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Archives For 30/11/1999

Jobs at DOC: Services Ranger, Nick Fisentzidis

Department of Conservation —  04/04/2014

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 Nick Fisentzidis, Services Ranger based on Kapiti Island.

At work

Nick and Sirocco Kakapo.

Nick and Sirocco Kakapo

Some things I do in my job include… I’m lucky enough to have a pretty defined role as the hihi/stichbird contractor on Kapiti Island.

This basically involves feeding, counting, catching, banding and reporting on Kapiti hihi. It also includes liaising with plenty of hihi gurus to come up with better ways of managing the Kapiti hihi population.

As well as this I support my partner, Genevieve, in her position as Kapiti Island ranger by doing a whole bunch of other things such as checking traps, track work, working with volunteers, paying accounts and everything else that comes with her varied role.

This helps achieve DOC’s vision by… continuing the great work that has been undertaken on Kapiti over the last 100 years, to help keep the island safe and chock full with rare species, and to inspire those who visit to learn about their environment and their place within it.

The best bit about my job is… There are a fair few ‘best bits’ when you are fortunate enough to live and work on a nature reserve.

Having takahē walking along the deck in the morning; talking the ears off visitors about hihi (or anything Kapiti related really); being a small part of the history of such a special island; but what I really enjoy is continuing to learn about the island on a daily basis.

This place is full of surprises and mystery and I love the fact that there is still so much more to discover about it.

Being able to talk to those, with past and present connections, to the rock is how I’ve come to realise what a privilege it is to work here, and also importantly, that it won’t last forever so enjoy it while we can!

Nick and Kapiti Island ranger Gen.

Nick and fellow Kapiti Island Ranger Gen Spargo

The awesome-est DOC moment I’ve had so far is… Even in only seven-odd years at DOC I’ve got a few to chose from.

I think I’d have to pick sitting on the deck of the hut on Rangatira/South East Island in the dark being bombarded by white-faced storm petrels, while listening to the 2011 Rugby World Cup Final on a tiny radio that kept cutting out at crucial times.

The yell I let out when I heard that the game was over, and the All Blacks had finally broken their 24 year World Cup jinx, could’ve just about reached Eden Park.

The DOC employee that inspires or enthuses me most is… There have been plenty up until now but I’m going to have to be a bit cliché and say my partner Genevieve.

Everything Gen does (work related or otherwise) is with met with enthusiasm, humour and a touch of Aussie class (is there such a thing?).

The passion she has for this island and for conservation in general is one to aspire to. Plus she puts up with me, so that counts for plenty.

Nick at Ta Prohm, Cambodia.

Taking some photos at Ta Prohm, Cambodia

On a personal note…

The song that always cheers me up is… I Will Follow You Into The Dark by Death Cab For Cutie, from the album Plans.

My stomping ground is… Wellington and the surrounding area.

A born and bred Wellingtonian from the much maligned northern suburbs has meant I (like many) enjoyed my first tramping experiences in the Tararua Ranges. Up to Powell Hut in the snow with running shoes, swimming in the Waiotauru River at Otaki Forks after a harrowing time on the Main Range, seeing the view for a split second as the cloud clears from Maungahuka Hut. If you can tramp in the Tararua you can tramp anywhere!

My best ever holiday was… every family road trip I ever went on.

My Dad is a huge car enthusiast and loves to drive so we often planned trips around which obscure state highway he hadn’t driven yet.

I’ve seen a fair chunk of New Zealand from the back of a car that’s for sure. Perhaps staring out the back window on those early trips helped me to realise that that we live in a pretty exceptional country and subconsciously lead me to a career trying to look after it.

Jamming with staff from Camp Wabana in Canada.

Jamming with staff from Camp Wabana in Canada

My greatest sporting moment was… Making the Wellington U-16 cricket team in my teens (my Mum still has the clipping from the paper). Even though my cricketing career didn’t go much further than that, cricket is still a slight obsession. And by slight I mean massive.

If I could be any New Zealand native species I’d be… As much as I’d like to say hihi they actually have a pretty tough life! Getting bashed around by tui and bellbirds, struggling to find old trees to nest in, putting up with annoying humans wrapping plastic and metal rings around their legs and leading them to a life of sugar water addiction…

Maybe I’ll just go with a kea so I’d have the luxury of soaring above the Alps as well as being able to pull apart some poor tourist’s rental car. Sounds like the best of both worlds to me.

