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, stoats, and possums by 2050.

From AI-powered traps to innovative toxins, Jessi shares how Kiwi ingenuity and collective action is transforming the predator control landscape. But this isn't just about removing predators – it's about creating resilient ecosystems where native species and communities can thrive together.

Here are some of the things we discussed:

• The history of mammalian introductions by humans over time, and why “killing to save” is the only way to protect NZ’s unique biodiversity.
• The journey from scattered community groups to a connected conservation movement.
• Smart traps and targeted toxins: how new tech makes predator control more effective.
• Why conservation needs to happen in the places where people work, live, and play - not just in remote areas.
• How predator-free work contributes to wider benefits beyond biodiversity, from freshwater to climate resilience.
• Breaking down barriers: making predator control simple and accessible for everyone.
• The "no IP in predator free" philosophy - why sharing knowledge freely benefits the whole movement.
• Why feral cats are one of our biggest conservation challenges, with devastating impacts on native wildlife.
• Why companion cat management needs to evolve as part of our predator-free future.
• Practical ways to get started with predator control in your own backyard.

👩About Jessi

Jessi Morgan is the chief executive of the Predator Free New Zealand Trust. Founded in 2013, PFNZ is an independent charity that inspires and enables community groups and individuals by providing support, advice and tools to control introduced predators and create a safe space for our birds, bugs, bats and lizards.

🔗Learn more:

• Website: www.predatorfreenz.org
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/PFNewZealand
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/predatorfreenz
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/predatorfreenz

🎙️Learn more about the podcast at www.conservationamplified.org

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 every 10 or 20 episodes to keep you in the loop and document our learnings over time, so please let us know what you think and if you’d like to see more of them. All feedback is welcome.

Here’s what we discussed:

• The mission of ⁠Conservation Amplified⁠ and what we’re aiming to achieve.
• Two key learnings from the guests we’ve interviewed so far.
• Personal insights from Anna and Callum about our experience building this podcast.
• The changes and improvements we’re making as a result of your feedback.
• Upcoming Conservation Amplified developments on the horizon, including a mini-documentary and recent projects we’ve funded.

👩About Anna:

Originally from Germany and self-introduced to New Zealand, Anna Wentsch is passionate about habitat protection and threatened species conservation. She has worked with Kiwi, Korora, Whio, Shorebirds and other critters, and loves supporting community environmental groups in her spare time.

👩About Callum:

Callum Armstrong spends his days at the intersection of business and conservation, with one foot in both worlds. As a marketer and entrepreneur by trade, he believes that if we want to create a future where nature thrives, we need to change the culture and behaviour of humanity into one where biodiversity is valued.

More info about Callum: www.callum.nz

🎙️About the podcast:

The People Helping Nature podcast is brought to you by Conservation Amplified, a registered New Zealand charity that’s on a mission to make biodiversity conservation mainstream.

We do this by bringing a megaphone to the world of conservation by featuring people from all walks of life who are doing interesting and important things to help nature thrive. We aim to make it easy for everyone to learn, understand, take action, and feel like they’re a part of the solution.

Find out more about Conservation Amplified at www.conservationamplified.org.

🔗Connect with us:

• Join our email list: ⁠www.conservationamplified.org/podcast⁠
• YouTube: ⁠www.youtube.com/@ConservationAmplifiedNZ⁠
• Facebook: ⁠www.facebook.com/conservationamplified⁠
• Instagram: ⁠www.instagram.com/conservationamplified⁠
• LinkedIn: ⁠www.linkedin.com/company/conservation-amplified⁠

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 translocations, they're tackling the challenges facing kiwi on a wide range of fronts.

But it's not just about protecting our national bird. Michelle reveals how their work creates a ripple effect, benefiting a wide range of native species and entire ecosystems as a result.

Join us as we explore Save the Kiwi's ambitious mission to bring kiwi "from endangered to everywhere", and discover how every New Zealander can play a part in weaving conservation into the fabric of our society.

Here are some of the things we discussed:

• The rapid decline of kiwi numbers since human arrival.
• How the threat of 95% chick mortality in areas without predator control sparked the National Kiwi Recovery Programme.
• The evolution of Save the Kiwi from a small initiative to the nationwide driver of kiwi conservation.
• The rise of community-led kiwi conservation and predator control to help protect our national icon from further decline.
• The success of kiwi translocations and how they are shaping future approaches.
• Michelle’s vision for the future of kiwi conservation in Aotearoa New Zealand.
• And much more...

👩About Michelle:

For more than 18 years, Michelle Impey has been the CEO of Save the Kiwi, an organisation that’s on a mission to reverse the decline of New Zealand’s kiwi populations. Save the Kiwi works alongside iwi, conservation groups, and the Department of Conservation to raise awareness about the plight of the kiwi, how important the species is to New Zealand’s national identity, and what Kiwis can do to help their namesake.

