many of them out of reach of the common citizen) and I feel privileged to be able to work in DOC, alongside very passionate and motivated people, doing our best for conservation in New Zealand.

Australian Fire Deployment—learning to burn the bush.

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

As a ranger in Whangarei I worked in one of the most amazing spots in New Zealand, the Poor Knights Islands. This is a very special and awesome place for me, and I got to spend a lot of time there, doing weed control. In one of the five-day trips, we were ready to go and loaded everything in the DOC’s boat. However the swell conditions weren’t good so we decided to use a charter boat instead. When we were on the island, we started unpacking and discovered that one of the barrels had been left behind, inside DOC’s boat. That barrel was carrying, amongst other things, my sleeping bag and the toilet paper for the whole week. Needless to say, the three boys and I were not impressed. Luckily, it was January, so I didn’t miss the sleeping bag at all. But, for the rest—thank God for rangiora leaves!

Being a clown fish at a marine party in Whangarei

On a personal note…

Most people don’t know that I:

I was born and grew up in Chile. I’m the youngest of four. My mum gave birth to me a month after a big earthquake, so I’ve had my fair share of them from very early on in life – which is kind of unavoidable when you are living there.

My greatest sporting moment was when:

When I was at university in Chile, I took on fencing – foil – just to try a different sport, and after only three months learning the rules and moves, we travelled to Santiago to compete in a national championship. We were a very small group from a province, competing against bigger and richer clubs. They were a bit cocky and didn’t take us very seriously. After few hours, I found myself in the quarter final, and to my surprise, I won. The girl I had to compete against in the final was quite intimidating, taller and had the crowd cheering for her. We had met before twice on the way to the finals – we each had won once – so when she started scoring points I thought “Oh well, at least I have a silver medal”. I ended up winning my first ever National Fencing Championship – novice category, foil division – to the surprise of my coach and the crowd.

The thing I’m most looking forward to in the next six months is:

I am looking forward to living with my partner in Canada, and getting the chance to explore a bit more of British Columbia. Having to watch out for creatures potentially wanting to poison you will be an experience – and then I’ll have to deal with the fauna! I think by the time you have to use the bear mace (pepper spray) you are too close for comfort!

Working attire on the Chatham islands

Before working at DOC:

I worked in forestry in Patagonia, before moving to Australia. For nine months I cleaned houses, pubs, toilets, and mowed lawns before getting a forestry job in South Australia. After five years, I moved to New Zealand – 13 years ago – and had a two-month stint at a sawmill in Whangarei, before getting a contract as ranger at DOC. The rest, as they say, is history (basically, they couldn’t get rid of me).

My most prized possession is:

I was going to say my kiwi passport, however, looking at the things I want to take with me to Canada, I realise how much stuff you can accumulate without noticing. I arrived in New Zealand with a suitcase and a backpack. Now, I found myself organising garage sales and taking stuff to the recycling center, in order to travel light. They are all possessions that can come and go, just stuff that I won’t be able to take with me if I was to fall off my perch, anyway. So – second thought – I would say my most prized possession is a healthy life, without which I wouldn’t be able to enjoy anything else – including my passport.

No weed is too big—spraying buddleia in Whangarei

Deep and meaningful…

My favourite quote is:

There are many, but a couple come to mind: “You can’t change the past, but you can ruin the present by worrying too much about the future”. Basically, chill-out or chillax.

With my fellow Te Reo Maori students at a marae noho in Whangarei

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

Some time ago I read a quote from comedian George Carlin that stuck with me: “Don’t sweat the petty things and don’t pet the sweaty things”.

In work and life I am motivated by:

The wonders of nature, landscapes, conservation, a good laugh, loyalty, cheeky people (e.g. Keith Hawkins), creativity, imagination, honesty, my co-workers who keep going on despite everything that gets thrown at them, humility, good food, did I say a good laugh?

An interesting initiative in Melbourne

My conservation advice to New Zealanders is:

Get out and enjoy nature. Look after this little piece of heaven, every bit counts and can make a difference – even starting at home (from switching lights off and recycling, to using less paper or joining a volunteer group to clean a creek or plant trees). We are all connected to Papatūānuku, and what hurts her, it will hurt us. We are transient creatures, we are just tenants, and we don’t have any special right to use, abuse and spoil nature. So, on your way out of this world, try to leave your mark by not leaving any.

By Chloe Barnes, Communications Advisor

I recently visited South Wairarapa for the weekend. While there we walked the DOC track at Putangirua Pinnacles in Aorangi Forest Park.

An aerial view of the Putangirua Pinnacles

To get to the walk, you drive through the DOC Putangirua Pinnacles campsite carpark. The campsite looked to be well used on the early autumn day we were there, with several campers enjoying the mild weather and sheltered spot.

Walkers have a choice between heading up the stream bed all the way to the base of the Pinnacles, on a path with a gentle incline; or climbing to the ridge line lookout where you are presented with an awesome view of the pinnacles from across the valley.

Aorangi Forest Park

We chose to do both – walking the ridge line track up to the lookout, then descending to the stream bed. We walked a short distance to the base of the Pinnacles before returning along the stream bed to the campsite.

You can also do a longer 3-4 hour walk that gives you views of Palliser Bay and Lake Onoke.

Walking near the Pinnacles

Castle like structures

I really recommend getting a good view of the Pinnacles from both perspectives. From the lookout on the ridge you can appreciate the scale and beauty of the formations, but when you actually walk amongst them at the base it’s like stepping into an alien world.

It could be that they triggered memories of seeing The Lord of the Rings, where the Pinnacles were used as part of the ‘Paths of the Dead’ scene – although they reminded me more of an alien planet from a sci-fi movie.

In keeping with the castle comparison, I spotted a naturally formed ‘gargoyle’ poking out from one of the pillars.

A naturally formed ‘gargoyle’

It might not be a sunny white sand beach, but Palliser has a dramatic charm.

Along with the famous fish and chips at Lake Ferry Hotel, I can thoroughly recommend a trip to the Pinnacles as part of your next South Wairarapa excursion.

The Pinnacles as viewed from the ridge line lookout

Two DOC rangers joined Threatened Species Ambassador Nicola Toki to represent DOC at the premiere of ‘Hunt for the Wilderpeople‘ last week.

Haast ranger Sian Reynolds and Kauarenga Valley ranger Rose Graham were the winners of a competition to find DOC’s toughest rangers.

DOC’s Sian, Nicola and Rose at the premiere of Hunt for the Wilderpeople

Rose and Sian were randomly drawn as the winners from a shortlist of entries sent in by DOC staff from all over the country.

