Māia’s 2 Million – One Last Gasp

Kia ora koutou katoa

I can’t believe September is already over, I have completed 1 year with the Taranaki Kiwi Trust and what a year it has been!

From laying traplines, to tracking Kiwi, broken fingers and walking mountains, the main learnings I have taken so far have been to slow down and take in what is going on in the environment you are in and connecting with our whenua, you will then be-able to understand what happens when certain things such as the weather, and the moon affect the health, behaviors and populations of our ngahere and taonga species.

I did have a busy month with meeting new volunteers for checking traps on Pouakai and checking our traps, with some box  and building thrown in. I have dived into the practical courses for my level 4 conservation operastions qualification, including more  chain saw training. To end the month, I attended a Kiwi release in Omoana ngahere, on Ngati Maru whenua, a very special day bringing a Kiwi home to her whenua, she was named “Kohu” after the fog that was hanging about that day. I am off to Aotea/Great Barrier Island for an apprentice exchange so I will share that adventure with you next month!

I appreciate the tautoko from everyone who has been following along with this challenge, it raised over $1000 in donations via our Give a little page and website. You can still donate here https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/taranakikiwi or on the Help page of our website.

Nō reira tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa