New Team Members

Raul Johnson

Raul Johnson comes to Taranaki via the South Island but was born in the Shetland Isles of Scotland.

He finished studying zoology at the University of Otago last year and says, “I have come out of it very passionate about conservation. Working with TKT is an opportunity I couldn’t miss and am really grateful for!”

For the last six months he has been living in New Plymouth working for People Cities & Nature and NPDC doing vegetation surveys and reserve restoration.  He has also been volunteering on conservation and trapping projects where ever he can to gain experience in this field.

Raul will be covering the trapping maintenance and recorder surveying side of the project with some guidance from our Kiwi guru Sian Potier (pictured). 

Jessica Fancy

Jess has been working on a short-term contract on one of our projects, the Taranaki Kiwi Kohanga at Rotokare and can be seen in this photo tracking a kiwi with telemetry equipment in the reserve, something she has become very adept at in a short space of time.

She has a Certificate in Animal Management (Captive Wild Animals), a MSc (Conservation Biology), a BSc (Zoology) and a real passion for working with animals.

She has also been busy volunteering where she can to progress her kiwi handling skills.

Jess is highly organised, excellent at planning and data management and is busy now rolling out our Trap NZ programme to landowners.