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Archives For 30/11/1999

Your chance to question DOC staff

 —  19/10/2012

We want to know what you want to know about DOC staff.

If you’re a regular reader of the Conservation Blog you’ll know that we regularly go behind the scenes and into the jobs, the challenges, the highlights, and the personalities of the people who work at DOC. If you’re not familiar with them, you can see what all the fuss is about here: Jobs at DOC.

Southland Conservator Barry Hanson in a traditional Scottish costume.

Not the usual DOC uniform, for Southland Conservator Barry Hanson

We’re refreshing the questions and want your input. Do you want to know what their best dance move is? Their earliest childhood memory? What a day in the office entails?

Let us know what you want to know in the comments. There’s a ‘Meet the locals – season 3’ DVD up for grabs for one lucky contributor.

Christine Officer standing on a peak with Lake McKellar in the background.

A day in the office for hut ranger Christine Officer

In Jobs at DOC, Regions , , , ,
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Tuatara on Tour

Department of Conservation —  18/10/2012

Codenamed ‘Tuatara on Tour’, DOC, together with Air New Zealand and Ngāti Koata, have just achieved the largest and most complex tuatara relocation ever undertaken.

Over 260 tuatara were transported, on commercial flights from Wellington to Gisborne, Hamilton and Dunedin, to live in new homes at predator-free locations on the mainland. DOC staff were on hand to help facilitate the relocation.

The tuatara traveled by helicopter from Takapourewa (Stephens Island) in the Marlborough Sounds to Wellington Airport. After hanging out in the Koru Lounge and meeting some of their fellow passengers, the ancient reptiles boarded their flights, housed in their own travelling tubes complete with “handle with care” baggage tags.

Mike Elkington (Ngati Koata), Chris Birmingham (DOC), Rob Fyfe (Air New Zealand) and one Takapourewa tuatara on board an Air New Zealand plane.

Mike Elkington (Ngati Koata), Chris Birmingham (DOC), Rob Fyfe (Air New Zealand) and one Takapourewa tuatara

Carrianne Boyd checks the tuatara through to Maugatautari in the Waikato

Carrianne Boyd checks the tuatara through to Maugatautari in the Waikato

Tuatara are not well known for being frequent flyers, in fact they don’t generally travel more than about 20 metres from their burrows over the entire course of their lives. Luckily Air New Zealand stepped in and was happy to provide them with the transport needed to ensure these mainland populations could be re-established throughout the country.

60 of the tuatara flew to Dunedin where they were relocated to the Orokonui Sanctuary. This marks the first return of the species to the wild in the South Island and is by far the furthest south that tuatara have been free to roam in 100 years.

Other groups of tuatara went to Whangaokeno Island in north east of Gisborne, Cape Sanctuary in Hawke’s Bay, Young Nicks Head Sanctuary near Gisborne and Maungatautari in Central Waikato.

Takapourewa, where the reptiles originate, is also predator free and home to around 30,000 tuatara, which is around half of the country’s population.

Handle with care tags attached to the tuatara cargo.

‘Handle with care’ tags were attached to this precious cargo

Because Takapourewa is home to so many tuatara it is hoped that relocating these living fossils will enable them to grow bigger. The overpopulation on Takapourewa means that the tuatara won’t grow to their full capacity. There has also been evidence that some of the mature males have hunted juveniles.

The relocation was a great success and all the tuatara arrived safe and sound at their new homes.

Have you been lucky enough to see a tuatara in real life? What did you think of these amazing and ancient creatures? We’d love to hear your story. Leave us a comment.

Tuatara facts

  • Tuatara were once widespread in New Zealand but were extinct on the mainland by the late 1700s due to predation by introduced mammals, human harvest and habitat changes.
  • Tuatara survive naturally on about 30 offshore islands – the equivalent of just 0.5% of their former range.
  • New Zealand’s total tuatara population is estimated at greater than 60,000.
In Native animals, Regions , , , ,
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Kayak trail opens at West Coast lagoon

Department of Conservation —  16/10/2012

The Ōkārito Lagoon Kayak Trail on the West Coast was officially opened by Norm Thompson, deputy CEO of Air New Zealand, on Friday 5 October, in defiance of some of the worst weather to hit the West Coast this spring.

