Crowdfunding Reforestation: Uniting a Community to Buy Land (with Matthew MacDonald)

On one of Paula Sheridan’s boat tours, the boat stopped and nobody said a word. People began holding up their phones as layers of bellbird song filled the forest. After years guiding on Ōkārito Lagoon, it was a moment she would never forget. Paula used to get excited about hearing a single tūī or bellbird. As Predator Free South Westland removed possums, rats and stoats, the forest’s soundtrack changed. So did daily life in the village. She expected more birds. What surprised her was how much the change meant to people. Paula shares the joy she’s seeing in her community, how visitors respond, and why experiencing the recovery can turn scepticism into belief. With the region’s glaciers retreating, she also sees potential for wildlife to play a bigger part in local tourism. We explore how businesses are giving back through the Ōkārito Plant Project, where even competing tour operators come together to plant native trees on local farms and protect waterways. This is the second episode of a two-part mini series. The previous episode with ZIP’s Nate St Hill explored how they went about removing possums, rats and stoats from more than 100,000 hectares of South Westland - and this episode shares how this has impacted the local community as a result. Here are some of the key topics we discussed: The Ōkārito Lagoon - NZ's largest unmodified wetland How Predator Free South Westland’s work positively impacted the biodiversity and local community The resulting abundance of fruit and seed on the forest floor How community wellbeing improved by restoring ecological balance How firsthand experiences can build belief in Predator Free 2050 New possibilities for tourism as glaciers retreat Bringing businesses, farmers and visitors together through the Ōkārito Plant Project And much more… Love the People Helping Nature Podcast? Get notified when new episodes go live - subscribe for emails here: https://www.conservationamplified.org 👩 About Paula: Originally from Canada, Paula Sheridan followed a lifelong love of rivers, mountains, wilderness and guiding to New Zealand more than 25 years ago, where she now co-owns Ōkārito Boat EcoTours with partner Swade Finch. Based in the coastal village of Ōkārito on the West Coast of the South Island, Paula combines eco-tourism, storytelling and restoration work through the Ōkārito Plant Project. Her passion lies in helping people slow down, connect deeply with nature, and become part of caring for the landscapes that sustain us. 🔗Learn more: https://www.okaritoboattours.co.nz https://www.okaritonursery.co.nz https://www.instagram.com/okaritoboatecotours https://www.facebook.com/OkaritoBoatEcoTours 🎙️Learn more about the podcast at www.conservationamplified.org

Is Predator Free 2050 achievable? Is it possible to remove possums, rats and stoats from 100,000+ hectares of mainland New Zealand, and keep them out, without a fence? When ZIP began working in South Westland, this was unchartered territory: even the team wasn’t sure. But the local community agreed that it was worth a go. Starting with a trial in the remote Perth Valley, they worked across the landscape block by block. Some river boundaries helped keep predators out. Others were so leaky that dealing with returning animals made it hard to move on. In this episode, Nate St Hill from Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP) shares how the team kept finding ways forward, combining familiar tools with new technology and adapting as they learned. With initial predator removal completed across more than 100,000 hectares, Nate describes the rewards, like seeing kākāriki in the Perth Valley where he once worked for years without hearing one, and residents telling him their dawn chorus has changed. It’s a story of persistence, ingenuity and community support, with lessons for anyone wondering whether Predator Free 2050 is possible. This is the first episode of a two-part mini series looking at this incredible elimination programme. The next episode explores how predator removal is changing life for locals and tourism operators in Ōkārito Lagoon. We recorded this episode during a visit in late March 2026. Whilst the majority of what we discussed is current at the time of publishing, you can find the latest project updates and numbers here: https://pfsw.org.nz/news Here are some of the key topics we discussed: What predator elimination means in an open mainland landscape Using glacier fed, fast-flowing rivers, mountains and the sea as natural boundaries How 1080, traps, innovation and AI cameras work together Why different predators need different responses Working alongside landowners and local communities Learning how to manage reinvasion and prevent predators from re-establishing Maintaining the gains and the role of the Tomorrow Accord Nate’s lessons and insights for adapting this approach elsewhere in Aotearoa And much more… 🧑 About Nate: After completing a Bachelor of Science at Sydney University and travelling overseas, Nate stumbled into the world of conservation as a volunteer for the Department of Conservation on Raoul Island. He spent the best part of two years working on the weeding program there. Nate joined ZIP as a field ranger working at the temporary Haast field site back in 2017. He’s been with the South Westland team since ZIP began work in the Perth Valley in 2019. These days, he doesn’t spend much time working in the field but enjoys exploring the more accessible parts of the stunning South Westland environment with his 2 year old son. 🔗 Learn more: https://zip.org.nz https://pfsw.org.nz https://www.instagram.com/projectpfsw https://www.facebook.com/predatorfreesouthwestland 🎙️Learn more about the podcast at www.conservationamplified.org