They flew to Auckland last week to join Nicola Toki on the green carpet. Nicola says it was great fun to attend the premiere with rangers from opposite ends of the country.

DOC rangers Sian and Rose at the premiere

The winning stories

Sian was nominated by conservation dog Rein (with a little help from Iain Graham).

Rein’s story and photo described Sian’s efforts to retrieve rowi ‘Bruce Lee’ from a particularly tight spot inside a hollowed out tree.

“Was contortionist on the list of skills when Sian applied for her job? Turns out, it should be! Within seconds Sian had folded, crawled and squirmed her way through the hole, stood up inside the tree, located Bruce Lee, secured those feet and passed them back out to Iain through the small hole in which she just disappeared. Once the action had stopped, Sian was able to admire the inside of this old tree to find weta, spiders and a huge ants nest disturbed in the commotion. Sian hates ants…turns out it takes a ‘wee bit’ longer to get out a small hole when panic takes over…”

– Rein the dog (@gingerdogwithajob)

Meanwhile, Rose was nominated by three of her colleagues from the Coromandel.

“Rose is a tiny wee slip of a thing, but don’t let her diminutive size fool you – she’s as courageous as it comes! A serious conservation advocate, she walks the talk from monitoring bats, trapping pests, to hard-out recreational pursuits on public conservation land.

Rose gives visitors to the Kauaeranga Valley (coincidentally where the movie is filmed) the best possible conservation and track information. Passionate about conservation she has set up a trap line around the Visitor Centre to educate people on trapping pests and has run educational workshops through the Centre’s Summer Programme on plant and bird identification. With the largest DOC hut in the country just below the Pinnacles, she also keeps a smile on her face when visitors her ask for the millionth time ‘how do I get to the Pine Ackles’.

Rose has handled many unique situations from visitors shredding their tyres on road spikes to much more serious incidents. Take my word for it, she’s a force to be reckoned with and the person you’d want on your team.”

Kids art competition

Also at the premiere was Sophia Blyth (9) with her mum Jil. Sophia won the opportunity to attend through the Threatened Species art competition on the DOC website. She created a colourful kiwi collage which took out the top spot. The runner-up prizewinner Ben Cave won a GoodNature trap with his drawing of a kea.

Drawing competition winner Sophia Blyth, 9, met Sam Neill and Julian Dennison at the premiere

Sophia’s mum said before the premiere, Sophia had been so excited she slept with her new shoes on her bed.

Her class at school were excited too.

“Last week after I told the school, Sophia’s Te Reo teacher played the movie preview for the kids four times,” says Jil.

Sophia’s winning collage

Bringing stories about threatened species to a wider audience

Nicola worked with the star of the movie, Julian Dennison, to promote threatened species awareness in the lead-up to the film’s release. In March she took Julian and his brother to Zealandia where they had a close encounter with Tane and Tuahine the tuatara – an event that was shared across the film’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.

“Aside from the possum trapping and pig hunting, a huge part of the narrative of this film is the feeling of the bush and the high altitude landscapes that are depicted in such a beautiful way. It’s given us a really good opportunity to talk about threatened species in connection with a film that is getting a tonne of exposure both here in New Zealand and internationally,” says Nicola.

Last week Nicola ran into director Taika Waititi at the RNZ studio, where she was taping her weekly ‘Critter of the Week’ segment.

“In the photo it looks like we’re old mates, but I actually pounced on him as he was leaving another recording studio, to thank him for having us as part of the premiere. He is a big supporter of the work DOC does to protect our wildlife and wild places.”

Today’s photo of the week is of one of the recent kākāpō to hatch on Whenua Hou/Codfish Island during the 2016 breeding season.

This photo was taken in the hand-rearing room by ranger Jake Osborne.

The first stage of the 2016 breeding season for kākāpō has come to a close, with the last egg of the year hatching last Friday.

This has been the most successful breeding season in the 25-year history of DOC’s Kākāpō Recovery Programme.

Currently, 38 of the chicks are alive and well, although the coming weeks will be crucial as young kākāpō are extremely vulnerable and some may not survive into adulthood.

More information can be found on the DOC website.

By Ranger Kate Hebblethwaite, Te Anau

Cake and gambling aren’t the usual bedfellows of river birds. For Whio Awareness Month, however, Fiordland DOC staff were prepared to set aside diets and principals.

Andrew ‘Max’ Smart and Oska release the rubber whio into the Upukerora River at the start of the race. Photo: Graham Dainty

Hot on the success of the inaugural Great Fiordland Whio Race last year, the 2016 event, held on Te Anau’s Upukerora River on 19 March, was yet another action packed affair. Doubling the field from 2015, 200 blue rubber ducks competed under the watchful eye of conservation dog Oska, specially trained to sniff out whio in the wilds of Fiordland.

The crowd watches the race. Photo: Graham Dainty.

Betting opened at 11am and all ducks were quickly sold in a frenzy that rivalled anything seen in Las Vegas.

Heat One winners are announced. Photo: Graham Dainty

Conservation Services Ranger, Andrew ‘Max’ Smart, who manages the Fiordland whio programme, released the thoroughbred racers into the river. With a race course of 300m, involving rapids, eddies, weeds and rock, this was no time to be a lame duck. Oska was on hand to round up any wily quackers that tried to escape.

DOC staff and volunteers brave icy waters to retrieve the racing ducks. Photo: Graham Dainty

After two preliminary heats and a Grand Final, the eventual race victor was 5 year-old Ianthe Macmillan-Armstrong, who was thrilled to receive the coveted Champions trophy.

Race winner, Ianthe Macmillan-Armstrong shows off her trophy. Photo: Graham Dainty

As well as the duck race, the whio family fun day also included face-painting, a scavenger hunt, and a chance to meet Oska himself.

Competition prizes were generously donated by Real Journeys, Air New Zealand and Genesis Energy, and the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation, who maintain stoat trapping lines in the Glaisnock Wilderness area, cooked up a sausage storm on the BBQ.

Earlier in the week, blue food colouring was the hero ingredient in a whio-themed cupcake sale. Cakes were generously provided by the Wapiti Bakery in Te Anau, and businesses throughout the town placed orders for their quacking good morning tea.

Whio cupcakes ready for delivery. Photo: Michelle Crouchley

The amount raised through the two events – over $600; the advocacy value – priceless.

With an estimated nationwide population of less than 2,500 birds, whio are rarer than kiwi. Fiordland is home to a sizeable population of whio, and numbers are increasing in areas where pest eradication measures are in place.

