Every Monday Jobs at DOC will take you behind the scenes and into the jobs, the challenges, the highlights, and the personalities of the people who work at the Department of Conservation.
This week we find out about Trainee Ranger, Lorimar Albert:
At work…
Lorimar's intranet profile picture, taken when he did his summer placement in 2009–2010
Name: Lorimar Carey Albert
Position: Taranaki’s own Trainee Ranger
What kind of things do you do in your role?
Learn! I have learnt a huge amount since I started my apprenticeship. I have worked primarily with biodiversity in both threats and assets. This has brought my possum kill tally into the multiple hundreds and has given my plant knowledge a much needed boost. In a month I’ll be joining the Visitor Assets Team, which I’m looking forward to.
What is the best part about your job?
Checking the traps at the Rahotou road end to help out our local New Zealand dotterels.
What is the hardest part about your job?
Giving up my red bands for steel toe boots.
Lorimar at the DOC competency shoot (missed out on aerial competency by 1 mm!)
What led you to your role in DOC?
A passion for the conservation of New Zealand’s native species and the Trainee Ranger Course in Nelson.
What was your highlight from the month just gone?
Ranunculus recens monotoring. A tiny buttercup with a huge amount of awesomeness.
The rule of three…
Three loves
- Native birds
- Native plants
- Playing me geetar
Lorimar with the first bird he ever banded – a shore plover on Rangatira Island
Three pet peeves
Life’s too fun to be peeved.
Three things always in your fridge
Mustard…
Three favourite places in New Zealand
Neihana Tawera and Lorimar doing the snow skills part of the Trainee Ranger Course. Mt Robert, Nelson region
Favourite movie, album, book
- One Hot Minute by Red Hot Chili Peppers
- I’m not sure about the other two.
Deep and meaningful…
What piece of advice would you tell your 18 year old self?
Don’t sell your electric guitar.
Who or what inspires you and why?
Reading about threatened species in New Zealand. I usually can’t finish books because I get too inspired and have to put my new knowledge into action.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A DOC worker. Yes, DOC has been around my whole life.
Matt Tipoki and Lorimar at Waitetoko Marae for DOC's Te Pukenga Atawhai training programme
And now, if you weren’t working at DOC, what would you want to be?
A Musician—the struggling kind.
If you could be any New Zealand native species for a day, what would you be and why?
A katipo, so I could spend all night stinging the cats at Rahotu road end.
What piece of advice or message would you want to give to New Zealanders when it comes to conservation?