During her 18 years in this role, Michelle has witnessed the explosive growth of iwi- and community-led kiwi conservation initiatives which have in turn created more kiwi-safe habitat all over the country and a greater collective desire for kiwi to return to places where they once thrived. Michelle works tirelessly to ensure kiwi remain at the forefront of New Zealand's consciousness, reminding everyone around her that one person taking small action can lead to monumental change.

🔗Learn more:

• Website: www.savethekiwi.nz
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/savethekiwinewzealand
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/savethekiwinz
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/save-the-kiwi

🎙️Learn more about the podcast at www.conservationamplified.org

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 funding applications and beyond, BCA enables volunteers to focus on their passion - hands-on conservation work.

But it's not just about operational support. By uniting diverse groups, BCA creates a powerful collective voice for nature.

This collaborative approach is yielding impressive results, such as expanding wildlife habitats, bringing individual community efforts together for larger outcomes, and training the next generation of conservation leaders.

Here are some of the things we discussed:

• The origin story of Bay Conservation Alliance and its mission to empower community initiatives.
• The power of collective action in conservation and BCA’s role in amplifying and uniting local efforts.
• Why community identity matters and how BCA balances individual group needs with achieving greater outcomes as a region.
• Key challenges in conservation such as funding and administration.
• How BCA develops overarching relationships with funders and larger stakeholders (such as DoC and Regional Council) to make it easier for everyone involved.
• The importance of viewing biodiversity as an investment rather than a cost.
• How businesses can get involved in supporting local conservation efforts.
• Michelle's vision for a future where predators are removed from Aotearoa and conservation focuses on positive outcomes.
• Why finding your personal "conservation superpower" is crucial for making a difference.
• The intergenerational aspect of conservation and why long-term planning is essential.
• How people can get involved with BCA and support conservation in the Bay of Plenty.
• And much more…

👩About Michelle:

Michelle Elborn has a long-standing passion for the environment. Originally from the UK and having completed a master’s degree in Conservation and Recreation Management, she emigrated to Aotearoa in 2001 and was delighted to initially work for the Department of Conservation.

Moving on to Tauranga City Council, she spent the next decade working across sustainability, community development, strategy and communications. She is now very excited to be leading Bay Conservation Alliance, which presents a huge opportunity to develop a new model for community-led conservation.

🔗Learn more:

• BCA’s website: www.bayconservation.nz
• BCA’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/bayconservation
• BCA’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/bay_conservation_alliance
• BCA’s LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/bay-conservation-alliance1

🎙️Learn more about the podcast at www.conservationamplified.org

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 fenced ecosanctuary in Wellington's Karori Valley.

Building on the triumphs and lessons of Zealandia, Jim has developed an ambitious new concept: a network of ten fenced megasanctuaries, each spanning 3000-5000 hectares, strategically placed around the country.

These megasanctuaries wouldn't stand alone. Each would be surrounded by intensively managed 'halo zones', creating a powerful buffer against predators and other threats.

This isn't just an idea scribbled on a napkin, either. It’s backed by thorough costings and engineering studies in the Wainuiomata-Puketahā water collection area.

Could this be the feasible approach to safeguarding our unique flora and fauna? How would we bring it to life? And what would it cost?

Join us as we dive deep into this bold vision with Jim Lynch, exploring how this approach could reshape the future of conservation in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Here are some of the things we discussed:

• Jim’s journey from a ‘sleeping greenie’ to a full-blown conservationist.
• How Zealandia ecosanctuary started and why the Natural Wellington plan was so important.
• The ecological transformation Wellington has experienced over the last few decades – from a ‘biological cot case’ to a green city of abundance and reforestation.
• The events that led Jim to pursue the fence model.
• The proposed strategy of scaling up Zealandia’s success with fenced megasanctuaries.
• Why the ‘nursery and halo’ model is so important.
• Why fencing valleys is the most efficient way to do it.
• Bringing conservation and business (a viable source of income) together to try and create a forever-model.
• The one-off capital and ongoing management costs of these sanctuaries.
• The policy changes that would be needed to make this happen.
• What Aotearoa NZ would look like in 50 years if we brought this to life.

👩About Jim:

Jim Lynch, co-founder of Zealandia Ecosanctuary, has been a driving force in New Zealand conservation since the 1990s. His authored plan "Natural Wellington" aimed to restore birdlife to the city, leading to the creation of Zealandia.

Jim's innovative approach combines his passion for conservation with his expertise in business and systems design, resulting in effective, large-scale conservation strategies. His work earned him the Queen's Service Medal (QSM) for conservation services in 2001, along with two Wellington City civic awards.