Norm Thompson opens the trail with the help of Luuka Jones and Holly Robinson.

Norm Thompson opens the trail with the help of Luuka Jones and Holly Robinson

Approximately 30 hardy souls, warmed by sausages and kumara patties at a pre-event barbeque, fought their way through the driving rain and 40 knot winds to the shelter of the shed on the historic Ōkārito Wharf, near Westland National Park.

While the weather put paid to plans for an inaugural mass kayak flotilla, led by Olympians Luuka Jones and Holly Robinson, these two champion athletes cheerfully assisted with the other important rituals of the day, including arranging the official ribbon for cutting, and planting soil-stabilising carex grasses on the lagoon shore.

In the comparative calm of the wharf shed, Norm Thompson cut the ribbon to declare the South Island’s first kayak trail officially open to the public. Norm spoke about the range of projects that have been sponsored by the Air New Zealand Environment Trust so far, and the great relationship that the Trust and Air New Zealand as a whole have built with DOC in their restoration and sponsorship activities.

Norm Thompson and Wayne Costello braving the weather to open the trail.

Norm Thompson and Wayne Costello braving the weather to open the trail

Highlighting the successful partnership that has seen the creation of this trail Norm Thompson said “DOC manages one of the most important tourism assets in New Zealand—its incredible natural environment, so as the company that brings more visitors to this country than any other, Air New Zealand values being able to work with DOC on projects such as this to protect and enhance that environment”.

The opening of the trail is a highlight of the Glaciers to Wetlands Restoration Project, funded by the Air New Zealand Environment Trust, which as well as restoring the wetland complex to its former glory is also making it easier for visitors to the area to enjoy what wetlands have to offer to people and the other inhabitants of the complex ecosystem.

White heron sculpture stands along the kayak trail to mark the route.

White herons mark the route

It’s intended that, through the provision of good information and a well-thought-out guide to the kayaking possibilities on the lagoon, New Zealanders and overseas visitors will develop an appreciation of the importance of healthy wetlands, and that the region will be a winner economically with increased tourist numbers and longer stays in the region.

Clare Backes, chair of the West Coast Tai Poutini Conservation Board said, “There is a real need for this kind of eco-sensitive development which showcases our unique environment and its flora and fauna. Both New Zealanders and international tourists will appreciate this new development by DOC”.

The kayak trail winds through seven kilometres of New Zealand’s largest unmodified wetland system—the Ōkārito Lagoon. The kayakers follow cleverly designed numbered kotuku (white heron) markers that correspond to information in a waterproof trail guide that has been designed to fit on the deck of a kayak.

As the rain beat heavily on the region, river levels rose quickly, but out at the lagoon, water levels were affected mainly by the tide, thanks to the flooding mitigation that is one of the essential services wetlands like Ōkārito lagoon provide.

A kayak on the trail on a sunny day in the Okarito lagoon.

On a sunny day it looks like this!

In Recreation, West Coast , , , , , ,
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Jobs at DOC: Dan O’Halloran, Ranger – Biodiversity

Department of Conservation —  12/10/2012

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 Dan O’Halloran, Ranger – Biodiversity.

Name:  Dan O’Halloran.

Position: Ranger Biodiversity Bay of Islands Area Office.

Dan getting down and dirty on Mauima.

Getting down and dirty on Mauimua (Lady Alice) a few years back

At work

Possum in a tree.

The possum is public enemy number one!

What kind of things do you do in your role? 

I trap, poison and monitor possums and supervise other staff, contractors, volunteers and commercial operators doing the same. I monitor & supervise our goat programme; assist with species work including snails (flax and kauri) and kiwi; assist with our weed programme and run the Puketi Weedbusters group.