The support of Genesis Energy is enabling DOC to double the number of fully secure whio breeding sites throughout the country, boost pest control efforts and enhance productivity and survival for these rare native ducks.

The whio lineup. Photo: Graham Dainty

This year has been a bumper breeding season for Fiordland whio, allowing a number of juveniles to be translocated into Mount Aspiring National Park to increase pair numbers there. In Fiordland, a number of local whio translocations have also taken place to ensure wild population numbers continue to grow.

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 Helen Gillespie, Healthy Nature Healthy People Project Coordinator in Hokitika.

At work…

Some things I do in my job include:

Developing Healthy Nature Healthy People for DOC and connecting with others who also want to connect people with nature for the benefit of both.

At the moment that is with the health, disability and sport and recreation sectors through Mental Health Foundation, Ministry of Health, Office for Seniors, Halberg Disability Sport Foundation and New Zealand Recreation Association.

Running along Avalanche Peak — the photos remind you that we are just a tiny part of nature

The best bit about my job is:

That I don’t have to convince people or organisations that this makes sense. So many people and agencies are working in this space and success would be the collective impact achieved by working together. I’m inspired by the fact that so many other organisations also have the same fundamental goals – albeit framed in different ways.

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

Sharing a field trip lunch break with colleagues in the hills. I know that you can’t always pick the weather when it’s time to stop for food but on this particular day the sun was shining, we were high enough up that the sandflies were absent and the company (in this case Rob Harrison and Iain Buckman) was in good humour. I reckon that any lunch break outdoors on a fine day is hard to beat and there aren’t too many occupations where you get such a variety of potential lunch stops!

Lunch breaks on field trips is one of the perks of working for DOC

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

Are those who have gone before us. They paved the way for us and inspired us to join the journey. In many cases they worked in the ways we want to work and were humble and understated about their achievements. They carry a great deal of mana both within and outside our organisation.

On a personal note…

Most people don’t know that:

I am the proud owner of a silver fern running singlet. Yes I did earn it! I ran for New Zealand at the World Mountain Running Champs in Edinburgh 1995 (yikes that is a long time ago). I have always loved running and hills. Great combination – the quicker you get up to the top the sooner you get the view.  Better still, if you get there first you get to savour the moment of solitude and contemplation before others get there. On reflection that probably seems a bit selfish and to be honest when you are racing there’s not much time for contemplation!  The photos make it seem as though I had the whole place to myself.

My happy place is:

Anywhere in nature that includes hills, views and preferably running. My favourites would be the Routeburn Track, Avalanche Peak or closer to home up the Toaroha Track to the Cedar Flats Hot Pools.

When I only have a small window of opportunity I can run into the hot pools, have a quick soak and be home by midday – tramping would be an overnighter!

When you run these tracks you don’t see the small stuff but you do get the vast landscapes and when you get your race photos you realise how small we are and how vast the wilderness is that surrounds us.

My greatest sporting moment:

When I raced Avalanche Peak for the first time in 1997. I was new to the West Coast and suddenly racing in real mountains. No more steep hills; These were really big, sharp pointy things with exposure and scree slopes!

If I could trade places with any other person for a week:

It would be Dr Seuss –  Wise, funny, a bit odd but enduring and ageless. When we go ‘bush’ with the kids Dr Seuss is everywhere – so many plants look like something he has since created in art. Some examples:

My greatest sporting moment:

When I raced Avalanche Peak for the first time in 1997. I was new to the West Coast and suddenly racing in real mountains. No more steep hills, these were really big, sharp pointy things with exposure and scree slopes. It took years for me to decide whether I actually liked the race or not but the enduring moment which I cherish to this day is a kea with wings outstretched facing me and flying past right in front of me as I popped out above the bush line.

At that moment and ever since I realised the incredible privilege of being able to run and to experience these things in a matter of hours. I’m injured at the moment and now I’m experiencing ‘slow nature’ – rich, detailed and so much more depth when you move more slowly and take your time to soak it all up.

Deep and meaningful…

My favourite quote is:

A gem my parents used to trot out when I was navigating my teenage years (does anyone else wonder how on earth we made it through that period)? The quote, which I’m sure originated from someone wise and famous (and probably dead now) was: “Be a leader not a follower”. That has steered me away from some sticky situations and led me to some amazing opportunities.

Running the Routeburn Classic. The trouble with racing is you don’t see what you’ve run past until you get the photos. When was the last time you saw a smiling runner! They do exist.

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

“Get outside.” My mother used to say this to us and we were never sure if it was a demand, a suggestion or a threat but the consequence was that we spent a whole lot of time outdoors. Cheers Mum.

When I was a kid our ‘nature’ was our 300ha sheep and beef cattle farm. No native vegetation in sight and plenty of cultivation but I still had that sense of guardianship that we all share in DOC for Our Nature.

In work and life I am motivated by:

People who want to help others succeed. Not surprisingly they are amazingly interesting people to know.

My conservation advice to New Zealanders is:

‘Spend more time outdoors, more often and we’ll all be better off’.

Christine and Barry Stephenson share their experience volunteering as DOC camp hosts on Aotea/Great Barrier Island…

We are welcomed into the new day by a symphony performed by the local residents. The orchestra is dominated by the Harataonga Bay kākā family, but we can also hear tūī, and kererū.

Christine and Barry Stephenson

Our first official duty of the day as DOC camp hosts is to tune in to our radio telephone and listen to the day’s weather report delivered by the ‘boss’ aka ‘Echo 1’ –  the camp manager for all of the DOC campsites on Great Barrier Island.

We also use this opportunity to exchange brief messages with our fellow hosts at the other camps, because aside from the morning’s brief radio session, we have no cell phone, broadband or any other modern technological means of communication – bliss!

Planning the day’s duties

Our next job is to do our housekeeping – we clean and polish the sinks and benches. We give the toilets a clean and make sure the toilet paper is stocked up.

The toughest part of our day comes next. We have to relax in a beautiful environment, go for bush and beach walks, hang out with dotterels, oyster catchers, banded rails, kākā (who provide continuous entertainment cavorting around the sky), tūī, and kererū and also welcome our new campers and day trippers to our lovely spot.

A good picnic spot!

One of the most interesting parts of our day is ‘shooting the breeze’ with our guests from all over New Zealand and the world. We hear their fabulous stories and exchange tips on where to go and what to do on the island.

View from the Harataonga Loop Track

As night begins to fall, our regular evening visitors, pāteke/brown teal waddle around each tent, checking that we are all OK and gently cooing their ‘goodnights’.