🔗Learn more:

• Jim’s website: www.jameslynch.org
• Zealandia Ecosanctuary: www.visitzealandia.com

🎙️Learn more about the podcast at www.conservationamplified.org

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 Bridge Trust⁠ (TFBT).

The vision for TFBT started in 2013 when founders Kevin and Gill Adshead reintroduced kiwi to their family farm in Glorit, Rodney.

They quickly realised that for these flightless birds to thrive, they would require a massive 10,000-hectare predator-controlled habitat.

This was no small feat, but Kevin and Gill had an even grander vision.

They dreamed of the west coast kiwi on their farm eventually being able to reconnect with their counterparts in Tāwharanui Regional Park on the east coast.

To make this happen, they would need to protect at least 54,000 hectares of land to create interconnected forest corridors.

Most of this land is privately owned by farmers, mana whenua and lifestyle blocks, which requires a different approach to doing conservation on public land.

This podcast episode explores the success story of TFBT and what it’s like to do large-scale conservation on private land.

Here are some of the things we discussed:

• The evolution of TFBT from an ambitious dream into a team of 26 people with immense community support.
• The phenomenal impact that 5 years of ⁠Jobs For Nature⁠ funding via ⁠Save The Kiwi⁠ had on accelerating their vision.
• How kiwi are such a great flagship species to inspire action.
• Why it’s so important to meet people on their level and appeal to their priorities and interests rather than ‘telling’ them what they need to do.
• The importance of focusing on biodiversity gains.
• How conservation brings the community together.
• Why lasting conservation success needs to start with igniting curiosity.
• And so much more…

👩About Matu:

Matu Booth is the Operations Manager for ⁠The Forest Bridge Trust⁠. Since the beginning of his conservation career in 2000, Matu has also worked with Zealandia⁠ and managed the ⁠Nga Manu Nature Reserve⁠.

He's been involved in the translocation of many native birds, tuatara and frogs, and has run education and engagement programmes. As Matu’s career has progressed, he has gained a growing appreciation for the importance of encouraging curiosity to get more people passionate about conservation. His team believes that sustaining large-scale restoration initiatives is as much a social change movement as it is a conservation project.

🔗Learn more about TFBT: ⁠www.theforestbridgetrust.org.nz⁠

🎙️Learn more about the podcast at www.conservationamplified.org

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 Gorge, between Opotiki and Gisborne.

They would hear kiwi call at night and rivers were packed with whio (native blue duck).

Then he moved away to Fiordland to broaden his conservation horizons. When he returned, the whio had practically disappeared, and kiwi couldn’t be heard calling.

While Sam had been looking after other people’s ngahere (forests), nobody had been looking after his…

DOC didn’t have funding to help. So he got together with a bunch of hunting mates and started Eastern Whio Link.

What started as just 4 whio pairs in the Waioeka Gorge multiplied into 100+ chicks hatched in just a few short years.

Here are some of the things we discussed:

• Sam’s formative years growing up in the Te Urewera forest with legendary trappers and hunters that kickstarted his career in conservation.
• What it was like doing conservation work in the back blocks of Fiordland.
• The incredible story of Eastern Whio Link and the amazing mahi (work) they’re doing.
• Why we need to connect people back to their ecosystems, because when we’re connected, we care and protect them.
• How learning to hunt and forage for kai (food) is a great way to connect people back to their ecosystems (especially younger people).
• How hunters are becoming our conservation spies because they go to places that nobody else does and can spot species that weren’t known to live there...
• Misunderstandings around how hunting fits into the conservation landscape and the role of population dynamics.
• And much more…

👩About Sam:

Sam Gibson is a trapper and conservation worker who runs the popular Instagram page @sam_the_trap_man with >19k followers. He's spent his life in the bush hunting, trapping and fishing, and has worked for DOC as well as private conservation companies.

In 2019, Sam established the Eastern Whio Link conservation project, restoring whio (native blue duck) to the rivers of the Waioeka on the East Coast, where he grew up. This work is largely done by volunteers and is bearing fruit - the team started with four breeding pairs, which have since birthed 100+ chicks, and he reports that the number of whio bobbing in the waters in the area is starting to increase noticeably.

🔗Learn more:

• Eastern Whio Link: www.easternwhiolink.co.nz
• Sam’s website: www.samthetrapman.nz
• Sam’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/sam_the_trap_man

🎙️Learn more about the podcast at www.conservationamplified.org

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 into an intergenerational project that connects forests, restores habitats, and secures a future for your beloved birds…

In this episode, we are joined by Carmel Richardson and Graeme Young, who have played a pivotal role in establishing, growing and leading the Kaharoa Kōkako Trust and now work with KEEP (kōkako ecosystem expansion project) to connect the Kahaoa Forest with other kōkako habitats in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.

