What is it about the activity you are involved in that got you interested and continues to interest you?
I have been involved with Fish and Game for many years, not so much for the sport itself but because F and G is a very potent environmental organisation that sits in the middle of the political spectrum and is trusted by a large number of everyday New Zealanders. However these days, a great deal of F and G is office-bound, dealing with an unending stream of resource issues. I wanted to do something hands-on for conservation and saw an opportunity in a partnership with Doc to do some thing worthwhile. I have felt for years that Doc is massively underfunded so Jim Miller and I bought traps, donated them to Doc and then gathered a great group of friends together to do the trapping [of predators].
How is the project you're involved in benefiting conservation?
Hopefully this model will prove attractive to others who might wish to do something similar.
What do you get out of your work in conservation - how do you fit it in?
We have a great time every couple of weeks or so going round and servicing the traps, having our tea breaks at some very special and beautiful places. Obviously reducing predator pressure on our birds is a thrill.
What challenges do you face and how have you overcome them?
The main challenge is the hill and conquering it is great for the heart.
What would you like to do in the future, through conservation?
It would be great to see several groups set up and doing similar work. Wanaka has a pool of intelligent people with time on their hands who would really enjoy what we are doing. I can say unreservedly we all thoroughly enjoy doing the trapping work and seeing, in only the couple of years we have been doing it, that bird numbers are on the rise. It is a long term commitment but it keeps us out of the pub.
