People Helping Nature Podcast

What does it take to transform a planting project into a thriving, self-sustaining NZ native forest? In short, it's a long-term commitment that goes far beyond the initial planting day: The secret to success isn't the day you put trees in the ground, it comes from everything that happens before and after. In this episode of the People Helping Nature Podcast, we welcome Wayne O’Keefe back to share...

It’s been estimated that more than 2.5 million feral cats call Aotearoa NZ home. 2.5 million! That's big numbers, making them a growing problem and an increasing threat… These aren’t your typical domestic house cat. They are wild animals, and they’re having a devastating impact on our native wildlife. "Comparing a feral cat to a domestic cat is like comparing a wolf to a Labrador" Feral cats preda...

What happens when a whale or dolphin strands on a New Zealand beach? For over 50 years, Project Jonah has been the lifeline for these marine mammals in distress, pioneering rescue techniques that have contributed to global standards. Daren Grover, Project Jonah’s General Manager, reveals how this organisation evolved from successfully campaigning against the whaling industry in the 1970s to becomi...

What New Zealand predator flies at up to 200km/hour yet is now rarer than our iconic kiwi? With fewer than 8,000 kārearea (NZ’s endemic falcon) remaining, these aerial hunters serve as crucial indicators of our ecosystem's health. For 32+ years, the Wingspan Bird of Prey Centre in Rotorua has been at the forefront of protecting these remarkable predators and reversing their decline. In this episod...

What if we viewed Earth not as a resource to be managed, but as our home to be cherished? In this profound conversation, Rob McGowan (Pā Ropata), leader of the Tīwaiwaka movement and respected rongoā practitioner, reveals a transformative set of enduring principles for healing our relationship with Papatūānuku (mother earth). Rob challenges conventional thinking about environmental action, reveali...

Can poor-quality predator control be worse than no control at all? According to one of New Zealand's leading trapping experts, the answer might surprise you. In this episode of the People Helping Nature Podcast, John Bissell, owner of ⁠Backblocks Environmental Management⁠ and National Predator Control Advisor for ⁠Save the Kiwi⁠ , challenges conventional thinking about removing introduced predator...

Dogs navigate the world through scent, and kiwi have an irresistibly strong smell. Add to this a kiwi's lack of a breastbone, and even the gentlest nudge from a curious dog can be fatal. So, how do we create the space for both kiwi and dogs to thrive as they increasingly share the same spaces? In this episode of the People Helping Nature Podcast, Save the Kiwi 's dog specialist, Emma Craig brings...

What if a small community on New Zealand's Banks Peninsula could come together to purchase and restore a piece of land to create a lasting conservation legacy for future generations? That’s exactly what the team at Le Bons Bay Conservation Trust are doing, and they’re nearly there – with 80% of their fundraising goal already achieved! Join our korero with Matthew MacDonald as we explore how they l...

In neighbourhoods around New Zealand, predator control is becoming as normal as recycling or composting. Jessi Morgan, CEO of Predator Free New Zealand Trust , reveals how they're turning individual actions into a nationwide movement. By equipping communities with knowledge, tools, and support, they're empowering every New Zealander to contribute to an ambitious goal: a country free of rats, stoat...

The last few months of building the People Helping Nature podcast have been a wild ride, to say the least! We’ve been blessed with opportunities to interview inspiring and renowned guests, and have learned so much already. So, we thought it was about time to share an update with you on how this podcast is progressing. This short update-style episode is something we’re testing and thinking of doing...

What if every New Zealander could encounter a kiwi in the wild? Michelle Impey, CEO of Save the Kiwi , shares how this innovative organisation is working to make this vision a reality throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. By empowering community-led initiatives, Save the Kiwi supports and amplifies grassroots conservation work. From predator control to responsible pet ownership and leading translocatio...

What if we could amplify the impact of community conservation efforts across an entire region? Michelle Elborn, CEO of Bay Conservation Alliance (BCA), shares how this innovative umbrella organisation is doing just that in New Zealand's Bay of Plenty. Founded by community, for community, BCA supports and grows the capability of local conservation groups. From helping with admin to facilitating fun...

Imagine a future where the threat of extinction for New Zealand's forest species is eliminated... forever. Now imagine achieving this for less than 30 cents per person per week! This isn't just a conservationist's dream – it's a well-researched proposal that could revolutionise our approach to conservation. At the heart of this vision is Jim Lynch , co-founder of the wildly successful Zealandia fe...

Landscape-scale conservation projects are a key part of Aotearoa New Zealand’s biodiversity future. They connect the many localised community efforts, passionate landowners and patches of remnant forest to achieve much wider-reaching conservation outcomes. When we unite these smaller, seperate activities into catchment-wide, inclusive initiatives, the possibilities are endless… Enter: ⁠The Forest...

People usually think of hunting & gathering as something completely separate from conservation. But when the forest is your food basket, you see places and species that others don’t notice. You see the trends through the seasons, and you know when something isn’t right… Sam (Hamiora) Gibson, also known as Sam The Trap Man , spent his younger years trapping, fishing and hunting in the Waioeka G...

Imagine seeing an extremely rare bird (kōkako) go from declining without any support to having an entire community of volunteers, farmers, iwi, forestry, council, and NGOs unite to bring it back… Imagine giving countless volunteer hours over 30+ years to restore habitat for the kōkako population in Kaharoa Forest and experiencing the changes over that time. Imagine seeing your life’s work expand i...

Why do we post-mortem and study wildlife after it dies? How does pathology influence our understanding of biodiversity trends at a species level? And what risks does the potential arrival of avian influenza pose to Aotearoa New Zealand’s birds? In this episode, we are joined by Annie Pagé, wildlife pathologist resident at Massey University, subantarctic sea lion researcher, and ⁠Heritage Expeditio...

What does a healthy ecosystem actually look like in Aotearoa New Zealand? And what role does the endangered kōkako bird (Callaeas wilsoni) play in the conservation landscape? In this episode, we are joined by Wayne O’Keefe, who wears many hats in the conservation space, including ongoing efforts to help develop intergenerational forest corridors through KEEP, the Kōkako Ecosystem Expansion Program...

Welcome to the People Helping Nature Podcast! In this inaugural introduction episode, hosts and co-founders of Conservation Amplified , Anna Wentsch and Callum Armstrong share: The story behind why they started this podcast How there’s so much awesome work being done to help nature, but more awareness is needed to make conservation mainstream What you as the listener can expect to get out of liste...