One of Those Perfect Days in the Field
Some days remind us exactly why we do what we do.
This was one of those days.
The morning began with clear blue skies and an incredible sunrise over Whāingaroa. By the time the day drew to a close, a full moon was rising and another spectacular sunset was painting the landscape. In between, dozens of people came together to care for nature.
Our dedicated volunteers headed into the field to deploy and refill another round of bait stations, helping protect native wildlife from introduced predators. Every bait station serviced is another step towards creating safer habitat for the birds and other native species that call Karioi home.
At the same time, ten Year 7 and 8 students from Raglan Area School were out with our Education team as part of our Life as a Ranger programme. They experienced conservation firsthand, learning what it takes to care for the ngahere and the wildlife that depends on it.
Although the two groups spent the day doing different things, they were all part of the same bigger story. Volunteers, students, staff and supporters, each contributing in their own way to the long-term restoration of this special place.
Days like these are also a reminder that conservation is about community. It's about people sharing skills, working together, enjoying time outdoors, and finding purpose in caring for creation.
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us, worked hard, shared plenty of laughs, and, of course, to Jane for keeping everyone well fuelled with her legendary baking.
If you've ever wondered what it's would be like to spend a day with the Karioi Project, we'd love to welcome you. Whether you're deploying bait stations, learning new skills, or simply enjoying the incredible scenery, every helping hand makes a difference.
This story is just one example of the impact our volunteers have. We're grateful to COGS Waikato West for supporting initiatives that help keep our volunteer community thriving. We're also very grateful to Lottery Environment and Heritage, the Patagonia Environment Fund, the DOC Community Fund, the Waikato Regional Council Natural Heritage Fund, and the WWW Foundation for helping us restore and protect the biodiversity of the Whāingaroa landscape. And our sincere thanks to the WWF Community Conservation Fund, Trust Waikato, WEL Energy Trust, the Glenice and John Gallagher Foundation, the Sargood Bequest, and DV Bryant. Their generous support helps us deliver inspiring conservation education programmes for our community.