Here are some of the things we discussed:

• An intro to kōkako - what they look like, how they behave, and their evolutionary state.
• An 8 year study into why kōkako were declining.
• How this led to the formation of Kaharoa Kokako Trust in 1997.
• The threats that kōkako are facing today.
• What’s needed to protect them going forward.
• Why protecting kōkako means restoring the full forest ecosystem.
• The beautiful story of how KEEP formed to create intergenerational outcomes for forests in the Bay of Plenty.
• What’s possible when people from all different backgrounds unite around a common conservation goal.
• What a healthy forest ecosystem looks like.
• The damaging effect that browsing ungulates (deer, pigs, goats) have by eating the understory.
• What conservation means to Graeme and Carmel.
• And more…

👩About Carmel:

Carmel Richardson trained in horticulture but has spent her life working with birds. She has been helping to understand and protect kōkako at Kaharoa Forest for over 30 years and has worked with kiwi at the National Kiwi Hatchery for around 20 years.

Currently, Carmel is a trustee for the Kaharoa Kōkako Trust and is the only trustee to have served since its inception in 1997. Carmel stays busy doing bird survey work and passing on her knowledge to adults and children alike.

👩About Graeme:

Graeme Young had a career in forestry and sawmilling, starting out with 21 years at the Forest Research Institute. Since retirement, he has taken on the role of chair of the Kaharoa Kōkako Trust but has been involved as a volunteer and trustee with the group since the late 1990’s.

He also helps the Department of Conservation with weweia/dabchick, and other waterbird surveys in the Rotorua Lakes area.

🔗Learn more:

• Kaharoa Kōkako Trust’s (KKT) website: www.kokako.org.nz
• Kaharoa Kōkako Trust’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/kaharoakokakotrust
• KEEP: www.keep.org.nz

🎙️Learn more about the podcast at www.conservationamplified.org

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 Expeditions⁠ tour guide.

Here are some of the things we discussed:

• Why pathology and mortality studies are an important tool in helping threatened wildlife.
• How pathology affects our big-picture understanding of species trends and informs policy-making.
• The potential risk of avian influenza reaching our shores.
• The almost 50% decline in NZ sea lion pups around Auckland Islands over the last 20 years.
• Our trip to the subantarctic islands with Heritage Expeditions.
• The transformational impact of exposing people to wild places.
• A day in the life of a wildlife pathologist.
• What conservation means to Annie.
• And more…

👩About Annie:

Annie Pagé started her life’s adventure in the Otago Peninsula, where the ocean became an integral part of her identity. Throughout her diverse conservation career, she has worked with a wide range of species, including albatross, penguins, sea lions and species further afield in Australia, Patagonia and South Africa.

Annie has sailed the South Pacific monitoring the state of our oceans, spent time in the African bush dehorning rhino to help combat the poaching crisis, studied NZ sea lions in the subantarctic islands, researched penguin population dynamics in remote Patagonia, served on the New Zealand UNESCO Youth Panel, spoken at APEC and UN events, sat on the New Zealand Conservation Board, been on the board of the Tasmanian Wildlife Hospital and establishing Kaikōura Wildlife Hospital, and more.

These days, she works as a wildlife pathology resident at Massey University, where her input contributes towards important outcomes such as policy making and gaining a better understanding of mortality trends in wild species.

🔗Learn more:

Annie’s website: www.green-angst.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/annesophiepage

🎙️Learn more about the podcast at www.conservationamplified.org

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 Programme.

Here are some of the things we discussed:

• How and why kōkako are such a great indicator of forest health.
• Why protecting kōkako really means looking after all the other species in the forest.
• Why kōkako need at least 2000 hectares of connected forest to have a resilient population.
• How this need evolved into creating ecological corridors that connect existing forest remnants through KEEP.
• What 65 million years of isolation has done to New Zealand’s flora and fauna.
• What a healthy ecosystem looks like in Aotearoa New Zealand.
• What conservation means to Wayne.
• And much more…

👩About Wayne:

Wayne O’Keefe has a passion for supporting community-based conservation initiatives. He serves a range of leading conservation organisations that include KEEP (Kōkako Ecosystem Expansion Programme), Bay Conservation Alliance, Tane’s Tree Trust, Whakatāne Kiwi Trust, and more…

🔗Learn more:

• KEEP: ⁠www.keep.org.nz⁠
• Bay Conservation Alliance: ⁠www.bayconservation.nz⁠
• Whakatane Kiwi Trust: ⁠www.whakatanekiwi.org.nz⁠
• Ōtanewainuku Kiwi Trust: ⁠www.kiwitrust.org⁠
• Kaharoa Kōkako Trust: ⁠www.kokako.org.nz⁠

🎙️Learn more about the podcast at www.conservationamplified.org