The Halo Project Source to Sea team are excited to be hosting another season of planting days! We value working alongside our passionate community members as we enhance, protect and connect with this landscape.
All of the planting days this year are in Heyward Point. A sausage sizzle lunch is provided to all who RSVP. If you would like to join us, or if you have a group who might enjoy this, please reach out to info@haloproject.org.nz.
Kā mihi nui.
Our latest newsletter is available here to download (PDF 15MB).
Read about kororā/little blue penguins, native planting at Dons Creek, and predator control at Warrington Spit. Hear from departing team member Jeanne Hutchison on what it was like to work as the Halo Project Volunteer Coordinator.
Work planned at Warrington Spit
We are excited to announce that we are beginning our predator control work in a new part of the expansion area, from Warrington to the Waikouaiti River.
Gathering baseline information on possum abundance across the 6,240 hectare area is the first priority, with work already underway for this. Thanks so far for the support from the local community, we’re stoked to be working with you all.
Working alongside community we have exciting plans for Warrington Spit, an amazing 65.4 hectare reserve:
To better understand what is there and to measure the results of predator control in the area we will begin with predator monitoring, installing chew cards and tracking tunnels in advance of undertaking predator control.
We are targeting possums and mustelids (stoats, weasels and ferrets) primarily, and expect to remove rats and hedgehogs with these devices also.
In the coming weeks we will be reaching out to those who attended our community meetings earlier in 2023.
We are looking for volunteers to assist us firstly in Warrington where we will begin work immediately.
Please reach out to us via info@haloproject.org.nz
Full-time, fixed-term until June 30 2025
Ōtepoti/Dunedin based Pay rate: living wage or above (based on experience)
Do you have pest control and/or community/volunteer engagement experience and want to take it to the next level?
Are you passionate about making Aotearoa Predator Free?
Are you interested in protecting and restoring native biodiversity?
Are you fit, fast and love working outdoors?
Do you work in the rural/farming sector and are seeking a change?
Do you have a ‘can-do’ attitude?
About the role
Reporting to the Predator Free Project Manager, you will:
Join a talented small team working at the forefront of Aotearoa’s Predator Free mission.
Push yourself and others to meet the objectives of the project
Work individually and as part of a small team across a varied landscape to undertake predator control and associated monitoring work
Involve and support the community to be a part of the predator free mission
Gain and expand conservation skills, qualifications and experience
We are looking for a team player who:
A very high level of physical fitness and the ability to complete outdoor work safely in rugged and remote environments, often working alone.
Experience working off track with heavy loads.
Experience with a range of predator control tools and methods.
Ability to use a range of technology including gps and phone based applications.
Experience and a passion for the outdoors, native plants and wildlife.
Resilient to working outside in all weather.
A positive and proactive attitude towards Health and Safety.
Full Drivers License and own vehicle.
Applicants will ideally also:
Have experience with 4WD/qualifications
Hold or be willing to get a current First Aid certificate
Firearms License
Controlled Substance License, ATV, Chainsaw
About the Trust
Landscape Connections Trust (LCT) is an incorporated charitable trust, established in 2009 to create healthy landscapes that support resilient communities.
LCT works with groups and individuals across the landscape north of Dunedin to enhance this special area. Our community-led management strategy recognises that as well as protecting and managing specific high-value biodiversity areas, other actions are required to ensure broader ecosystem functionality and integrity across the project area. Our health, wellbeing, lifestyles and economy are all dependent on a healthy natural environment and it is this underlying principle that drives our objectives to enhance the natural environment. We implement a number of projects under the banner ‘The Halo Project’.
About the Predator Free Project:
Our flagship project is a landscape-scale predator control project involving coordinated and strategic execution of predator control strategies across two ‘zones’ to help protect livelihoods, provide safer habitat for native fauna and enable recovery of degraded forest habitats. The first - Zero Density zone - is 10,000 hectares of public and private land across Dunedin’s northern coastline and volcanic hills, and including the harbour side settlements. The second Buffer zone sits across a further 35,000 hectares to the north and west of Dunedin including the Silver Peaks. The project involves:
Further reduce the possum population across the Zero Density 10,000ha, working towards elimination.
Implementing landscape-scale possum control across the 35,000ha Buffer to support the zero density objectives.
Implementing best practice landscape-scale control of mustelids across 12,500 hectares.
Implementing multi-species predator control projects in areas of high biodiversity value.
Supporting community initiatives and volunteers aiming to achieve these objectives.
Undertake result and outcome monitoring to support operations.
Excited?
Please read the full job description here and if you believe you have the relevant experience to undertake this role send your cover letter and CV to alice@haloproject.org.nz
For a confidential discussion regarding the role, please contact Jonah Kitto-Verhoef (Predator Free Project Manager) jonah@haloproject.org.nz
To be considered for this role, you must hold a valid NZ work visa.
Applications close when a suitable applicant is found.
The Halo Team proudly presents their 2021-2023 Review. It’s like an Annual Report but without the financials details.
Download our colourful 24-page magazine-style report here (5MB).
It covers our community projects and how we are helping residents and landowners connect, protect and enhance this landscape through community partnerships and shared learning.
We are thrilled to welcome Abby to our team as a Predator Free Ranger!
Abby discovered her passion for protecting the natural beauty of Aotearoa after returning from living abroad. While pursuing a Bachelor's degree in psychology and physiology at Massey University in her hometown Papaioea / Palmerston North, she took on the role of leading the Massey University Alpine Club. This helped expand her enthusiasm for native wildlife, plant life, and learn outdoor skills.
Over the past five years, Abby has worked in predator control around Papaoiea reserves and water catchment. She is excited to contribute to the conservation effort in her new home Ōtepoti through the Halo Project.
Do you live in Karitāne, Seacliff or Warrington? If so, you are invited to a community meeting!
Come along and meet the team, hear what we are up to, share your own predator control endeavors & register your interest to be kept up to date on local opportunities to participate.
WARRINGTON - Warrington Hall - 22 May 6pm
SEACLIFF - 11 Russell Rd - 25 May 6pm
KARITĀNE - Karitāne Hall - 30 May 6pm
We are eager for feedback on our work, and seek to understand the perspectives of our community towards the wellbeing of our environment. All those who give feedback will go in to win a $100 Arc Brewery voucher.
Click this link to complete the survey.
Read about the success of our grid of automatic self-resetting traps, hear about our incredible volunteers and have the opportunity to give us your feedback
Our latest newsletter is available here to download (PDF 2.4MB).
