Ōwhango Alive wouldn’t be possible without the dedication and passion of our incredible volunteers. These are the everyday heroes who give their time and energy to protect and restore the unique biodiversity of Ōwhango. From setting traps and planting trees to monitoring wildlife and supporting community events, our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do.
A few of our volunteers are below. It’s hard to pin them down for a photo and a word about themselves as they’re often out and about. This list will grow as we cheekily grab a pic and a word or two on them and why they choose to volunteer.
We have regular working bees that you may want to be involved with. Contact us on messenger or via our contact page to hear about the next one. Some of our Working Bees and Volunteers below.
So many people help us with the trapping of pests, below are just a few of these volunteers who help make Owhango Alive successful.
A keen fisherman, dog lover, and fantastic cook, Peter is active with the trapping programme. He runs a dedicated line and fills in for others to ensure traps are cleared regularly. He also helps with working bees when the schedule allows and has been our Secretary in the past, ‘though chasing paper is never as enjoyable as chasing down pests in the forest.
Tim is a treasure and our treasurer! With a keen eye for detail and a passion for sustainability and community, Tim oversees the financial operations of the organisation, ensuring its initiatives are effectively funded and fiscally responsible.
He brings extensive Local Government knowledge to the table and a huge resource of information. And if there’s a community initiative brewing, Tim’s probably crunching numbers behind the scenes.
She wanted to kill things when she retired and has been working two trap lines to satisfy that desire. Marion is also our walking ‘knowledge base’.
If you were to Google Julie, you’d see pictures of her in the outdoors in places all over the world. She especially likes places where she can photograph fauna and flora. Prior to moving back to Taumarunui and joining Ōwhango Alive, she was a guide on Tiritiri Matangi Island for many years. Volunteering has given her the opportunity to meet so many amazing people and to learn about each new environment.
Maree is usually seen with her whippet Devo in tow. Her dog loves a rabbit chase – so far the rabbits are safe until they come across a trapline :).
Her day job is located in the Cooks Islands in a work-from-home role position, offering her the ability to live in the best outdoor location in NZ. “Volunteering with Ōwhango Alive gives me that opportunity to connect with others in the community, vs the hermit life of working from home.” Maree looks after our website, comms and social media posts.
When she is not studying Law or working at Blue Hill Cafe, you will usually find Pippa out checking trail cameras and sharing her latest wildlife discoveries with the team.
Pippa plays an important role within Ōwhango Alive, helping monitor what is happening in our ngahere and along local tracks. Her trail camera images regularly capture interesting and unexpected visitors, giving us a valuable insight into the wildlife living in the area.
Each month, we look forward to seeing what Pippa’s cameras have uncovered next.
Mark worked tirelessly as our Chairperson for 12 years before stepping down in 2024, but after 12 months’ absence he’s been voted back with a supporting group of admin volunteers to help spread the load. He is our resident wildlife whisperer and the king of critter management at Ōwhango Alive. With a cheeky grin and unmatched enthusiasm, Mark’s passion for conservation keeps the local predator population on their toes—or paws. His infectious spirit and hands-on approach inspire everyone around him to get involved and have fun while protecting our precious wildlife.
Sally is one of the original driving forces behind Ōwhango Alive, co-founding the group with a deep passion for protecting and restoring the natural environment of Ōwhango and bringing unity within the community.
With a history that includes possum trapping for skins from 1980, followed by possum and ferret survey work and Tb testing cattle for the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries, Sally brings a wealth of hands-on experience to her conservation efforts.
Sally is also Ōwhango Alive’s unofficial queen of coordination and master multitasker. Known for her quick wit and endless energy, Sally effortlessly keeps projects moving forward while charmingly wrangling volunteers and wildlife alike. Her dedication ensures everything runs smoothly, with a smile and a wink, making conservation feel less like work and more like an adventure.
Ian is our newest committee member and is the master of selling Calendars. Lots of ideas shared with the team. Welcome to the committee Ian.