I work with various community and iwi groups and liase with adjoining landowers, especially regarding pest control issues. As an Area Warranted Officer I am mainly involved with hunters and dog issues, as well as vandalism and rubbish dumping. I am a boat skipper, a Rural Fire Officer and staff Health and Safety rep.

What is the best part about your job? 

Two things, the first are those moments when you come across something – a creature or view appears, or you notice plant in fruit or flower – and you know that you would never have got that experience if it weren’t for the job you’re doing. The second is when that happens, along with the realisation, that what you are seeing is a direct result of work done by yourself, your colleagues or our conservation partners.

Four flax snails sitting on a rock under plants.

Flax snails on (the imaginatively named) Snail Rock

What was your highlight from the month just gone?

Seeing how well the pohutukawa are recovering in Pekapeka Bay.

The rule of 3…


3 loves 

  1.  My buddy Viv and all our friends and whanau.
  2. The natural world.
  3. Music.


3 pet peeves

  1. Vandals – why don’t you just get a life.
  2. Rubbish dumpers/litterers – ditto.
  3. Poorly informed people who think they have all the answers regarding pest control.


3 foods

  1. Rice.
  2. Plums.
  3. Dead creatures.

3 favourite places in New Zealand 

  1. The Whangaroa rohe, from Takou to Taemaro it is, like the man said, “a singular and beautifully romantic place”.
  2. Waikouaiti and East Otago, a wonderful place to grow up.
  3. Puketi Omahuta, if you’re talking biodiversity it’s the mother of all ngahere.
View from Whangaroa Harbour.

View from Whangaroa Harbour

Favourite movie , album, book  

  • Album – its a toss up between “Genius” the Warren Zevon greatest hits collection and “Enjoy Every Sandwich” where Dylan, Springsteen, Earle, and The Pixies etc. pay tribute to Zevon’s brillance, with an honourable mention for the Amnesty International  4 CD release “Chimes of Freedom” where 80 artists do Dylan covers. Some pretty amazing stuff, and if you buy it off the website your $40 goes to fighting injustice.
  • Movie – one of the best I’ve seen lately is “Sex & Drugs & Rock’n’Roll”, the Ian Dury biopic starring Andy Serkis.
  • Book – Jared Diamond’s “Guns Germs & Steel” or  Tim Flannery’s “The Future Eaters”.

Deep and meaningful…


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

It dosen’t matter, I wouldn’t have taken any notice. At 18 I knew everthing and was totally bulletproof.

Who or what inspires you and why? 

My colleagues who keep on keeping on despite everything that gets thrown at them.

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

A DJ.

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

A conservation worker for the NZ Native Forests Restoration Trust, Kiwi Foundation, Puketi Forest Trust or some other NGO.

What sustainability tip would you like to pass on? 

Switch things off – it’s that simple.

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

Use less paper.

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

If that day was 1200 or so years ago, I’d like to be a kauri specifically the giant Te Tangi O Te Tui so I could see what creatures roamed Puketi in its heyday, if thats not a real answer I’ll go for the Kahu because they’re cool (vote for the Kahu in the Forest & Bird poll – closes 10 October).

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

People—get out there and do it, it’s not enough to talk the talk, you need to walk the walk.

Rata in flower on the Mokau ridge.

One of those moments – rata in flower on the Mokau ridge Puketi Omahuta

Please leave a comment – do you have any pieces of advice or messages that you would give to New Zealanders when it comes to conservation?

In Animal pests, Jobs at DOC, Northland, Regions, Sustainability, Weeds , , , , ,
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Jobs at DOC Jonathan Kearvell, Biodiversity Ranger – Orange-fronted Parakeet

Department of Conservation —  05/10/2012

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 Jonathan Kearvell, Biodiversity Ranger orange-fronted parakeet.

Taking an orange-front out of a mist net and trying not to get my fingers too badly torn!

