New Zealand Diploma in Environmental Management (Level 5)

Ayla Wiles - Biodiversity Management

“I get paid to spend my summer at the beach – and doing work I love. I always knew I wanted to work in conservation but I wasn’t sure about academic study, until I got addicted to it. I graduated with my Masters degree in Conservation Biology in 2016 and I’m now working a six month contract with DOC as seasonal Fairy Tern Ranger at Waipu Cove.”

“The work involves advocacy with beach visitors, schools, community groups and the surf club. I also monitor predator control by setting and checking 40 traps, and I monitor bird breeding and fence off areas where birds are nesting. My NorthTec training has been a real match for my work now.”

“I started at NorthTec with the Diploma in Environmental Conservation and loved the balance of practical and academic content so went on to do the degree. My degree research project was on the Bream Head skink which was a brand new species at that stage. This project gave me the experience to get an internship with an ecological consultancy in Wellington where I worked with lizard conservation for a summer after I graduated. While doing that I decided to do my Masters degree and the consultancy kept me on part-time time while I studied.”

“I came back up north when I was made redundant and landed my first contract as DOC Fairy Tern Ranger for five months. I loved it, did another contract as General Ranger for DOC Whangarei office working in the visitor asset and biodiversity departments, then in 2017 got my second contract as Fairy Tern Ranger.”

“Info gathering and process skills from my skink research project, and course field-based survey exercises, exposed me to a wide variety of species and habitats. It has also given me the tools to think about how to use field data for useful applications. This is all directly relevant to the work I do now. Our course work placement requirements also set up networks for both work opportunities and peer contact.”

“I’m realising that I like working with underdog species like the fairy terns and skinks rather than the high profile species, so I’d love for that work to continue. Meanwhile, back to work on the beach…”

Ashlee Lawrence - Environmental Sciences

“I love my job. I see parts of Northland that no-one else goes to, I meet and liaise with a lot of people connected to the land, and I get to work autonomously in the field.” Ashlee Lawrence works part time as a Biosecurity Officer for Northland Regional Council and fits the work around studying fulltime for the last year of her Bachelor of Science in Biodiversity Management at NorthTec.

Ashlee’s current work focus is on monitoring the re-generating acacia (wattle) seedlings that are highly invasive in the areas around the Kai Iwi Lakes north of Dargaville.

Ashlee - “A contract came up at the end of 2013 just as I finished my Diploma in Conservation and Environmental Management. It focused on identifying pest issues in the Kai Iwi Lakes water catchment and managing identified risks. Kai Iwi Lakes are a special type of lake called dune lakes. They are rare and these are some of the planet’s deepest dune lakes and they are really underappreciated. The chemical qualities of the lakes are changing because of increased levels of nitrogen, so steps need to be taken to improve those levels and raise awareness of the ecological value of these lakes. I surveyed properties around the lakes and investigated incidents of pest fish, invasive aquatic weed and pest plants. I am currently implementing programmes of removal and control for these incidents.”

Ashlee’s introduction to working in biosecurity came while she was still studying for her diploma. “In one of our papers we have ‘practicum’ where we volunteer for 80 hours at an environmental agency, so I rang the NRC and asked if they had any work. I was placed with the biosecurity team and allocated two pest plants to track down and eradicate. I was given a health and safety briefing then was sent out with another student with a truck and eradication gear. We had already completed a GrowSafe Certificate as part of our course so could use chemicals and spray equipment.

When the 80 hours was up, I asked if I could continue to work as a volunteer and the rest has developed from there.”
Ashlee points to some specifics from her NorthTec training that have given her confidence in her work skills. “Our course is the best training for conservationists in Northland. It is heavy on academic training with a focus on monitoring skills that are used by every environmental agency and are a benchmark for employers. That skill set sits against a backdrop of the study of New Zealand’s evolutionary history and why we are one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. We have so many special species here that you won’t find anywhere else in the world.”

Another key study subject that Ashley says was dovetails, with employment in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), which was recently introduced into NorthTec’s environmental training. “Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a computer based mapping system and it is becoming essential to employment in environmental work.”

Ashlee strongly recommends that students who are looking for work allied to their training volunteer some time. “Approach an employer in your related field and offer your time so they get to see what you are capable of. Things unfold from there.”

Ashlee’s current project in monitoring acacia regeneration is part of her required third year degree project. “My contract for this finishes at the end of this year but it is a five year study project for the NRC so other NorthTec students will get to continue the work.”

“When I finish my degree I hope to stay on as a Biosecurity Officer with NRC for a while. My dream is to someday work as a Biodiversity Asset Ranger in the South Island amongst our richly diverse environments down there.”

Read more about NorthTec's conservation courses

Bernie Buhler - Applied Science (Biodiversity)

Finding kiwi chicks, ferrying students to the island, building tracks, and measuring geckos are all part of a day’s work for Bernie Buhler. Bernie is the ranger on Limestone Island in Whangarei Harbour and the 93 acre island’s only resident. “This is a dream job for me. I had just graduated from NorthTec when I started here as the ranger in February 2013. I love the conservation work and I love the passion of the people I work with.”