Pāteke/brown teal

Volunteer

DOC is currently looking for volunteer camp hosts for the five Aotea/Great Barrier Island campsites during the peak holiday period. More information can be found on the DOC website.

By Nicola Toki, Threatened Species Ambassador

The cooler weather certainly hasn’t slowed people down in the world of threatened species. With a national Kiwi Hui, a ‘green carpet’ movie premiere and the best breeding season on record for kākāpō, there’s barely time to take a breath.

Kākāpō-tastic breeding season

This year has been a bonanza breeding season for kākāpō – coinciding with rimu and beech mast events on Codfish and Anchor Islands – and it also resulted in unsuccessful breeding attempts on Little Barrier/Whenua Hou – the first time ever there has been simultaneous breeding efforts on all three kākāpō islands.

This wee kākāpō chick, named Zephyr2 for now, was our last chick to hatch this season

In all, 37 chicks now survive, after some early losses which included a flash flood event on Anchor Island that took out two nests and three chicks, much to everyone’s dismay. However, 37 chicks is the best number on record since the kākāpō recovery programme began – a great sign for their ultimate recovery.

There has been a lot of national and international interest – including stories in the Economist, and New Scientist, documenting DOC’s work with kākāpō, and also highlighting New Zealand scientists’ efforts to sequence the genome of every single kākāpō, which would greatly assist our management of this species.

In the next few weeks, there will be plenty more kākāpō stories around, and in addition I highly recommend following the Kākāpō Recovery Programme Facebook page, as well as DOC scientist Andrew Digby’s twitter feed @takapodigs for as-it-happens updates on kākāpō stuff.

I think crocs must be part of hygiene requirements for rangers and volunteers on Whenua Hou (surely that many people can’t all have appalling taste in footwear)?

As an aside, perhaps DOC should issue the rangers with snorkels, as the tracks between nests have been very flooded (including having eels swimming along the tracks!), making it extremely wet work for the volunteers, scientists and rangers on the islands.

Kiwi hui

Earlier this month I attended the annual national Kiwi Hui, a meeting organised in partnership between Kiwis for kiwi and DOC. This meeting was an impressive gathering of ‘who’s who’ in the world of kiwi including local iwi representatives, kiwi community groups, rangers, scientists, trapping experts, zoo staff, wildlife park staff, marketing/tourism experts and a conservation psychologist. Even Rein the kiwi detection dog was there to learn about where we’re at with kiwi conservation efforts.

It was a fascinating couple of days, with talks on everything from kiwi genetics (and the importance of preserving the different types of kiwi) to the significance of good pest control, including Battle for our Birds. I also enjoyed talks on scientific advances in monitoring kiwi calls, as well as a really engaging session on tangata whenua and their connection and responsibilities to kiwi.

I participated in a series of talks on kiwi advocacy – that is, what is the best way to engage people with kiwi and the story of kiwi?  How we connect to our nature is something that I’m really interested in, and am excited to be chairing a group of passionate people to look into this for kiwi.

How do you all want to hear or learn about kiwi and the challenges they face? I’d love to hear from you, so feel free to comment below.

Rein is one of our fantastic Conservation Dogs, and a hard-working four-legged kiwi ranger

Celebrating our own Wilderpeople

If you’ve been living under a rock this month, you may have missed the release of kiwi film Hunt for the Wilderpeople, directed by Taika Waititi.

We were lucky enough to be approached by the film and offered some spaces at the Auckland ‘green carpet’ premiere of the film as a bit of a ‘thank you’ for the work we do.  So we ran an internal competition asking people to send in their best ranger story, and Sian Reynolds and Rose Graham won tickets to the event.

I also got together with Julian Dennison, star of Hunt for the Wilderpeople  and his brother Christian (and their whole family!) to launch a competition for kids to draw their favourite threatened species.  We had some really neat entries, including drawings of blue ducks and Maui dolphins. Sophia Blyth (9) of Wellington, won with her awesome collage of a kiwi, and Ben Cave (11) of Nelson was our runner-up, who won a GoodNature trap, with this awesome picture of a kea.

Ben Cave’s winning kea picture

Critter of the week

In case you haven’t heard it, once a week Jesse Mulligan and I chat about some of New Zealand’s less charismatic threatened species on a slot on RNZ Afternoons, called Critter of the Week (don’t let the name mislead you, I’ve snuck a few plants in there too). This is lots of fun, and we get a heap of listener feedback on the threatened species we feature every Friday afternoon. ‘Critter’ has been running for six months now, and Jesse often says it’s his favourite segment. Mostly we do it by phone interview, but this month, while I was in Auckland, Jesse and I finally got to meet in real life to record in the studio, and it was great fun.

Jesse and I finally catch up in real life after being phone-friends for months. (Judging by the clock behind us, Jesse really needs to get a wriggle on, his show starts at 1pm).

Not only do I have the help of scientists, rangers and other members of the community, but Mike Dickison of the Whanganui Museum is a ‘wikinerd’, and each week, he and his fellow experts fill up the relevant Wikipedia page for the critter we’re talking about, and reference our interviews for those who want to listen.  Thanks heaps Mike and friends!

Air New Zealand Twitter Q&A

This month, our partners Air New Zealand piloted a one-hour twitter event called #AskNicToki where anyone could ‘tweet’ a question about nature for me to answer. It was a bit nerve-wracking (I don’t actually know everything about nature!) but I was lucky to have plenty of support on hand, and it was a positive event that I really enjoyed. We’re looking to run it again later in the year, so I look forward to answering all your burning questions about nature then.

My first Twitter Q&A

Kim Hill debate – ‘Which species should we save?’

I also participated in a debate for Lincoln Envirotown, entitled ‘Which species should we save?’, which was chaired by Kim Hill and featured panellists from Lincoln University, Ngai Tahu, Landcare Research and the Endangered Species Foundation.  It was very well attended (full house!) although I think we all made life a bit difficult for Kim, since all panellists agreed that we couldn’t in fact choose one species over another, and should focus on ecosystems instead. Thanks to the hardworking Lincoln Envirotown team for organising such a great and popular event, I really enjoyed being a part of it.

Get in touch

It’s been another busy month in the world of threatened species, but conservation waits for no man (or woman). Feel free to leave a comment below and I’ll be back next month with more updates.

Today’s photo of the week is of DOC’s Chris Goulding from the Motueka Office holding a great spotted kiwi/roroa.

The great spotted kiwi is the largest of our kiwi species and can be found around the top of the South Island.