Taking an orange-front out of a mist net and trying not to get my fingers too badly torn

Name: Jonathan Kearvell

Position: Biodiversity Ranger Orange-fronted Parakeet, Waimakariri Area.

At work…

What kind of things do you do in your role?

My primary role is acting as Team Leader for the Orange-fronted Parakeet team, which entails guiding the breeding season team when searching for and protecting nests, monitoring parakeet numbers and general valley searches. Apart from lots of data entry in the winter I also have a freshwater role, including Mudfish monitoring.

What is the best part of your job?

Easy—working with the best people ever; makes the job a joy. Thanks all.


What is the hardest part about the job?

Working a 10 day away (four at home) roster for seven months of the year, and this for most years since 1995. I’m sure quite a few do this but it sure makes it hard on my long suffering wife.

What led you to your role in DOC?

I simply had to work for DOC, right from the day we emigrated here in 1993; who wouldn’t. So I walked in the door on the first day and asked. So thanks Andy Grant and Ian Hill for giving me my first jobs; volunteering and then some historic inventory research.

John trying to find orange-fronts on Maud Island.

Trying to find orange-fronts on Maud Island

John checking out a parakeet nest.

Checking out a parakeet nest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


What was the highlight from the month just gone?

Hearing that they had spotted an unbanded orange-fronted parakeet on Blumine Island; they were first translocated there 9 months ago and they are breeding; just great.

The rule of three…..

3 loves

  1. My wife
  2. My family
  3. My crazy dog Murphy

3 pet peeves

  1. Litter
  2. Wasting food
  3. Failing to identify yet another parakeet
  4. …and of course wee Kirsty. I know that’s four but she will understand

3 foods

In no particular order:

  1. Homemade coffee cake
  2. Chocolate
  3. Real ale
A photo from John of the hurunui river with mountains in the background.

The south branch of the Hurunui river

3 favourite places in New Zealand

  • The South Branch of the Hurunui (in Lake Sumner Forest Park) will always be special to me and I never tired of going there
  • Mangere Island in the Chathams is also a huge favourite
  • Akaroa, it is just such a cool place

Favourite movie, album, book

  • Movie – just has to be the quirky French comedy ‘Amelie’
  • Album – easily Loreena McKennitt and ‘Nights from the Alhambra’, although Imelda May is a close second these days
  • Book – I first read it 47 years ago; it has to be Lord of the Rings

Deep and meaningful…

What piece of advice would you tell your 18 year old self?
Don’t panic, don’t rush, life will show you the way.

Who or what inspires you?
People like Aung San Suu Kyi; she believes, she has faith.

Electric fishing in Arthur’s Pass National Park, with my super supervisor, Simon Elkington..

Electric fishing in Arthur’s Pass National Park, with my supervisor, Simon Elkington

The trials of working on Mangere Island; and this skua drew blood!

The trials of working on Mangere Island; and this skua drew blood

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A soldier in the Royal Marines, but I ended up in the junior TA instead.

And now, if you weren’t working at DOC, what would you want to be?
Either a jump jockey or an archaeologist; and I’ve been one in a wee way.

What sustainability tip would you like to pass on?
Second hand is OK.

Which green behaviour would you like to adopt this year-at home? At work?
Grow even more wonderful vegetables and cycle more often to work, even when it’s raining.

If you could be any New Zealand native species for a day, what would you be and why?
Sorry all but it is going to have to be an orange-fronted parakeet. I want to know what it is like flying really fast through dense vegetation; they are just awesome at it. Especially when a falcon is on their tail!

What piece of advice or message would you want to give to New Zealanders when it comes to conservation?
I quote from Maggie Kuhn; “Stand before the people you fear and speak your mind even if your voice shakes”.

The Orange-fronted Parakeet is a beautiful bird, what is your favourite New Zealand bird species?

In Canterbury, Jobs at DOC, Native animals, Regions , , ,
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