Diary of an intern

by Siddhartha Gurung

Today marks the end of my internship at the Karioi Project.

My first experience at Karioi (and Raglan) was through a 4-day work experience trip through Toi Ohomai’s conservation program. Even after those days of arduous work, I couldn’t wait to get back to those beautiful forests and idyllic shores. 

Lucky for me, Toi Ohomai’s course schedule gave us the chance to return for another week to fully immerse ourselves in the lush slopes of that magnificent mountain.

Don’t misconstrue my words: the work was tough, but nothing beats being out in the bush getting some genuinely meaningful work done. Better yet, this fabulous work was done alongside even more fabulous people who took great care to ensure my time was filled with new experiences. From hanging out with ōi chicks courtesy of Georgia, to blazing down seldom-explored traplines with Jasmine, each day brought something new to do and someone new to learn from. When time was spent working alongside such talented people, the days just flew by. 

Before long, my week of interning with this wonderful gem of a community was over. However, one thought kept ringing in the back of my head: I can’t wait to come back again!