Working bee co-ordinator loves connecting people with nature

Student journalist Alex Zhang catches up with our newest working bee co-ordinator Daniel Tiong and finds out what drives his passion for the environment.

In the heart of Auckland’s North Shore, a quiet transformation is taking place at Rosedale Park. Among the buzz of activity is Daniel Tiong, our new Working Bee Co-ordinator and the second paid employee at Te Hōnonga a Iwi Restoring Rosedale Park. For Daniel, this role is more than a job; it’s the culmination of a deeply felt responsibility and a carefully woven tapestry of experience.

Daniel's initial move into environmental conservation was taking up work as a ranger in Auckland's Northern Regional Parks last summer. This proved to be a vital opportunity for Daniel, teaching him key park-management skills and dropping him straight into a community-facing role. Even after the summer break, Daniel was able to continue collaborating with the parks team as a trapping ranger, spending fulfilling hours keeping the region's open sanctuaries predator-free.

After leaving that role, Daniel's enthusiasm did not diminish. He channelled his time as a volunteer with Urban Ark Manawa Taiao, getting involved in community work and the crucial task of establishing new trap lines. It was this combination of hands-on ability and his willingness to engage with people that ultimately saw Daniel head to Te Hōnonga a Iwi, a partnership he terms "super exciting," where he feels fully able to make a contribution.

Looking back on his experience as a ranger, Daniel considers that position as having been fundamental. The role taught him that his work is important not only from an ecological standpoint, but also in recognising and connecting with the community​ and finding a balance between pure conservation and managing the recreational, educational, and advocacy values that environmental conservation movements hold. Daniel firmly believes in having a deep connection with nature and he often feels a responsibility as a kaitiaki (guardian) of the environment.

These hard-earned skills are now a gift that Daniel brings to Restoring Rosedale Park every day. As the Working Bee Co-ordinator, he considers it a privilege to facilitate people's relationships with the natural world and to help neighbours to become the guardians of their own local park.

This practical understanding is further enriched by his academic studies. While studying ecology in university, Daniel develops greater knowledge about the complexity and richness of Te Taiao (the environment). He is also thrilled to pass on this knowledge and share his findings with the wider community and contribute even more to environmental restoration.

Daniel’s journey—from a regional park ranger to being a crucial member of Te Hōnonga a Iwi—is a story of purpose. It’s the story of someone who feels a responsibility to the land and has thoughtfully built the skills to honour it. At Rosedale Park, he is not just helping to co-ordinate volunteers; he is cultivating a community of guardians, ensuring that the restoration of Rosedale Park will be a story written by its people, for generations to come.