People Helping Nature Podcast

• Finding A Career With Purpose (EP30 with Michelle Impey, Save the Kiwi)

  For many careers, purpose doesn’t extend much beyond cashing in the payslip.For Michelle Impey, she’s lived a career of purpose for 20+ years.As CEO of Save the Kiwi, Michelle has led the organisation’s evolution from a one-person funding distributor to a national team delivering measurable conservation outcomes for our national icon, the kiwi bird.In this episode, we talk candidly about building a career with purpose - the trade-offs and rewards, the culture that keeps people for decades, and how business skills like fundraising, operations and communications can drive real impact alongside fieldwork. You don’t necessarily need an ecology degree to help; you need intent, passion and persistence.Michelle also outlines the NZ conservation sector’s evolution. From early research into kiwi decline and DoC sanctuaries, to the community-led and iwi-led movement, Predator Free 2050, new technologies, and Save the Kiwi’s own incubation and crèche programmes - this is proof that collaboration can turn the tide for Aotearoa’s wildlife.Here are some of the key topics we discussed:Lessons from 20 years leading and growing a conservation charityHow New Zealand’s kiwi recovery efforts have evolvedWhat leading a purpose-driven organisation really looks like day to dayBlending business skills with conservation outcomesApplying entrepreneurial thinking to conservation challengesAdvice for anyone looking to start or transition into a purpose-driven careerFinding your place in conservation - from volunteering to leadershipWhy culture and long-term commitment matter in meaningful workAnd much more…👩About Michelle:For more than 20 years, Michelle Impey has been the CEO of Save the Kiwi, an organisation that’s on a mission to grow kiwi to abundance across New Zealand. 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 20+ 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.nzFacebook: www.facebook.com/savethekiwinewzealandInstagram: www.instagram.com/savethekiwinzLinkedIn: ww.linkedin.com/company/save-the-kiwi🎙️Learn more about the podcast at www.conservationamplified.org

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• From Degraded to Thriving: A Catchment Story (EP29 with John Burke)

  What happens when one of the Bay of Plenty’s most degraded catchments becomes a restoration success story?In the 90s, the Te Mania Catchment was a major source of sediment flowing into the Tauranga Moana, with a stream health of 2/10. The stream flowed through Pukekauri Farm, managed by Rick Burke and the Seddon family. And they decided to do something about it.They began their journey of environmental restoration at the same time as redesigning the farm to maximise productivity. Today, after 25+ years of riparian fencing, wetland restoration, pest control and assisted native regeneration, the same waterway scores a remarkable 9/10.By slowing water with wetland sponges, planting steep erodible hillsides and stream edges back into native forest, and learning from mistakes like “wrong tree, wrong place,” Rick and, more recently, his brother John proved how ecological health and farm profitability go hand in hand.Returning 25% of their land to nature didn’t hold them back - it made the farm easier to manage and more profitable.But John’s message goes further. In a paper proposing reforms to the primary sector, he calls for a unified Aotearoa farm plan - linking on-farm restoration to catchment outcomes, avoiding greenwashing, and ensuring NZ’s global brand is built on verified ecological health.Here are some of the key topics we discussed:The journey John’s family went through in restoring their farmThe 1970s/80s incentives that led to clearing vast areas of native forest and how farming culture has evolvedThe red zone vs blue zone mindset for farmer wellbeing and productivityHow ‘kitchen-window projects’ are a great way to start small to build momentumThe major problems with environmental weeds and why whole communities must get involvedThe Tīmata method as a way to plant native forest for a fraction of the costAssisted natural regeneration and rebuilding soil and fungal biomesLinking farm outcomes to NZ’s export story and avoiding greenwashingCatchment groups as anchors for resilience and community wellbeingJohn’s paper and the case for a unified Aotearoa farm planAnd much more…🧑‍🦱About John:John Burke’s career spans roles as farmer, orchardist, agri-business consultant and environmental manager. He is passionate about economic and practical farming practices and restoring the health of waterways. John’s aim is to share his experience of improving water quality and achieving positive balance in rural communities.🔗Learn more:John’s Paper: https://www.wai-kokopu.org.nz/john-burkes-paper/Wai Kōkopu: https://wai-kokopu.org.nzProject Parore: https://projectparore.nzCommunity Catchments Aotearoa: https://www.cca.nz/Tiwaiwaka: https://www.tiwaiwaka.nz🎙️Learn more about the podcast at www.conservationamplified.org

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• The Rise of Catchment Groups in Aotearoa NZ (EP28 with Sam the Trap Man)

  Nature doesn’t stop at the fence-line, so why should conservation?Throughout Aotearoa, catchment groups are changing the conservation narrative. Farmers, foresters, iwi and communities are working together at landscape scale - proving that when landowners are given structure and support, they become powerful custodians of nature.The results ripple well beyond any single farm gate. From 6,000-hectare predator control projects to riparian planting that cools streams, this work flows from the headwaters to the moana, making towns more resilient to cyclones, waterways healthier, and ecosystems more connected.But catchment groups are more than conservation alone. In remote communities, they’re taking on roading contracts, generating local jobs, and providing disaster resilience - building social fabric as well as ecological health.In this episode, Sam “The Trap Man” Gibson shares how catchment groups evolve, what they need to thrive, and why their growth could be one of the most important shifts in Aotearoa’s conservation story.Here are some of the key topics we discussed:What catchment groups are and how they’ve grown in NZWhy bipartisan political support makes them unique in the conservation landscapeHow incentives work better than penalties in driving on-farm changeKiwi surveys on dairy farms sparking wider ecosystem restorationCyclone Gabrielle recovery as proof of community resilienceThe role of paid coordinators in keeping groups alive and thrivingCatchment groups as job creators and anchors for rural communitiesHow catchment groups combine into catchment collectives, achieving conservation and resilience at regional scaleHow this movement ties into Predator Free 2050 and climate resilienceSam’s documentary Think Like a Forest and the vision of Recloaking PapatūānukuAnd much more…👩About Sam:Sam/Hamiora Gibson (better known as Sam the Trap Man) is a trapper, conservationist, communicator, and community leader. Through roles with NZ Landcare Trust, Mountains to Sea, and regional councils, he has spent years supporting and establishing catchment groups throughout New Zealand.With over a decade of experience spanning DOC, Goodnature, and community-led projects like Eastern Whio Link, Sam has designed predator control networks, coordinated large-scale conservation initiatives, and helped rural communities turn their aspirations for biodiversity and resilience into action.🔗Learn more:NZ Landcare Trust: https://www.landcare.org.nz Sam’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sam_the_trap_man Sam’s Facebook: https://ww.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100050646522100 🎙️Learn more about the podcast at www.conservationamplified.org

