Tucked away at the foot of Kahurangi National Park, near the coastal community of Pākawau, lives a young conservation volunteer — Sam. Along with his siblings and parents, they are the heart behind Karu-o-te-Kiwi, a gorgeous eco-retreat nestled in their property on the edge of the park.
Fascinated by nature, Sam’s love for birds in particular runs deep. He’s always been interested in our feathered friends, but became a serious ‘birder’ in 2023. And he’s lucky enough to live near the internationally significant nature reserve – Farewell Spit/Onetahua, where the world’s only ground-level gannet colony can be found.
It’s not just gannets that call Onetahua home; sooty shearwaters, bar-tailed godwits and red knots are among the birds that flock to its shores. And, as a keen volunteer with Pest Free Onetahua and HealthPost Nature Trust, Sam’s outdoor classroom is one-of-a-kind.
From ‘bagging and tagging’ mice for a pest control study, to feeding baby fluttering shearwaters, and helping Birds NZ with a gannet survey, Sam’s developing science skills and helping protect birdlife.
In his free time you’ll often find Sam out bird spotting, or patiently waiting for a glimpse of the elusive Australasian bittern that lives in the Wharariki wetlands. He’s a talented photographer, capturing stunning images of the birds in the area. Sam’s even created a bird-themed calendar to raise funds so he can attend the Mt Aspiring Trust Bird Camp for young ornithologists.
Sam’s favourite birds? Shorebirds and pelagic birds — the ocean wanderers that spend their lives far out at sea, only returning to land to breed on remote islands and coastlines off Aotearoa.
Having young people like Sam involved in conservation mahi is magic. From trapping pests to monitoring wildlife (and taking amazing photo’s in between) he’s learning, exploring, and developing a life-long passion to care for the wild places and species that make Aotearoa unique.