But Bernie is relatively new to the world of conservation and wildlife. “I worked as a chef for twenty years, mostly in Whangarei, and was ready for a change. I have always liked the outdoors and looked into study options at NorthTec. Because I was out of the habit of study, I started with a year certificate course in Conservation Management. I surprised myself, did really well, got a scholarship for more study, and so went on to complete the Bachelor of Applied Science majoring in Biodiversity.”

Part of Bernie’s third year study project included field trips to Limestone Island so he got to know the then rangers, Ben and Jo Barr. Bernie - “After I finished my degree Ben contacted me because he required the services of a trapper. They later needed someone to island-sit while they went on summer holiday, and then they decided to leave and Ben became a tutor at NorthTec. I was appointed interim ranger and later was selected for the advertised ranger job from 93 applicants.”

The variety of Bernie’s island ranger work is a big part of his job’s appeal and he has plenty of physical and social support. “I can be introducing weta to kids, checking the predator traps, then weighing petrel, driving the barge, or helping volunteers build a track. We have a barge that holds 23 people and I bring school groups, retired people, or volunteers over here once or twice a week. We have a well attended volunteers’ day once a month and people are keen to help with making tracks, weeding, baiting traps, or building.”

Bernie attributes the NorthTec science degree tutors for turning him on to learning and onto conservation. “We had a week long camp when our course started and we were immersed in learning outdoors. The degree is a tough course but so worthwhile if you can hang in there. It gave me the skills and confidence to get this job.”

The Limestone Island Ranger position is now limited to a three year contract. Bernie – “I’m a year into it and loving it. When the time is up though, I’ll probably go on to something bigger and better, like Little Barrier Island, but I’m happy to go anywhere and I know I’ll enjoy whatever comes up.

Find out more about NorthTec's conservation courses

Emma Doel - Biodiversity Management

“The best part of the course was getting out and meeting people in the industry with initiatives like Project Island Song and Landcare groups. I had contact here at Kiwi North with my work placement for my practicum, and the natural fit of my passion and skills led to this part time work when I finished my degree in 2016.”

“Public speaking is one of the most relevant course skills that I apply here. For a major assessment presentation we had to put information across in an interesting and accurate way. The course also kept us up to date with current Northland conservation projects like the 1000 kiwi now living around Whangarei Heads due to a 30 year community and DOC initiative, and Golden Bay Cement’s environmental impact awareness monitoring project.”

“I love all aspects of my job here as part time Husbandry Officer. I take care of the tuatara, geckos and kiwi - including breeding insects for their food supply. The basic biology we learnt on our course is generic but each of our native species has their own adaptations. I also love the visitor host role here giving presentations on either New Zealand ecology in general, or kiwi in particular, depending on the group. I take visitors through the centre here, and get school groups involved out hunting for insects.”

“My confidence has grown hugely since working here so I now really enjoy talking to a whole range of different people. I like the environmental advocacy so much that my next step may be in teaching in either community, school or tertiary education contexts.”

Lyn Wade - Biodiversity Management

What began for Lyn Wade as a step towards being more informed about conservation, has grown into her recent completion of a degree in Applied Science (Bio-Diversity Management.) 

Lyn – “I started study in 2007 aiming to do a certificate so I could be better informed in my role as a trustee for Little Barrier Island Supporters’ Trust. I have a fascination and passion for conservation so I looked at part time study options that I could fit around my family commitments and my work as a registered nurse.”

“Even though I live close to Auckland, NorthTec offered the convenience of subjects I could group into two day blocks of part time study compared with an hour here and there through a week. We had small classes and awesome field trips and I got hooked on learning, so I went on to the diploma and then the degree when it became available.”

“I have just finished my degree doing part time study since 2007 and I have such a sense of accomplishment. The flexibility of my being able to study at my own pace was also part of the attraction at NorthTec and probably the reason I completed the whole course.”

“I am still a trustee for Little Barrier Island and am now involved in setting up a five year plan for the island. I also do kiwi monitoring plus I am a volunteer day supervisor for DOC. My role on the island has grown because of my interest and knowledge.”

Lyn chose the subject of streams on Little Barrier Island as her special negotiated study third year project for her degree. Lyn - “The Auckland Council has since requested information from my study, plus a PhD student may do a paper to take this topic further.”

Lyn created a poster to present the information from her study and was invited to submit the poster to the Entomological Conference in Queenstown in April this year. “The posters submitted are usually from Masters students so it was an honour to be involved - and my poster received the award for second place. I looked at the special place Little Barrier Island has in NZ conservation and was also able to compare my aquatic survey with a similar study done 50 years ago."

Lyn is taking the next six months off. “I’ll be catching up with things that have been put aside while I was studying. I am also wondering whether to go on to a Masters degree if I can come up with a beneficial research topic.”

“I’m now in my 60s and I want to encourage and inspire older woman to study. I feel a lot of women don’t realize they can go back and study and how exciting it is to follow your passion. My daughter is in her 40s and is now following my lead and has started a degree.”