After 20 years leading Te Nukuao Wellington Zoo, Karen Fifield is preparing to step down as Chief Executive. So we sat down with her to ask a simple question: What has a lifetime in zoos taught her? Her answer reaches far beyond the animals that visitors see. It’s about conservation, technology, ethics, diversity in the workplace, animal welfare, storytelling, and learning to share the planet with other living beings. Karen reflects on what animals have taught her about authenticity, why good zoos must be built around care and trust, and why facts alone rarely change how people see the world. As she puts it, “we’re storytellers as human beings, we are not fact collectors.” This is a thoughtful conversation about animals, people, and the role of good zoos in a changing world. Here are some of the key topics we discussed: What animals taught Karen during her time at Te Nukuao Wellington Zoo Lessons from observing animal behaviour Chimpanzee leadership styles and what we can learn from them The evolution of zoos towards conservation organisations How technology shapes conservation research and outcomes Why Karen cares so much about animal welfare The 5 domains of animal welfare What Karen has learned about leading people in a ‘heart-based’ profession How to empower staff to do their best work for animals The changing role of women in zoos, conservation, and leadership Why storytelling is more powerful than facts alone The evolution of technology in the zoo sector Karen’s outlook for the future of zoos and technology And much more… Love the People Helping Nature Podcast? Get notified when new episodes go live - subscribe for emails here: www.conservationamplified.org 👩About Karen: Originally from Australia, Karen’s zoological career began at Taronga Conservation Society Australia and Zoos Victoria before she joined Te Nukuao Wellington Zoo in 2006. In June 2026, Karen will step down as Te Nukuao Chief Executive after 20 years in the role. Alongside her Chief Executive role, Karen was also the President of the Zoo and Aquarium Association Australasia (ZAA) and was the most recent President of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) before she completed her term in October 2025. In 2023, Karen was recognised as one of the Power 10 Zoo and Aquarium Blooloop Top 50 Influencers internationally, and in 2016 became a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit MNZM for services to Business and Animal Welfare. Under Karen’s leadership, Te Nukuao has celebrated many achievements. In 2009, Te Kōhanga The Nest, a state-of-the-art veterinary hospital, opened. The Zoo was the first Toitū carbon zero-certified zoo in the world in 2013 and won the inaugural WAZA Environmental Sustainability Award in 2018. 🔗Learn more: Website: www.wellingtonzoo.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/wellington.zoo Facebook: www.facebook.com/WgtnZoo 🎙️Learn more about the podcast at www.conservationamplified.org