This week two great spotted kiwi were released in the Flora Valley area of Kahurangi National Park. The birds are the first of up to 12 kiwi being relocated to increase the genetic diversity of the Flora Valley population.

Volunteers from Friends of Flora will monitor these birds regularly to ensure they stay in the protected area and establish their own territories. They will also monitor how they interact with the existing population of kiwi and their breeding success.

More information is available on the DOC website.

By Lou Sanson, Director-General

Bumper breeding season for Kākāpō Recovery Programme

Our Kākāpō Recovery Programme has had a fantastic season, successfully hatching 37 chicks – a record for the programme. For a species that was once down to just 18 birds in the 1970s, this is a tremendous achievement.

Kakapo chicks hatched this season. Photo: Andrew Digby

Flooding in Franz Josef

I’d like to acknowledge one of our staff who was part of the emergency response when the Waiho River broke its banks just before Easter. Wayne Costello, who’s one of our operations managers (and a local Civil Defence coordinator), was part of the response team that evacuated almost 200 people from Franz Josef accommodation before a torrent of water came through. Through quick thinking and excellent emergency planning, they avoided what could have been a disaster. Well done to Wayne and all involved.

China and New Zealand agreement to protect migratory shorebirds

In March, Associate Minister Nicky Wagner and I joined a delegation from the Chinese State Forestry Administration at the Pukorokoro Miranda Shorebird Centre to sign a new memorandum of arrangement (MOA) with Vice Minister Chen Fengxue. This means we will work together to ensure the protection of shorebird habitat in both New Zealand and China.

The SFA’s Chen Fengxue and D-G Lou Sanson sign the new Memorandum of Arrangement protecting migratory shorebirds and their habitat. Photograph: Pukorokoro Miranda Shorebird Centre

This was the culmination of twenty years of work by the Pukorokoro Miranda Naturalists’ Trust who identified, through field surveys in China and North Korea and use of geotags, a seven kilometre stretch of beach in Bohai Bay, China which provides critical feeding ground for shorebirds migrating to the Siberian Arctic. It is critical we work with China to save this section of mudflats, which has been used by these birds for thousands of years.

This MOA is a significant step forward as we try to turn around the decline of bar-tailed godwit and red knots.

The ceremony at Pukorokoro Miranda included a powhiri and recognition of key partners Ngati Pāoa, Fonterra, Waikato Regional Council and QEII Trust.

Te Araroa – Paekakariki Escarpment Track

Conservation Minister Maggie Barry opened the new Paekakariki Escarpment Track in April. This 10 kilometre track is one section of the Te Araroa Trail, a 3,000 kilometre route spanning the length of New Zealand. We contributed around 60% of the final cost of the track, which is managed by Te Araroa Trust.

Over an early autumn weekend I walked the track with my family and was incredibly impressed.

One of the trail’s swing bridges

The track includes brilliant interpretation signage telling walkers about Ngāti Toa’s early gardens and the story of early New Zealand transport. It boasts superb groves of kohekohe forest laden with fruit and a very good predator control programme run by the local community, Kiwirail and QEII Trust.

At the end of the track visitors can catch a Kiwirail train back to their cars, making it an easy way to get into the outdoors for some physical exercise. If we can get more New Zealanders to do short walks like this, we’ll be well on our way to a healthier population (see Healthy Nature Healthy People for more).

DOC’s Paul Jansen walked the track with his 88-year-old father

NEXT Foundation – ZIP and Project Janszoon

Over the weekend of 31 March I went to the board meetings for two of the NEXT Foundation’s large conservation investments –Project Janszoon and Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP).

Project Janszoon, Abel Tasman National Park

Since its establishment in 2012 Project Janszoon has achieved a dramatic transformation of ecosystems and the ability of the public to experience ‘Our Nature’ in Abel Tasman National Park. Key indicator species are improving, they have a superb education programme and there is continued strong community support.

The next priorities are to expand predator management and develop monitoring indicators that will signal the transfer of Project Janszoon’s work back to the Government for a new maintenance phase (as agreed under The Tomorrow Accord). We will work with Janszoon to help scale their environmental education programme as well.

This $25 million project was funded by Neal and Annette Plowman, the benefactors who established the NEXT Foundation. Janszoon was the forerunner for other large-scale conservation projects in New Zealand including ZIP and the Taranaki Mounga Project.

NEXT Foundation Board – Carol Campbell, Barry Brown, Bill Kermode (CEO) and Chris Liddell (Chair)

Zero Invasive Predators Ltd, Bottle Rock Peninsula, Marlborough Sounds

With members of the ZIP team, we visited Ship Cove where ZIP’s predator defence system is protecting a 400 hectare area from reinvasion by possums, rats and stoats. Since ZIP was established in February 2015, their team of 12 has come a long way with their research and technology (satellite remote reporting, social lures, radio tracking of invading rats and stoats).

They are now beginning to plan operations at the next scale (a site of approximately 400 hectares) to further test their ‘Remove and Protect’ system.

ZIP is funded by NEXT, DOC, Morgan Foundation, Jasmine Social Investments, and a collective of New Zealand dairy companies, resulting in leverage of $6 for every $1 invested by the Department.

ZIP CEO Al Bramley with team members Duncan Kay, Phil Bell and Elaine Murphy

Wasp control breakthrough

Wasp densities in New Zealand are now among the highest in the world which is remarkable given common wasps didn’t arrive in New Zealand until 1972.

So it’s exciting that one of the greatest breakthroughs we’ve made recently is the work our science and operations staff have been doing with partners to control wasps with protein-based bait containing the insecticide Fipronil.

At St Arnaud recently our staff took me through the work they were doing to prevent wasps reaching very high numbers in peak season of February to April. This is when wasps deplete nectar and honeydew resources and start attacking insects and spiders and become a nuisance.  Staff described honeydew beech forests and nearby open areas humming with flying wasps hunting for insects.

Our work in this area means for the first time the country has a great new tool for reducing the impact of these introduced pests. Members of the public can buy the wasp bait for private use from the Nelson-based company Merchento.

Controlling wasps with the protein-based bait

Journey down the Whanganui River

Over Easter I visited Whanganui, where I spent a day on the river with our Taumaranui ranger Peter Rihia.

Journeying down the river with Peter Rihia

Peter has had 31 years on the river and has the huge respect of tourism operators, Iwi and landowners alike.  It was fantastic to hear his stories of the marae along the river, see the waka pole marks and pay respects to the river Taniwha.

Tourism on Whanganui River is having its busiest ever year. There are ten tourism operators offering canoeing, cycling and jet boating opportunities attracting around 30,000 people to participate in these activities along the river. The day I was there was one of the busiest, with 300 canoes on the river.