Nick with a cheeky kākā on Kapiti Island.

Nick with a cheeky kākā on Kapiti Island

Deep and meaningful…

My favourite quote is… Recessions come and go but extinction is forever.

The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is… Don’t trust anyone whose collar is a different colour than their shirt.

In work and life I am motivated by…Humble people.

I’ve been fortunate to meet and learn from those who I’d really describe as New Zealand conservation royalty, and more often than not they are down to earth and so modest about the truly amazing work they have done.

It is something to try to remember that regardless what you have contributed, to conservation or in any other field for that matter, to never get too big for your boots. Because this whole conservation thing is far bigger than one person!

My conservation advice to New Zealanders is… Visit and spend time in your (emphasis on YOUR) special places and discover why we need to do everything we can to look after them. They’ve all we’ve got.

Question of the week…

If you had the choice between the super power of flight, being invisible or mind reading, what would you choose and why?

Probably invisibility, so I could secretly watch and attempt to better understand what hihi really need. Or maybe mind reading would be better for that… I guess if I could read their minds then I’d actually know what they need! Mind reading it is.

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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.

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Jobs at DOC: Jennifer Germano, Kiwi Recovery Group Leader

Department of Conservation —  17/01/2014

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 Jennifer Germano, Technical Advisor Ecology/Kiwi Recovery Group Leader based in Hamilton.

Jen and an Ascaphus frog.

Finding my first Ascaphus frog in Canada, along with New Zealand’s native frogs this species is one of the world’s most archaic frog species

At work

Some things I do in my job include… helping to coordinate conservation efforts for kiwi across the country. The Kiwi Recovery Group is an amazing group of people, whose expertise covers a range of topics, including kiwi handling and biology, research, community groups, iwi issues, on the ground kiwi operations, predator science, education and advocacy. My job is to help bring together those people with different backgrounds to get technical advice out to kiwi practitioners and DOC staff. I also have the privilege of working with both the Recovery Group and others to develop national strategies for kiwi conservation.

This helps achieve DOC’s vision by… protecting and conserving one of New Zealand’s most iconic species!

The best bit about my job is… the people.  I just started a month ago, but so far, people in the kiwi community and DOC have been incredible. Definitely a friendly and passionate group that have made me feel welcome from day one.

The awesome-est DOC moment I’ve had so far is… meeting with the staff at Kiwi Encounter and seeing the newly hatched baby kiwi there.

The DOC (or previous DOC) employee that inspires or enthuses me most is… James Reardon.  His enthusiasm for conservation and his passion for herpetofauna are contagious.  He’s a great biologist, an amazing photographer and a good person to be in the field with, whether it was hanging out with the skink crew in Central Otago or searching for frogs in the Amazon. James was one of the first biologists I worked with when I first arrived in New Zealand over ten years ago and he helped to introduce me to the wildlife and the unique conservation problems that we face here.  Also, while some people are scientists and others are more interested in on-the-ground wildlife management, James showed that it was possible and advantageous to blend the two in order to help save a species from extinction.

Jen packrafting in the Colorado River.

Packrafting in the Colorado River

On a personal note…

My most recent stomping ground was… Red Rock Canyon in Southern Nevada, USA.  I just returned to New Zealand after doing translocation research on desert tortoises in the Mojave Desert for the last few years.  Red Rock had some of the best rock climbing in the states, plus it was a beautiful corner of the Mojave full of wildlife (desert tortoises, big horn sheep, snakes, lizards) and amazing landscapes.  I’m still finding my way around Hamilton and looking for some new stomping grounds around here.

If I could trade places with any other person for a week—famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional—it would be… Jane Goodall while she was working with the chimpanzees in Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania.  She was able to combine being a conservationist, a scientist, a mother, and an educator and has inspired people worldwide to care about, not only the chimps in Africa, but about protecting the environment and the world that we live in.

Jen radio tracking desert tortoises in the Mojave Desert.

Radio tracking desert tortoises in the Mojave Desert

My best ever holiday was… spending a summer in Ecuador with my sister.  We were living with some families down there learning Spanish and because our travel agent messed up some of our plans, they squeezed us into a couple empty spaces on a boat visiting the Galapagos to pay us back. It was the trip of a lifetime. Amazing wildlife!  Albatross mating, blue-footed booby birds, giant tortoises, marine iguanas. We snorkelled with sea turtles and seals, snuck up on some flamingos, and stood in the shallow waters on a beach while the sting rays washed over our feet with the incoming waves.  It was an amazing adventure to share with my sister… I wish I could go back again one day!

