Restoration superstar tackles our first paid role

If you have helped out at Te Hōnonga a Iwi this year, you have probably met Elouise Shuker, our very knowledgeable Activator and Working Bee Co-ordinator with an incredible passion for the environment, a wealth of conservation knowledge and an ever-present beaming smile.

Elouise is our first paid team member at the restoration project, working 15 to 20 hours a week, funded by the Lotteries Grants Board, Te Puna Tahua.

Her role is mainly on the ground, leading working bees with school, community, and corporate groups. Behind the scenes, she also writes emails, plans and preps for working bees, runs errands, and attends meetings with the broader network of restoration groups in the area.

“There’s so much more that goes on behind the scenes than I ever imagined, and I’m so grateful to be just a small part of it,” Elouise says.

And we are lucky to have her.

Project co-ordinator Nicky Shave says Elouise, who gained a conjoint Bachelor of Design and Bachelor of Science, majoring in Biological Science (ecology pathway) and Environmental Science, is a superstar.

 “She lives and breathes conservation. Her spare time is spent regenerating nature, and she is a magnet for young people, who love working with her.

“She is so friendly and breaks down any barriers, enabling everyone to feel comfortable, valued and able to contribute in meaningful ways. She is passionate about animal pest management and uses technology with ease. Her design knowledge is awesome for this role, and she has an inherent understanding of how design can positively influence the environment.”

Elouise is also very happy to step outside her comfort zone with courage and commitment.

“We are building our knowledge of a mara kai and whilst this is out of her educational remit, she researches solutions, finds industry experts and comes up with ideas that enable us to offer a variety of mahi and opportunities that suit the diverse needs and interests of our voluntary communities.”

Before taking on this role, Elouise volunteered at Te Hōnonga a Iwi, in pest animal trapping and helped with some strategy work, including last year’s youth voice survey. She’d heard about our project while volunteering at a planting day in Hosking Reserve, another Albany conservation project.

“I grew up riding my bike and playing softball in Rosedale Park, and I had no idea such a project was happening so close to home, let alone an award-winning, regenerative one!” she says.

After discovering more about the restoration and its approach to addressing prevalent environmental issues from multiple angles, Elouise felt compelled to get involved.

Stepping up to a part-time paid role has worked well as she transitioned to post-graduate study this year.

“It’s not easy finding and landing work in conservation as a new graduate, so when this one came up, the timing couldn’t have been better.”

The work she is doing builds on the skills Elouise gained through Conservation Volunteers New Zealand, and the kaupapa of Te Hōnonga a Iwi resonates.

“The project works on strengthening the community, challenging current ways of thinking and doing in conservation, and empowering diverse communities and mixed abilities. It’s a truly holistic restoration project that recognises we can’t achieve environmental goals without supporting people first.”

Long-term, Elouise would love to see Rosedale Park become a hub for local communities to come together and build up each other’s Hauora (wellbeing).

“Safety is a big focus when I think of what this park could be - a place where people and native birds, lizards, bats, invertebrates, and more can feel safe and coexist. That vision will take years, but it’s worth working toward.”

In the short-term she is focused on grid mapping the restoration for succession planning and data records of species present and work done, and supporting our youth leaders.

By helping other young people, Elouise can pay forward the support the project has provided in her conservation career.

And she is keen to allow Nicky some well-deserved time off. “She works so tirelessly, every day of the week, to make this project what it is.”

One part of the job Elouise loves is learning from the incredible people she works with. Our kaumatua Richard Nahi and Charmain Baillie, a leader in traditional and experimental ecological restoration, are helping increase her cultural sensitivity and knowledge of tikanga Maori. She is also working with Louis Foot, Rachael Pates, from UWEN, local ecology expert Nicholas Mayne, and Auckland Council Park Ranger Theo Jaycox.

“I am so grateful for the opportunity to connect with these special people while I am very much in the early stages of learning in the conservation and community project space.”

Nicky says having Elouise’s role funded is a big step forward for Restoring Rosedale Park. “It’s allowing us to maintain sustainable growth and build in succession planning to ensure much greater depth of knowledge and internal capability to cover lead roles.

“It’s meant we can bring in specialist ecological knowledge and develop youth leadership into management roles within the project, demonstrating opportunity for internal progression.”

Nicky says the whole team is very grateful to Te Puna Tahua for funding a working bee co-ordinator.

“Elouise is the face of Te Hōnonga a Iwi, and we are privileged to learn with her and work alongside her as she changes the landscape in her unique, happy, informed and innovative way.”