One day, hearing kiwi call from your backyard could be normal again. To many New Zealanders, kiwi are our national icon - but not a bird they’ve actually seen or heard in the wild. Throughout Aotearoa, translocations are helping bring kiwi back from endangered to everywhere. In this episode, we sit down with Tineke Joustra, Operations Manager & Population Biologist at Save the Kiwi to explore how kiwi are being returned to places where they once lived - and why people are the key to ensuring they thrive. At first glance, a translocation might sound simple: move kiwi from one safe place to another. But as Tineke explains, it takes years of planning, predator control, monitoring, dog management, iwi and hapū relationships, community support, and a shared long-term vision before kiwi can be returned safely. Because when kiwi come back, they do more than boost population numbers. They can become “the carrot” that motivates people to go the extra mile. Here are some of the key topics we discussed: How current kiwi population numbers compare to historical estimates Why kiwi populations declined drastically What kiwi translocations are and how they work Save the Kiwi’s Kōhanga Kiwi Strategy How safe sites can help grow kiwi populations for future release What makes a landscape ready to receive kiwi Why relationships are central to successful translocations The role of iwi, hapū, neighbours, landowners and community groups How kiwi populations could eventually reconnect through safe habitat corridors Case Studies: Capital Kiwi & Waiheke Island translocations The importance of bringing kiwi closer to our backyards to restore our connection And much more… Love the People Helping Nature Podcast? Get notified when new episodes go live - subscribe for emails here: https://ww.conservationamplified.org 👩About Tineke: Tineke Joustra is a conservation scientist with more than two decades of experience working with New Zealand wildlife. As the Operations Manager and Population Biologist for Save the Kiwi, Tineke merges science and logistics to lead the national strategic framework for kiwi conservation across Aotearoa. Her portfolio spans translocations, kōhanga management, population modelling, research/innovation, and driving excellence in best-practice standards. She is committed to building robust, science-based strategies in partnership with iwi/hapū and community projects to establish the best possible long-term decisions for kiwi recovery. 🔗Learn more: Website: savethekiwi.nz Save the Kiwi Kōhanga Kiwi Strategy: savethekiwi.nz/about-us/what-we-do/kohanga-kiwi Report a kiwi sighting: savethekiwi.nz/report-a-kiwi Kiwi avoidance training: kiwiavoidancetraining.nz Support: donate-save-a-kiwi.raiselysite.com 🎙️Learn more about the podcast at www.conservationamplified.org

In times of heavy rainfall, water can rush off farmland, carrying soil, nutrients and contaminants into waterways - and adding pressure downstream. In this episode, we sit down with Laura Simpson from the Mangaone West Catchment Group to learn how detainment bunds help improve water quality alongside more familiar methods such as fencing off waterways, riparian plantings and wetlands. Laura explains how understanding your local landscape, soil type, and water quality testing insights is crucial when deciding which tools to use for improving stream health. We also talk about the broader catchment-wide mindset and the importance of working together from source to sea to create resilience in our landscapes. Ultimately, healthier waterways means healthier farms, ecosystems, and communities. Detainment bunds are not a silver bullet. But in the right places, they can help slow water, reduce sediment loss, protect wetlands, and keep more soil and nutrients on the land where they belong. Here are some of the key topics we discussed: What detainment bunds are and how they work. How detainment bunds can help slow floodwater and reduce sediment loss. Why soil type and local landscape knowledge matter. The importance of regular water testing. How detainment bunds can work alongside wetlands, riparian planting and fencing. Why reducing sediment upstream benefits waterways further downstream. The importance of catchment-wide collaboration. Conservation outcomes and swimmable rivers. And much more… Love the People Helping Nature Podcast? Get notified when new episodes go live - subscribe for emails here: www.conservationamplified.org 👩About Laura: Laura Simpson is the Mangaone West Catchment Group’s leader, a rural professional, on the Manawatū River Catchment Collective’s committee, and part of the family farming operation. Planting and protecting wetlands on her family farm led to getting involved in the Mangaone West Catchment Group and eventually taking on the leadership role. With a Bachelor of Science in Earth Science, and a Masters in Agricultural Science, Laura understands the importance of data driven decision making for projects within the catchment group. 🔗Learn more: Website: https://manawatu-river-catchments-collective.co.nz/mangaone-west-catchment Detainment Bund Consultancy: https://www.detainmentbund.co.nz 🎙️About the podcast: The People Helping Nature podcast is brought to you by Conservation Amplified, a registered New Zealand charity. We are on a mission to help make conservation mainstream by amplifying the awesome stuff people are doing to help nature all around Aotearoa New Zealand. Because when people are aware, connected to the ecosystems around them and care enough to take positive action, only then will we see lasting change. Listen in and follow us to start or deepen your journey. Find out more about Conservation Amplified at www.conservationamplified.org.