My greatest sporting moment was when… I finished the Memphis Road Race Series, which included two 5k, two 5-mile, two 10k, two 10-mile, and two half marathon races over a 10 week period. It definitely showed that with a bit of hard work and determination, I could accomplish anything and that by surrounding myself with enthusiastic and passionate people, I could be inspired to do things that I never would have attempted on my own.

My secret indulgence is… anything chocolate!

Jen kayaking on the left and tramping on the right.

Left: Kayaking near Vancouver Island Right: Tramping near Mount Cook

Deep and meaningful…

My favourite quote is… Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning how to dance in the rain.

The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is… go out and do something amazing.

In work and life I am motivated by… the fact that we are all capable of making the world a better place in some way, whether it is big or small.

My conservation advice to New Zealanders is… take the time to help others appreciate the natural world around them. Passion for conservation can be contagious, so share your love of the outdoors and help others to get outside.  It’s only when people understand and have a connection to nature that they’ll make the effort to help protect it.

Jen and family at the Vernal Falls, USA.

Family camping trip at Yosemite National Park, USA.

Question of the week…

What did you want to be ‘when you grew up?

I thought I wanted to be a palaeontologist. I had quite a collection of rocks with little fossils in them that I had found behind my parents’ home and as a kid always had dreams of finding a dinosaur. When I started uni, I did a heap of geology papers and then spent my first summer as a palaeontology intern. But after spending 40 hours a week staring through a microscope sorting out microfossils from buckets of sand, I decided that I’d rather be in the field studying animals that were still alive rather than the remains of dead ones.

In Jobs at DOC, Kiwi , , , , , , ,
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The best places to go camping in New Zealand

Department of Conservation —  16/12/2013

Where are the best places to go camping in New Zealand? We asked five DOC rangers to tell us about their favourites, in less than ten words. This is what they told us:

Hot Water Beach campsite, Lake Tarawera

“Hot pools abound, cook in the ground, without a sound.” ~ Manu Rangiheuea, Aquatic Pests Ranger, Rotorua

Hot Water Beach, Lake Tarawera. Photo: Dino Borelli | CC BY-NC 2.0

Hot Water Beach, Lake Tarawera. Photo: Dino Borelli

 

Pelorus Bridge campsite, Marlborough

“Best swimming hole ever, amazing forest, and long tailed bats!” ~ Clare Duston, Community Relations Ranger, Marlborough

Pelorus Bridge, Marlborough. Photo: Jeff Hitchcock | CC BY 2.0

Pelorus Bridge, Marlborough. Photo: Jeff Hitchcock

 

Peel Forest campground, Canterbury

“Really good facilities, grass spaces, swimming, shady forest and waterfalls.” ~ Andy Thompson, Recreation Technical Advisor, Christchurch

Peel Forest, Canterbury. Photo: Anne Devereaux | CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Peel Forest, Canterbury. Photo: Anne Devereaux

 

Lake Kaniere campsite, Hokitika

“Cycle trail, swimming, waterfall, bird song, relax or adventure.” ~ Jose Watson, Partnerships Ranger, Hokitika

Lake Kaniere, Hokitika. Photo: Jason Blair | CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Lake Kaniere, Hokitika. Photo: Jason Blair

 

Mavora Lakes campsite, Southland

“In winter, snow, lake, starry skies, mountains. In summer, bliss!” ~ Chrissy Wickes, Biodiversity Ranger, Fiordland

Mavora Lakes, Southland. Photo: Andy Nelson | CC BY-NC 2.0

Mavora Lakes, Southland. Photo: Andy Nelson

Hopefully that’s given you a few ideas for your next camping trip.

Now, are you generous enough to share your favourite New Zealand campsite with us? We’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below and see if you can tell us in under 10 words!

Happy camping everyone.

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Jobs at DOC: Marc Slade — Nature Central Project Leader

Department of Conservation —  15/11/2013

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 Marc Slade, Nature Central Project Leader based in Wellington.

At work

Marc setting up a DOC200 trap in the backyard.

