Jobs at DOC: Rotorua Partnership Ranger, Caraline Abbott

Department of Conservation —  07/03/2014

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 Caraline Abbott, a Partnership Ranger based in Rotorua

At work

Getting ready to scuba dive.

Getting ready to scuba dive

Some things I do in my job include being the go-to person for intranet and web publishing and media relations.

I work with community groups and try to support them where possible.

I’m also responsible for updating our local publications such as the Rotorua Recreation Guide and have represented DOC at community events.

This helps achieve DOC’s vision by engaging the public in our works and highlighting our successes.

Good communication is the key to everything!

The best bit about my job is getting to go out and meet some of our fantastic volunteer community groups—it’s inspiring!

The awesome-est DOC moment I’ve had so far is walking the Tarawera Trail with the Partnerships team in my second week on the job.

The official opening was the week I started and I was eager to get out and explore, so it was perfect timing.

The DOC (or previous DOC) employee that inspires or enthuses me most is Ron Keyzer because he’s managed to find the perfect balance between fishing and working.

Caraline and her family.

Family time at Lake Rotorua

On a personal note

Most people don’t know that I run a Facebook page called Frugal Kiwi Mum that has nearly 3,000 followers.

Last year, I used to have a radio slot called ‘Frugal Fridays’ and a weekly spot in The Rotorua Daily Post writing about sustainable living, providing money saving tips and frugal recipes.

My stomping ground is the Northern Territory of Australia.

I lived in Darwin for two years before moving to New Zealand and I just love the way of life there. Everybody is so relaxed and down to earth and the scenery is next to none.

Man eating sharks and saltwater crocodiles are my favourite animals and the NT has got plenty of them!

Heli-hiking on Franz Josef Glacier
Scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef

My best ever holiday was when I was 21, I booked myself a ticket to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, LA, Mexico and Toronto and gave myself eight months to see the sights.

I met my now husband in Australia the first week I was away from the UK and I never did complete my trip so you could say I’ve been on holiday since 2006!

We later spent a few months in South East Asia, which was an eye opening experience.

The best piece of news I’ve heard lately is my mum and dad are coming to visit me for Christmas from England!! They haven’t been over since my son was born in 2012 so it’s a long overdue visit.

They want to experience a Kiwi Christmas on the beach, test out some walking trails and also volunteer with pest control operations!

In my spare time I am the Childbirth Education Convener for Rotorua Parents Centre which involves managing the contract with the District Health Board, booking ladies into classes, writing management plans and strategic documents, reviewing educators and writing reports.

Deep and meaningful

Preparing to take a leap of faith at Rotorua Canopy Tours.

Preparing to take a leap of faith at Rotorua Canopy Tours

My favourite quote is ‘You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.’ – Wayne Gretzky or ‘Fall seven times and stand up eight.’ – Japanese Proverb

The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is work hard, play harder.

In work and life I am motivated by karma. What goes around comes around. Work hard and you will reap the rewards.

My conservation advice to New Zealanders is be involved and play your own part. Your role is yet to be defined but conservation is everybody’s responsibility.

Question of the week

Do you have any phobias?

Apart from the obvious ‘something happening to somebody I care about’, despite growing up in rural England, I’m not too fond of sheep! I got chased by one once and those rectangular pupils give them a sinister stare. Never trust a sheep unless it’s on your dinner plate!

In Bay of Plenty, Jobs at DOC
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A bigger and better Pestival!

Department of Conservation —  06/03/2014

By Wendy Sullivan, Partnerships Ranger, Picton

Picton Pestival logo. Last March I was watching the news on the television when a story came on about a ‘Pestival‘ (a pest festival would you believe!) in the small town of Picton.

The Pestival was run by a community group at the Kaipupu Point Sounds Wildlife Sanctuary, and had Gareth Morgan as guest speaker – coincidently it was not long after Gareth had the hit headlines regarding his Cats to Go campaign. Over 500 people came to this local event.

Little did I know that 12 months later I would be living in Picton, and would end up meeting the charismatic organisers of the second annual Pestival—Jenny Keene, Jo O’Connell and Chrissy Powlesland.

This time around I was determined to be a part of the event and to help make it even bigger and better than the previous year.

The Pestival is a uniquely kiwi, ‘heartland party’ to raise funds for Kaipupu Point, a predator fenced reserve located right next to the ferry terminals in Picton.

The Pestival also aims to raise awareness of pests and predators, and the focus is on what you can do in your backyard—whether it’s planting bird friendly trees, building weta houses, or learning how to trap.

The Raticators - Peter Hobson and Helen Crook.