While in Whanganui, I biked the Mangapurua/Kaiwhakauka Mountain Bike track. This track tells one of our great historic stories. Parcels of land in this remote valley were settled by soldiers after World War I but by the 1940s, settlers had been forced out by the poor access, weather conditions, erosion and falling stock prices.

The track runs 28 kilometres downhill to the Bridge to Nowhere. On the way, you pass wooden signs bearing the names of original settlers on their previous camp or house sites.

The famous Bridge to Nowhere in Mangaparua Valley

The next phase of work is to work with the Friends of Mangaparua on a historic interpretation plan for the valley, so future visitors can learn more about the intriguing history of this failed settlement.

DOC had two rangers, Richard Shanks and Josh Penn from Pipiriki, on the track in one of our new light utility vehicles

Blue Duck Station – Whanganui River

While on the Whanganui River, Peter took us to meet the Steele family at Whakahoro. Richard and Rachel Steele moved to their farm in 1993 and their son Dan bought the neighbouring farm in 2006. Today Dan runs Blue Duck Station across 1400 hectares of hill country. The station is a successful business integrating a predator control programme, sheep and beef farm, manuka honey production and a thriving tourism offering.

Dan Steele of Blue Duck Station with DOC’s Peter Rihia

Blue Duck Station is a farming and conservation success story. Dan essentially shares the predator free NZ story with 7,000 people a year. He was awarded a Nuffield Scholarship last year to increase the profile of New Zealand farming sustainability and conservation.

Their tourism venture is currently turning over around 14,000 bed nights each year and it’s growing every year.

Dan now runs 500 traps across the farm as part of the DOC/Horizons Regional Council Kia Wharite project, a 180,000 hectare predator control programme. Each year they catch an estimated 1,500 rats, 100 stoats and 50 feral cats at Blue Duck Station.

The Steeles use QEII covenants to ensure long term protection. We saw their whio programme and heard of flocks of 100 tui now being seen in the valley. Dan will be a keynote speaker at this year’s Environmental Defence Society Conference in Auckland this August. One of New Zealand’s great farming inspirations!

Wild for Taranaki

Conservation Minister Maggie Barry recently launched the Taranaki Biodiversity Trust’s new identity, ‘Wild for Taranaki’, at the Biodiversity Forum in Stratford.

The Trust is made up of 19 different groups including DOC, Iwi, Fish & Game and the Taranaki Regional Council, working together to raise the profile of Taranaki’s biodiversity, encourage participation in conservation and develop new projects. Initiatives like this have great potential to supercharge ‘Predator Free New Zealand’.

Minister Maggie Barry at the launch of Wild Taranaki with members of the Trust.

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 Dave Matthews who is retiring from DOC after 33 years working as a ranger based out of Hamilton.

Dave planting another tree (a career tally of many thousands)

At work

Some things I do in my job include:

Track and structure inspections, general maintenance of tracks and facilities, signage, fire permits and readiness and (the occasional) reptile and bird permitting.

This helps achieve DOC’s vision by:

Keeping our tracks and facilities safe and enjoyable for visitors and enhancing their experience of the great outdoors.

The best bit about my job is:

Being out and about in our fabulous back country. Sitting on top of Mount Pirongia and having a falcon fly past your face.

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

The late Don Major. He had amazing skill at just about everything he did and always maintained the highest levels of integrity and honesty. I also enjoyed my long association with Bruce Postill in the Waikato area.

Dave Matthews (seated front right) in the original ‘Tainui District’ team photo

On a personal note…

Most people don’t know that:

I have a log-splitter.

The song that always cheers me up is:

‘Have You Ever Seen The Rain’ by Creedence Clearwater Revival.

My happy place is:

Anywhere in Tongariro National Park.

Work colleagues over many years, Bruce Postill (left) and Dave at Pahautea Hut, atop Mount Pirongia

If I could trade places with any other person for a week, it would be:

Julius Caesar (when he was good friends with Cleopatra).

My best ever holiday was:

Spending six months touring Europe in a Kombi van might have been the ‘best’ but arriving in New York with my family a few days after 9/11 was certainly memorable. Looking down on Ground Zero from the Empire State Building; being there when America went to war against Afghanistan; the anthrax scare in New Jersey. We went from place to place catching up with American students that we had hosted at home over the years. Seeing places like Vermont, up by the Canadian border – breathtaking.

My greatest sporting moment was when:

I climbed Mount D’Archaic in Aoraki National Park. (And I carried the baton from Piarere to Tirau prior to the 1974 Commonwealth games!

The thing I’m most looking forward to in the next 6 months is:

Having my wife Dianne back from Nauru, where she has been teaching for the past two and a half years and adjusting to retirement mode.

Dave and Diane – let the new chapter begin!

In my spare time:

I enjoy cycling, anything physical, reading (mainly non-fiction).

If I could be any New Zealand native species I’d be:

An Archey’s frog. Living for decades without having to get into water.

My secret indulgence is:

Playing with my log-splitter.

If I wasn’t working at DOC, I’d like to:

Be a permanent traveller, exploring New Zealand’s backcountry.

Before working at DOC:

I was a teacher for nine years, then three years as ranger assistant for Department of Lands and Survey.

My hero is:

Sir Edmund Hillary.

My biggest pet peeve is:

Don’t really have any. Maybe people who always say ‘awesome’!

My most prized possession is:

My log splitter.

Dave on duty at Mystery Creek Fieldays (career tally of many thousands of words of sound advice!)

Deep and meaningful…

My favourite quote is:

‘I am just going outside and may be some time.’ (Lawrence Oates)

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

Think before you speak.

In work and life I am motivated by:

The challenge of doing a job well. (Okay, the challenge of doing it perfectly!)

My conservation advice to New Zealanders is:

Look after it while you’ve still got it.

A few words about Dave by Bruce Postill

Following a travel period overseas Dave returned to work for Lands & Survey Dept in the mid 1980s as a Reserve Assistant. When DOC was established in 1987 he became a field ranger attached to the original Waikato Region’s Tainui District, a role he retained until this year.

Dave is a keen outdoorsman and has a broad range of skills. Climbing, hunting, tramping and prior to working with DOC he was an outdoor education teacher.

He has always been an outspoken and passionate conservationist. He’s never been short of something to say, especially on political matters or if someone in the office failed to use the correct recycle bin. He was our office’s ‘recycling conscience’. Talking and being able to pass his skills or opinion to anyone within earshot is one of his favourite pastimes.