Marc proudly setting up his new DOC200 trap

Some things I do in my job include… working with staff across DOC and the three regional councils – Greater Wellington, Horizons and Hawke’s Bay – to develop projects that help meet Nature Central’s vision of a healthier more prosperous region where people live in harmony with nature.

This helps achieve DOC’s vision because… Nature Central is an agreement between DOC and the three regional councils to work in partnership to achieve better outcomes and greater efficiencies. It is a “declaration of intent” to seek ways of working collaboratively to achieve better results for our natural heritage. It is not a single “project”, but a kaupapa – an approach and philosophy to work together collectively to achieve shared goals.

Nature Central is a great example of DOC’s new operating model in action – working collaboratively with councils we are helping to achieve DOC’s vision. The goal of Nature Central is growing the impact of what we do by working with others, and working across whole landscapes at the scale of ecosystems irrespective of administrative boundaries. This is the way nature works, so we need to work at this scale too!

The best bit about my job is…  meeting and working with the great people in DOC and regional councils who are working to make New Zealand a better place to live – for both people and nature. I have the highest respect for the guys (of both genders), whether they work for DOC or council, who are out in the field “doing” conservation – whatever that may be – talking to landowners or community groups, running predator control operations or managing the amazing network of tracks and huts that New Zealand is blessed with.

The loveliest DOC moment I’ve had so far is… the welcome I experienced when I joined the old Wellington Hawke’s Bay Conservancy team. Generally in DOC there is a sense of purpose and whanaungatanga that I have never experienced in any other public service organisation. I find this inspiring and humbling, and it makes DOC an awesome place to work .

The DOC (or previous DOC) employee that inspires or enthuses me most is…  probably the awesome Mr Darren Peters, Programme Manager (Future of Predator Control). Darren is totally outcomes focused, pragmatic, great at partnerships, gets the job done, is generally a cool guy – and is good company on a five hour drive in a DOC Hilux to East Taranaki!

Marc in the Ruahines walking to Sunrise Hut.

Marc on a trip in the Ruahines to Sunrise Hut

On a personal note…

Most people don’t know that I… have started to do an improvisation class at Wellington High School (Centre for Continuing Education). And the moral of the story is…..(improv in-joke)

The song that always cheers me up is…“Oliver’s Army” by Elvis Costello or “Teenage Kicks” by the Undertones.

My stomping ground is… Wellington City – especially Brooklyn and the Polhill Reserve area where I have started my own restoration and community trapping project – to do my bit for the halo that is being created around Zealandia. In terms of my turangawaewae it would have be South and West Yorkshire in the UK, where I spent most of my adult life. Yorkshire folk are remarkably similar to Kiwis in temperament (but a bit tighter!)

The best piece of news I’ve heard lately is… a bit old now…but when Meridian Energy announced they would not proceed with the Mokihinui Dam proposal. Result!

In my spare time I… run a community trapping and restoration project in my local reserve (Polhill/George Denton Park) to bring back the dawn chorus to Brooklyn. When I’m not doing that, reading, watching movies, watching cool TV drama shows (The Wire, Breaking Bad, The Killing…)

Before working at DOC I… worked as Terrestrial Conservation Programme Manager for WWF-New Zealand. Before that I worked for Wellington City Council’s Parks & Gardens team as Community Biodiversity Coordinator. Prior to that I ran my own consultancy business, Koromiko Consulting and worked in social housing and homelessness services – both in New Zealand (for HNZC) and in the UK.

Marc holding a recently caught muMarc holding a recently caught mustelid.stelid.

Trapping success!

Deep and meaningful…

My favourite quote is… “If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. … We need not wait to see what others do.” M.Gandhi

The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is… “Think before you speak….”

In work and life I am motivated by… my values – trying to be as true to them as I can manage.

My conservation advice to New Zealanders is… get involved in looking after the taonga that you treasure the most, whether this is in your own back yard or in a remote corner of Aotearoa (or even off-shore).

marc-jack-pest-fest

Marc with Aro Valley resident Jack at Wellington Pest Fest 2013

Question of the week…

What book are you reading and the moment, are you enjoying it?

I have just finished “Feral: Searching for enchantment on the frontiers of rewilding” by Guardian writer and environmental commentator George Monbiot – a great read, very thought provoking and beautifully written. This book should be the start of an important debate for conservationists in Britain and Europe.

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