The Raticators – Peter Hobson and Helen Crook

I have heard from locals who attended the Pestival last year that they were able to go away knowing the difference between a Norway rat and a ship rat, and which trap is the best one to use for a certain type of pest.

The day’s entertainment includes live music, food, local delicacies, environmental speakers, mini-workshops, conservation and trapping stalls, a market place, a pest contest, fancy dress prizes and a children’s programme.

Rat in a tree.

Rat nibbling a sign

Visit Kaipupu Point

With natural ecosystems flourishing in an almost completely pest free environment, Kaipupu Point is well worth a visit. It’s open year-round and free for everyone to enjoy.

Pestival 2014 — Saturday 22 March

The second annual Pestival will be held on Saturday 22 March 2014 11 am—6 pm, at the Waitohi Domain, Picton.

More information is available on the DOC website.

In Animal pests, Nelson/Marlborough , , , , , , ,
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Photo of the Week: Erect-crested penguin

Department of Conservation —  05/03/2014

This week’s photo shows an erect-crested penguin on New Zealand’s subantarctic Bounty Islands.

Erect-crested penguin. Photo: Tui de Roy. Copyright. DOC use only.

The image celebrates Seaweek 2014 (1–9 March 2014) — a national celebration of our marine environment with hundreds of events taking place around the country.

It also represents the wildlife now protected as a result of the three new subantarctic marine reserves established this week.

Photo copyright Tui de Roy | DOC use only

In Islands, Marine, Photo of the week , , , , , , ,
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Mums on the run to Papatahi Hut

Department of Conservation —  04/03/2014

By Angeline Barnes, Outreach and Education Coordinator – Lower North Island

Busy mums dream of a weekend away, we need it and deserve it.  We long for a window of time away from daily life, away from our dearly beloved children.  Imagine being able to pee alone, not have to share the food off our plate or deal with the ‘but why’ questions. Just imagine.

Mums starting on Orongorongo Track.

Orongorongo Track

Ladies, when planning a trip away, don’t let the perceived barriers of cost, travel distance or general complication get in the way.  It really is easy.  If your key ingredients are good company, good food, easy travel, light exercise, swimming, laughter and peace and tranquilly, I have the solution for you. Book a DOC serviced hut and get going.

This weekend, my friends and I set off for our third annual mum’s weekend away to the Orongorongo Valley, in the Rimutaka Forest Park. Our mantra is fun comes first and we must have good food.

Once the Saturday morning children’s sport was done, we gathered at a cafe for a spot of lunch and a cheeky glass of bubbly. The 40 minute drive from Wellington to Catchpool Valley was easy. Following a quick toilet stop, costume change, redistribution of supplies, application of lippy, packs were on and we were off!

Five minutes to Papatahi Hut.

Five minutes to Papatahi Hut

This year our outfits symbolised who we are, or who we dreamed of being. The large scrabble letters of YUM on our front and MUM on our packs kept other trampers intrigued, the sweatband of the flapper’s headpiece kept the brow smooth and I wonder what the birds thought of the sun reflecting on our tiaras?

The weather was perfect, so we walked up the river bed (rather than the alternative track). The walk took about 3 hours. We stopped for a pre-dinner river swim to freshen up before the climb up the perfectly formed stairs to Papatahi Hut.  As we relaxed and appreciated the tranquilly of the bush, we smiled smugly and wondered how our husbands were coping with the demands of the 30 children we mums left behind!

Nestled in the hills, Papatahi Hut very affordable and is bookable. With the knowledge that there would be no late night trampers join us, we got settled in. It was agreed that drinking our cocktails from a coffee cup is a small price to pay for the benefits of a posh hut.

Banish all visions of dirty cold tin huts, stinky unknown trampers, freeze dried food, smelly long drops and mice – there now is an alternative.

Mums walking along the track.

Mums on track

Food is important to us. Our entree was ‘hut made’ guacamole and salsa with corn chips. The main event was green Thai chicken curry with sides of chickpeas, fluffy rice, freshly prepared nann and popodums. Dessert was meringue with freshly whipped cream and berry coulis. Why settle for anything less?

As night fell, we chatted and laughed and sung, played card games, discussed topical issues such as pocket money, perfecting scones, and preparing food children will eat, and ate a year’s worth of chocolate. Unfortunately our Sherpas were unable to join us, so we all pitched in with dishes and made our own beds. Before bed, I sat outside and listened to silence and was memorised by the stars.

Angeline and the other mums stopping for lunch.