There are more funny stories about Dave than almost anyone else in the Waikato District. On one occasion he was undertaking the painting of a two metre high galvanised iron fence. It overhung a very wet peat bog:

“What we will do is get a long plank to overhang the bog. Drive the front wheel of the 4×4 onto the end of the plank and I will walk out to the end and do the painting.” Dave carefully made it to the end of the plank and with the first stroke of the brush, the plank pivoted sideways away from the fence. The paint was lost and Dave was fully enveloped in the bog.

One of Dave’s outstanding skills was the quality of his workmanship on tracks, building jobs and especially signs.

Dave only had one standard, ‘perfect’. If a sign needed two coats of paint it got three. He always had a critical eye for grammatical text issues on draft signs. The placement of the sign and where holes were dug, the signed washed and the ground left appearing undisturbed.

For many years to come Dave’s contribution to people’s conservation welfare will be visible on Waikato tracks.

By Anja Scholz, Volunteer Hut Warden

My trip into Kahurangi National Park to volunteer as a hut warden nearly didn’t happen, as the previous night’s rain had caused enough flooding to put the bus trip in question – but in the end we made it with a few hours’ delay.

I shouldered my fairly substantial pack for the nine day stint as ‘Volunteer Assistant Hut Warden’, and tramped the 17 kilometres uphill to Perry Saddle Hut in good time.

On the move

Hut warden Henriette welcomed me with a hot drink – I would be spending the first four days with her on the eastern sector of the track, moving between Perry Saddle and Saxon Huts.

My first night was very relaxed, consisting of settling into the flash new warden’s quarters (hot showers!), having dinner, and talking about the programme for the next few days. That very night (as on most nights afterwards) we heard kiwi calling!

The next few days were very informative and included a lot of walking. The two eastern sector wardens (working week on/week off) look after three huts, monitor and re-bait seven trap lines in the Gouland Downs area, and do track work and other maintenance work around huts and tracks.

Anja hard at work!

I was shown the various technical bits in and around the huts such as water lines and intakes, sewage workings, and the gas system, and helped with cleaning the huts, doing trap lines, stock take and doing monthly checks.

Additionally, we talked to trampers while on the track, and Henriette did the evening booking checks and ‘question time’ at the huts.

Walking between the huts, and along the trap lines, I seriously questioned my fitness, but conceded that after a whole season on the track I, too, might not be feeling the long days as much.

Evenings concluded with hot Milo and stories about the many things that happen on the track, from flooding to hut fee dodgers, burst water pipes to kiwi spotting and amazing sunsets. It became obvious that a well stacked tool shed and ‘number 8 wire’ ingenuity are a must for wardens to keep huts and tracks in working order throughout the season and some inclement weather!

The huts and campsites were fully booked over the Easter weekend, so interacting with trampers was a large part of the work on those days – the majority of trampers being Kiwis, and several playing Easter bunny for us wardens, leaving us chocolate eggs.

Anja assists fellow hut warden Richard

On day five it was ‘handover day’, and because Henriette had another trap line to do while en route back to Perry Saddle, I offered to do the Saxon Hut clean before moving on to the western sector. There I was to meet hut warden Richard and spend the remainder of my track days under his tutelage.

The western wardens look after Mackay, Lewis and Heaphy huts, as well as doing the track work on this sector. Instead of trap lines, they have an extensive lawn area to mow at the Heaphy Hut, and spend far more time wiping down window ledges – sandfly country!

I spent a couple of nights at the Mackay staff hut, helping with track work and a thorough clean of the trampers’ hut, and being woken by the resident ‘Mackay gang’ of five kea which were a delight to watch but a nuisance to behold as they had discovered the fun of destroying water pipe lagging.

Moving on to Lewis Hut for a night, and then to Heaphy Hut for my last night on the track, we spotted many more of the bird species already encountered previously, plus some new ones: weka, pīwakawaka, miromiro, tītīpounamu, korimako, toutouwai, tūī, kea, kereru, kāruhiruhi, and various seagulls. At the huts I again helped with giving them a good thorough clean, and at Lewis Hut, finding the water tanks empty, we had to fix a water line problem and carried water up from the river for the hut users.

One of the ‘Mackay’ gang

While kiwi were again heard but not seen that night and the next, we spotted eels and some giant spiders. We finally spent the last day with another good cleaning effort at Heaphy Hut, and checking and rebaiting rat traps, and the last night at the staff hut with warden Pat. Brilliant views, impressive ocean, lovely bush, good food and calling kiwi were only offset by a good supply of namu – sandflies.

And then came ‘walk out day’ with an early start – two toilets to clean on the way – to catch the return bus to Nelson from the Kohaihai Shelter. Time to say good-bye to the track and wardens – thank you Henriette and Richard for having me stay in your staff quarters, showing me the tricks of the trade/track, sharing food, pictures and stories. Thanks to DOC for providing the volunteer opportunity and organizing the trip for me. It won’t have been my last time on this Great Walk!

Today’s photo is of Tautuku Bay, a rocky coastal area found in the Catlins, east of Waikawa.

New Zealand sea lions and yellow-eyed penguins can often be seen on the beach at Tautuku and the nearby estuary is home to a population of fernbirds.

DOC and Forest and Bird are currently looking for volunteers interested in joining a mid-winter weekend of conservation in the Catlins.

Volunteers will stay at Tautuku Lodge and help on two conservation projects at Otanomomo and Te Rere Scientific Reserves. Both reserves are closed to the public and the trip will provide an opportunity to learn about these two special areas.

The trip will take place from 15 – 17 July 2016. Further information can be found on the DOC website.

Photo by Douglas Kelley (CC BY-NC 2.0.).

Two tracks on Raoul Island in the Kermadecs have been dedicated to the memory of ‘Raoulies’ Mark Kearney and Mihai Muncus-Nagy.

Kearney’s Crossing is dedicated to Mark Kearney, who died on 17 March 2006 when the Raoul volcano erupted as he was collecting water samples from the crater lake.

Kearney’s Crossing leading over to Denham Bay

Mihai’s March is dedicated to Mihai Muncus-Nagy, who went missing at Fishing Rock on 2 January 2012, also while collecting a water sample from the sea.

Mihai’s March to Fishing Rock

A dedication ceremony for the two tracks was held in March during a re-supply trip to Raoul Island. On the afternoon of Sunday 2 April, the team assembled to unveil the track signs and two memorial plaques honouring Mark and Mihai.

