A day in the life of Rory: Te Korowai o Waiheke’s Field Technician

What does your day-to-day look like?

My day consists of a variety of responsibilities taking me all around Waiheke. I mostly spend my time deploying rat bait stations for our upcoming rat pilot trial in Oneroa and Blackpool, this includes going door to door engaging with the community which is always exciting hearing people's support for a predator-free future. The rest of my time is split between many different jobs which could be preparing rat trap kits, conducting surveys, analysing videos, and just helping out wherever I'm needed.

How did you get into this type of work?

I was raised in a conservation family where we had a trapping network on our property in the Coromandel. I would help reset traps and monitor pest species which was always very exciting for me. Over the span of a decade I saw our efforts bring back populations of Kōtare, Kākā, Tauhou and most rewarding of all Kiwi. Due to my interest in nature and New Zealand's unique ecosystem I decided to enrol at Otago University where I graduated with a BSC in Zoology and Marine Science. This led me to my amazing role at Te Korowai o Waiheke helping conserve our species hands-on and which I hope to do throughout my career.

What has your previous work experience looked like?

I have had a variety of jobs throughout my life so far which includes working in a supermarket, as a forklift driver, as a sales representative, and most recently as a resident assistant at Otago University. All had interesting and exciting aspects in which I learned a lot!

What attracted you to working in conservation?

Being able to be out in nature while working I think is very special, especially when you know that what you're doing is making a difference to the environment around you. The future possibility of being a predator-free country also excites me and is why I want to pursue conservation.

How did you get to Waiheke?

I’m a new resident to Waiheke as of January 2023 having previously lived in Auckland, Dunedin, and in the U.S. My time so far has been an enjoyable one, having regional parks, cafes, and beaches in such close proximity to each other is amazing!

What’s the weirdest job you’ve had?

While in the U.S.A volunteering for the local DNR we went around purposefully burning prairie which seems to be a concerning thing to do, however it is a very common method to stimulate growth of new plants.

How long have you been working in conservation?

I have only been working in conservation for the past three months, however I have been involved in conservation my whole life through my family's pest control project in the Coromandel.

What’s your best work story at Te Korowai o Waiheke?

I was pleasantly surprised by the island's birdlife when I started working for Te Korowai o Waiheke. The first day when I walked to work I saw Tui, Kereru, Kākā, Kōtare, pīwakawaka, and of course, Pāteke which showed me how much everyone on Waiheke had already contributed to making the island a haven for all these birds and made me excited to be a part of it!

A day in the life of a Te Korowai o Waiheke's Field Technician, Rory