Lunchtime

Following a quiet night (no snoring and limited sleep talking) breakfast was served, eggs Benedict no less, with hollandaise and cracked pepper and the essential freshly brewed coffee. Instant coffee not welcome.

Following a lazy morning, the hut was swept and we leisurely walked back down the river to our next swimming sport. Lunch was prepared on the water’s edge, my favourite was the home made ginger crunch, where others preferred the lemon cake.  As I lay on the warm stones, I listened to the sound of the river, the sun dried my socks, I had found my happy place and I drifted off. Peace.

Looking skyward.

Looking skyward

Then it was a short walk along the track back to the car. Easy as.

Our weekend was not expensive or complicated.  We had the comforts of home, in the company of friends in a beautiful setting.  I’ve had my injection of nature; I have hit my reset button; I’m ready to tackle another week.

In Huts, Walking/hiking/tramping, Wellington/Kapiti , , , , , , , ,
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A day in the life of a CITES ranger

Department of Conservation —  03/03/2014

Today is World Wildlife Day, a unique opportunity to celebrate the rich diversity of our planet’s animal and plant species and remember how their continued survival in the wild is linked to our own.

World Wildlife Day - 3 March.

World Wildlife Day also marks the anniversary of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

This agreement regulates and monitors trade in animal and plant species to ensure it does not threaten their long-term survival in the wild.

African elephant and calf. Photo: Arno Meintjes | flickr | CC BY-NC 2.0.

CITES monitors the illegal killing of elephants and shows us that we face a critical situation with the poaching of the African elephant and smuggling of its ivory

In New Zealand CITES rangers are at the front line of the enforcement of the Convention. Today, DOC CITES Ranger, Anita Jacobs, shares with us a day in the life of a CITES ranger…

CITES ranger Anita Jacobs.

Anita Jacobs

I wake up in the morning thinking about what I might find today at the Auckland Airport. Today is one of my designated days to go to the airport to process the detained and seized items collected by Customs and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).

I am part of a team of four that checks and manages the imports and exports of approximately 35,000 species (parts or derivatives thereof) that are covered by the CITES.

Auckland International Aiport.

Auckland International Aiport

As I leave for work the thought of what I do every day fills me with wonder. Not one day is the same and inevitably something new happens that stretches and exercises my brain.

I arrive at the international passenger terminal and, as usual, there is an array of items seized during the past few days, waiting to be processed. As I work through the items, mostly traditional Chinese medicine and corals, the importance of my job and the effect that is has on conservation worldwide strikes me once again. What I and my colleagues do on a daily basis has a direct effect on the conservation of a particular species. What an awesome responsibility!

Ivory tusks at Auckland airport.

Ivory tusks

As I wade my way through the items I come across a rolled up skin. As I roll it out on the bench I realise that it is a snake skin. I can scarcely believe my eyes; it is a king cobra shed skin. It is utterly beautiful and complete. Carefully I roll it back up again and make notes that it can be released to the importer. As it is a shed skin, considered a waste product, it does not fall under the rules of the convention and can be returned.

King cobra skin.

Dealing with shed snake skin is all part of the job

I then head over to the international mail centre and collect all the items that have been held for our inspection.

I find a massive Chinese paint brush made out of some sort of animal horn.  I turn it around, look it up and down, and rack my brain trying to determine from what species this came from. As it does not meet biosecurity requirements for import I take photos to send to the museum for positive identification. As you do, I take up the brush and pretend to draw in the air; we all have a bit of a laugh and I put it away. As it turns out, this ‘brush’ was of more interest to Customs as it was literally stuffed with cocaine! And there I was playing with this thing! You just never know in this job.

Back at the office I share my experiences of the day with my colleague and together we go through all the items that I have brought back from the airport.

Going through my correspondence I see that we have received applications to export live birds to Japan, bagpipes with ivory ferrules to the United Kingdom and an import of red pandas to Auckland Zoo. What variety in one job!

Red panda in a tree.

Overseeing the import of red pandas to Auckland Zoo

The importance and responsibility as a CITES Ranger to manage the international movement of endangered species means good liaison with both domestic and international agencies. On top of that we need to liaise with and educate the public as to the importance of this Convention.

I may not work out in the field doing ecological surveys or relocating kiwis but what I do ensures that the work we do on the ground has a positive effect on species numbers and conservation internationally. That makes me feel good and I know that I am an integral part of global species protection.

As I sit in the Auckland traffic on my way home I think about what lies ahead tomorrow. Whatever it may be, I am looking forward to it!

You can find out more about CITES on the DOC website.

In Jobs at DOC, Native animals, Native plants , , , , , , , ,
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