“Mark and Mihai are forever part of the DOC whanau and forever part of this most beautiful island. These plaques and track signs will reflect that,” said Deputy Director-General Science and Policy, Bruce Parkes, who travelled to Raoul on the HMNZS Wellington for the dedication ceremony.

Mark’s mother, Joy Walters was also able to travel to Raoul Island for the ceremony.

The walking tracks

Kearney’s Crossing leads from the Raoul hostel accommodation over to Denham Bay. This was Mark’s favourite place to visit during his time on the island.

“Denham Bay is probably the most spectacular part of the island. It’s a beautiful piece of track,” says Bruce.

Mihai’s March starts from Fishing Rock and follows up the short steep track to the start of the road leading back to the hostel. This track was the last one Mihai walked before he went missing.

Denham Bay

A permanent part of the island

Raoul ranger Paul Rennie worked with the families to come up with the words and photos for the plaques. They will now be a lasting reminder for future Raoulies and visitors to the island.

“For the team here today it was a very poignant moment. They think about Mark and Mihai every day and these signs reflect that,” said Bruce at the dedication ceremony.

“It meant a lot.”

Bruce travelled back to Auckland on the HMNZS Wellington with Joy and he spoke to her about the ceremony and her time on the island, which included a visit to a viewing platform over the volcano caldera.

“She was able to explore a reasonable amount of the island. She had a fantastic time. She told me it was a wonderful experience and the DOC team had done an amazing job of looking after her, and that it meant a lot.”

Click the images below to read the words on the memorial plaques.

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 Annie De’Ath, Organisational Development Advisor based in Wellington.

At work…

Some things I do in my job include:

Working on programmes and frameworks to help with the development of DOC staff. Currently, most of my energy is focused on the upcoming workplace engagement survey and making sure everything is set up to run smoothly.

‘Nonna’, me, dad and my uncle at our Italian cooking class in Tuscany

This helps achieve DOC’s vision by:

Ensuring our people have the opportunities to reach their potential and deliver more for conservation. Other things like the workplace engagement survey provide an important platform for staff to give feedback on what is working well in the organisation, and what needs improvement. By collecting this information across the organisation we can find out some clear themes which help managers think about where to focus their efforts.

The best bit about my job is:

Working with such a cool bunch of people. Our little corner of the world is always full of laughter which makes it really enjoyable to be at work. I also love working with managers and seeing how passionate they are about helping their staff grow and develop.

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

Heading down to Nelson to see what my team mate Scott gets up to down there. Him and his partner own a lot of native land and it was so cool to spend a night out there and see what he does in his spare time. I meet so many people here who do incredible stuff outside of work which is pretty inspiring.

Walking around Lake Rotopounamu

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

My manager Sally Thomas. She is a super cool person and I learn a lot from working with her every day about enabling and empowering others.

On a personal note…

The thing I’m most looking forward to in the next 6 months is:

It isn’t 6 months so I am cheating, but I am really looking forward to Christmas! I am over-excited about Christmas most years, but this year I have immediate and extended family from my side, and my partners staying with us. So I am really looking forward to doing all the cooking, decorating the house, and buying more lights!

Christmas cupcakes – the start of my favourite season

In my spare time:

I go to Melbourne as often as I can to spend time with my parents and two younger sisters. I also love being in the kitchen, doing pilates, supporting the local community, and playing with my new puppy!

My new puppy

If I wasn’t working at DOC:

I’d like to work in the social sector with vulnerable children and families.

My celebrity hero is:

Jamie Oliver. I am super passionate about taking practical actions to support children and families in need, and I believe that he walks the talk with his actions around food education.

My best ever holiday was:

A few weeks with my family in France and Italy last year. I love the French culture, practicing the language, and making a lot of hilarious memories from spending so much time living in close quarters with my family (going slightly insane). It was my first time in Italy so I spent as much time as possible exploring and eating! In saying that, it is hard to choose between that trip and Thailand where I got to go diving for the first time – that was incredible.

Diving in Thailand around Racha Yai and Racha Noi Islands

Deep and meaningful…

My favourite quote is:

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid” – Einstein

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

“Look within before judging or criticising others.” – Good friend

“Do the right thing.” – Parents

“Advice is just advice.”- Shaun O’Connor

Climbing the hills in Cinque Terre, Italy with my youngest sister (note who looks more exhausted)

In work and life I am motivated by:

Helping others, having fun, doing the right thing, and achieving something positive.

My conservation advice to New Zealanders is:

Leave it better than when you found it.

Four new information panels were recently unveiled at Kapiti Island Nature Reserve to highlight the history and ongoing conservation work occurring on the island. The US Embassy supported DOC with the installation of these panels as part of the centennial celebrations of the US National Park Service.

New information panel on hihi recovery on Kapiti Island

The four new panels were unveiled at a ceremony on Wednesday 20 April. The panels touch on the island’s whaling history, the Historic Whare building and the current hihi/stitchbird conservation work.

The event was opened with a karakia from Hohepa Potini of Ngati Toa at the historic Whare, blessing the new signs and acknowledging the support of the US Embassy. Kapiti Island’s Whare is the oldest building in New Zealand associated with nature conservation.

New information panel at the Whare

Representatives from the US Embassy, local iwi and students from Victoria University, spent the day with DOC staff learning about the history of the island as they visited each newly installed informational panel. The participants even marched up the Wilkinson track to visit the hihi.

Rob Tate from the US Embassy and Rob Stone from DOC

Kapiti Island ranger and hihi expert Nick Fisentzidis hikes up the hill regularly to top up the sugar water in the supplemental feeders. As the smallest of the nectar feeding species on the island, the hihi are often outcompeted by the larger birds so these feeders ensure that there is enough food available for them.

Helping deliver the sugar water to the hihi feeders

Once down the hill, the participants shared stories over lunch. Te Atiawa representative Queenie Rikihana told the story of Kahe Te Rau-o-te-rangi who swam from Kapiti Island to Te Uruhi on the mainland with a child, Makere, strapped to her back to raise the alarm when Ngati Toa were about to be attacked by a war party. Queenie shared several other stories that had been passed down to her from her ancestors and encouraged others to share these stories so they wouldn’t be forgotten.

Group photo and blessing the historic Whare

Kapiti Island has been predator-free since 1988 and is one of New Zealand’s most important island sanctuaries, as it is home to many native species. The island also has a rich history and these new signs are a step towards sharing more Kapiti Island stories with visitors.

100 years of the US National Park Service

The US Embassy and DOC are partnering together in a number of events to promote New Zealand’s national parks, build conservation and engage people in natural areas. These events also coincide with the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the US National Park Service. There are a number of exciting events planned throughout the year.