Rewilding In Action

I’m often amazed by natures' ability to recover by itself when given a chance. However with less than 1% native vegetation, the Canterbury Plains is a good candidate for some planting to kickstart natural native forest regeneration.

Te Ara Kakariki has a restoration goal of restoring native biodiversity through planting native forest stepping stones or 'Greendots' to help birds disperse seed and expand native forest.

For this episode I’ve come to a Greendot near Tai Tapu close to the base of the Canterbury Plains to talk with the Co-Chairs of Te Ara Kakariki, Craig Pauling and Peter Joyce who is also the owner of this property and its Greendot. Join me, Maureen Howard, as I find out more about Te Ara Kakariki’s mission and methods.

Many thanks to Pōhatu penguins for kindly sponsoring this episode (www.pohatu.co.nz).

This episode contains the bird calls of kakariki Yellow-crowned parakeet recorded by Rob van Bemmelen, XC198879. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/198879.

This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - http://oar.org.nz

In New Zealand, introduced pigs even in low numbers have very destructive effects on our native bush and wildlife. In this episode (recorded in July 2026) I’ve come to Banks Peninsula to find out about the very recent elimination of over 3000 pigs from 22,000 hectares there – potentially NZ’s largest removal of a population that was established through illegal releases.

My guest, Graham Corbishley led the project as contracted project manager for Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust.

Graham takes me to where their pig elimination project started and describes the process.

Many thanks to Pōhatu penguins for kindly sponsoring this episode (www.pohatu.co.nz).

This episode contains the song of ruru Morepork recorded by Craig Wilson at Mount Cargill, Dunedin: Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/354393
Rewilding in Action is created and hosted by Dunedin based Dr Maureen Howard who is an environmental educator and a rewilding enthusiast.

This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - http://oar.org.nz

Most trees grow much better when they are able to associate with mycorrhizal fungi. Native beech in particular are unable to live without certain species of ectomycorrhizal fungi. Is it a job we are wise to leave to the processes of natural succession? In this episode of Rewilding in Action, my guests Professor David Orlovich, Associate Professor Matt Larcombe and Dr Andy Nilsen from Otago University’s botany department take me, Maureen Howard, on a mini-adventure in Bethunes Gully in Dunedin to find a small remnant of original tawhai silver beech, also known as Nothofagus menziesii.

In addition to finding these beautiful trees, we talk about mycorrhizal fungi and how important they are in natural succession: in the successful transition from kānuka (Kunzea) and mānuka (Leptospermum) to native beech.

Many thanks to RIBBONWOOD NURSERIES (www.ribbonwoodnurseries.co.nz) for kindly sponsoring this episode along with OAR FM for airing it.

This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - http://oar.org.nz

In this episode of Rewilding In Action, Maureen Howard is on the Otago Peninsula to talk to Shaun and Helen Murphy, a couple who are rewilding their property to help their very special populations of invertebrates thrive.

What invertebrate species are living there? And what do they do to protect the invertebrates? Keep listening. You may never squish a bug again!

Many thanks to RIBBONWOOD NURSERIES (www.ribbonwoodnurseries.co.nz) for kindly sponsoring this episode along with OAR FM for airing it.

This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - http://oar.org.nz

How important is ongoing monitoring in rewilding? Should we be aiming to preserve nature to an historical biodiversity target? And, how can humans be part of a rewilded world?

In this episode of Rewilding in Action (which follows on from Episode 35), Maureen Howard continues her deep dive with Professor Steve Carver from the University of Leeds into the IUCN’s five rewilding guidelines, as well as what distinguishes passive rewilding from other types of rewilding.

This episode contains the song of the European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) recorded by Paul Driver in Hertsfordshire, England, XC70124. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/70124.

Many thanks to RIBBONWOOD NURSERIES (www.ribbonwoodnurseries.co.nz) for kindly sponsoring this episode and many thanks to OAR FM for airing it.

This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - http://oar.org.nz