What is it about the work you are involved in that got you interested and continues to interest you?
I live here, I'm part of this community, therefore I feel I should get out and do things.
With Cooper's Terrace it's the history, the story behind it and the other things. It's keeping the area the way it is for my children and grandchildren and other people to enjoy.
I just love being out there doing things that are going to make a difference. Pulling trees and planting things and uncovering things. It's going to make a difference for the future.
How are the projects you're involved in benefiting conservation?
The wilding pines project is making sure we keep this area the way it was when people first came to look at it. It's not just the fact the pines are taking over the farmland and mountains - if we're not careful they'll chase out our world-unique ecosystem, which is really important.
Especially Queenstown Hill, because it's an icon of Queenstown. We don't want it to disappear under a mountain of pine trees.
Planting kowhai started about a year ago and it's just amazing somebody thought to put some of the southern kowhai back where they should be.
Cooper's Terrace conservation: it's the history of the area, so let's keep it there.
What do you get out of your work in conservation? How do you fit it in?
Personal satisfaction, knowing I'm doing something for the future and not accepting the fact we're leaving it to rack and ruin and letting trees take over.
I just do fit it in. It's a part of my life and a part of my routine.
And if you want somebody to do something, ask a busy person.
What challenges do you face and how have you overcome them?
Pine trees are easy and don't need a lot of funding because it's voluntary and I'm fortunate to borrow the vehicles from work.
Cooper's Terrace is a bit different, because it is a historic site, so for that, just keeping in touch with the right people. You don't upset anybody, you don't step over that line, you just literally respect the part everybody has to play in it.
What would you like to do in the future through conservation?
Just keep doing what I'm doing. Maybe get more involved, because it's really something I enjoy and it's funny, because one of the things I want to do before I die, which is a long way off, is work more in conservation, so when I do die, what I've done has made a difference.
We will have Cooper's Terrace more uncovered and know more information about it and have it so it's like the Arrowtown Chinese settlement.
More pines gone. We are winning, but [I want] to keep at it and start educating young people so other people carry it on behind us.
