Rewilding In Action

The focus of today’s episode is how to register your naturally regenerating native forest through the NZ Emissions Trading Scheme or ETS.

Being able to talk to people who have successfully navigated this process is incredibly helpful. Join me, Maureen Howard, on a trip to Christchurch where I chat with my guests Bob Webster and his wife Carol Jensen, and Antony Johnson who have gone through the process of registering regenerating forest on neighbouring pieces of predominantly south facing hill country near Little River on Banks Peninsula.

On Antony’s property, (altitude 280-500m) native forest has established through gorse, while on Bob and Carol’s property (380-720m) it is establishing through upland exotic grasses.

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

If you loved this local episode and want to help ‘Keep Maureen Going’ please contact me through my email at rewildinginaction@gmail.com. I will thank you in the next episode!

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

Exotic pasture grasses are often a major barrier to native forest species getting established naturally. In this episode I’ve come to Te Whenua Ora on Banks Peninsula to find out how sheep grazing can help kanuka (Kunzea ericoides) get established through exotic grass to kickstart the forest succession process. Te Whenua Ora is a 536 ha conservation project near Little River comprising pasture, damp south-facing gullies, original forest remnants and drier north-facing slopes.

In this episode, recorded in July 2026, I talk to environmental science PhD student Maia Gerard about the effects of sheep grazing on Te Whenua Ora in the transition from pasture to native forest.

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

If you loved this episode and would like to Keep Maureen Going please join my Facebook Page Rewilding in Action or subscribe to my fortnightly newsletter at rewildinginaction@gmail.com

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

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