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• Bringing Conservation Into the Classroom (with Sally Clegg, Trees for Survival)

  When a child says, “Mum, I did something to save the planet,” something shifts - not just in the home, but throughout the local community.In this episode, we’re joined by Sally Clegg from Trees for Survival, a long-running, school-based programme that’s growing the next generation of environmental changemakers.Through hands-on reforestation projects, school children are cultivating native seedlings and planting them on retired farmland to stabilise eroded hillsides and restore the edges of waterways. In these places, native trees filter water, anchor soil, and kickstart habitat recovery.It’s not just about getting plants in the ground. This programme brings conservation into the classroom, giving teachers the tools to connect science, biodiversity, and climate learning with something their students can touch and feel.Sally shares powerful stories of kids asking big questions, moving landowners to tears, and inspiring parents to act. Some go on to study horticulture or take up conservation careers. Others simply grow up knowing they can make a difference - and that’s where real change begins.If every school in Aotearoa New Zealand planted 800-1000 trees a year, what kind of future could we grow?Here are some of the key topics we discussed:How Trees for Survival began through Rotary and a global call to protect the planet.What makes a planting site ideal for both students and environmental impact.How students' views about the value of native trees shifts throughout the programme.Real stories of curiosity-led learning, spontaneous karakia, and intergenerational influence.What’s expected of landowners, and how many go above and beyond to support student success.How Trees for Survival tracks long-term impact.How the Ministry of Education could help to scale it nationwide.And much more…👩About Sally:Sally has worked for the last decade with Trees for Survival, playing an integral part in its evolution from a volunteer organisation to one with a stable funding base. She has worked in a range of roles from seed collection to school shade house deliveries and as a facilitator for the Franklin schools, which has given her a unique perspective on this educational environmental programme.She views increasing the awareness and appreciation of Aotearoa’s native trees through practical learning and empowering teachers and students as a key strength of Trees for Survival. Sally is continually working to make the programme even better.🔗Learn more:Website: https://www.tfsnz.org.nzFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/treesforsurvivalInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/treesforsurvivalnz🎙️Learn more about the podcast at www.conservationamplified.org

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• People Are The Silver Bullet To Predator Free (with Dan Henry)

  “People are the absolute silver bullet to this whole predator-free thing.”Dan Henry didn’t set out to lead a movement. But when he and a friend began handing out rat traps around their suburb of Miramar, something clicked. No committees. No red tape. Just a simple idea people could say yes to.Predator Free Miramar was born.Over the following 6 years, that idea helped turn an entire urban peninsula in Wellington into a predator free zone - strengthening not just local biodiversity, but the social fabric of the community itself.What started with backyard trapping is now a network of volunteers working alongside Predator Free Wellington to hold the line and push the vision further.Motivations varied. Some wanted more birds, others just needed a good night’s sleep. But the outcomes stacked up: healthier homes, new friendships, and stronger community resilience.From Darryl’s quiet leadership in social housing to trap boxes built in garages, this is conservation powered by trust, action, and momentum. As Dan puts it, “If the people want this badly enough, the pressure will come on and the politicians will listen and it will be funded.”So if you think conservation only happens in the bush, think again. Urban centres are key to a predator-free Aotearoa. And every person counts.Here are some of the key topics we discussed:How a simple backyard trapping idea grew into Predator Free Miramar.The importance of keeping things simple and fun to build long-term momentum.What it takes to build trust and participation across a diverse urban neighbourhood.Stories of unexpected local champions.The broader impacts of backyard trapping.Why mindset was important to achieve predator-free status.The ongoing challenge of keeping Miramar peninsula rat-free.Why urban neighbourhoods are key to a predator-free Aotearoa.Tips for starting backyard trapping in your own community.And much more…🧑‍🦱 About DanDan Henry is the driving force behind Predator Free Miramar, an initiative he co-founded in 2017 aimed at eradicating introduced predators from the peninsula. Under Dan’s leadership, this community project has blossomed from a small group of dedicated trappers to a thriving network of over 1,000 households, successfully removing more than 10,000 predators and allowing native wildlife to thrive.Dan’s hands-on approach includes personally delivering traps, training residents, and hosting community events, which has fostered a strong sense of shared purpose and pride among locals. His efforts have led to a remarkable resurgence of native bird populations and increased sightings of wildlife like mokomoko (lizards) and wētā. Working alongside Predator Free Wellington, Dan and his team of volunteers have not only eliminated rats from the Miramar Peninsula – a world first in an urban environment – but they have successfully maintained that predator-free status for more than a year.🔗Learn more:Predator Free Miramar Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/PFMiramarDan’s Predator Free Resource: www.pfw.org.nz/site/assets/files/1329/predator_free_miramar_-_how_to_kill_rats_and_engage_a_community.pdf🎙️Learn more about the podcast at www.conservationamplified.org

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