Jobs at DOC: Earth

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

Today, in recognition of Earth Day (Sunday 22 April), we profile Earth…

At work…

Name: Earth, Gaea, Terra, World, Blue Planet, Blue Marble.

Position: Third planet out from the Sun, Solar System, Milky Way Galaxy.

Me, striking a pose

 
What kind of things do you do in your role?

I have a starring role in Earth Day on 22 April every year.

What is the best part of your job?

Playing a vital part in everyone’s life.

What is the hardest part about your job?

Being taken for granted by so many people.

What is your highlight from the month just gone?

Aurora australis being seen in New Zealand due to sunstorm activity.

Pretty cool huh

The rule of three…

Three loves

1. Me
2. Myself
3. I

Three pet peeves

1. Climate change sceptics
2. Procrastinators—don’t put off to tomorrow what can be done today
3. People who waste my resources

Three foods

1. Heaven and Earth recipe 
2. Hangi
3. Peanut (ground-nut) butter

Three favourite places 

1. The Sagittarius Dwarf Galaxy (before it was ‘eaten’ by our galaxy)
2. Space
3. Home

Favourite movie, album, book, website

1. Movie – Earth (2007) 
2. Album – Earth, Wind & Fire’s Now, Then & Forever (Guiding Lights—the cover says it all) 
3. Book – Yann Arthus-Bertramd – The Earth from above
4. Website – www.earthweek.com (A week in the life of a planet)

My fave movie of all time, starring yours truly

Deep and meaningful…

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

Hold on—it’s going to be a bumpy ride!

Who or what inspires you and why?

The 977, 876, 884 individual green acts and counting pledged on www.earthday.org 

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

A black hole!

What sustainability tip would you like to pass on?

You’ll be sorry when I’m gone!

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

Learning to step lightly.

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

A Northland mudfish or kowaro (Neochanna heleios)—you can’t get more stuck in the mud than that!

Reckon I'd make a good kowaro?

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

Think globally, act locally.