Rewilding in Action

10/09/2026

Are stone walls good or bad for skinks?

If you are a Subscriber and you missed this piece by me published in August about the joys (and as I discovered - the possible concerns) of dry stone walls - you might enjoy!

I'll also be interviewing and airing the person whose book inspired this article - Mick Abbot - in the next month or so too. Mick has some rewilding going on at his property in Upper Junction that will be interesting no doubt, and I like his perspective on our place in nature. I'm interested to learn more.

Build a dry stone wall or stack some rocks, have a rest, then let nature move in, writes Maureen Howard .

03/09/2026

EPISODE 41 - Canterbury's Green Islands: Planting stepping stones for native biodiversity
https://tinyurl.com/Episode-41-Rewilding-in-Action

I’m often amazed by natures' ability to recover by itself when given a chance. However with less than 1% native vegetation, the Canterbury Plains is a good candidate for some planting to kickstart natural native forest regeneration.

Te Ara Kakariki has a restoration goal of restoring native biodiversity through planting native forest stepping stones or 'Greendots' to help birds disperse seed and expand native forest.

For this episode I’ve come to a Greendot near Tai Tapu close to the base of the Canterbury Plains to talk with the Co-Chairs of Te Ara Kakariki, Craig Pauling and Peter Joyce who is also the owner of this property and its Greendot.

Join me, Maureen Howard, as I find out more about Te Ara Kakariki’s mission and methods.

Many thanks to Pōhatu penguins for kindly sponsoring this episode (www.pohatu.co.nz).

This episode contains the bird calls of kakariki Yellow-crowned parakeet recorded by Rob van Bemmelen, XC198879. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/198879.

This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - http://oar.org.nz on the 3rd September 2026

Listen to ALL the Rewilding in Action PODCAST episodes on:
▶️ OAR FM Website: https://oar.org.nz/shows/rewilding-in-action/
▶️ Spotify (latest episode): Listen to the episode on: https://tinyurl.com/SpotifyRewilding
▶️ Apple Podcasts (latest episode): https://tinyurl.com/ApplePodcastRewilding
▶️ YouTube (latest episode): https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeRewilding
▶️ or your favourite podcast provider!

30/08/2026

I understand pig numbers are pretty high inparts of Otago. Are there places here in Dunedin and Otago where the community is keen to tackle pigs? Could Graham help? I feel awful when I across the damage made by pigs in the bush.

If you still haven't listened to the episode with Graham Corbishley on pig elimination and want to do - you still can! Next episode will be aired on Thursday.
Listen to ALL the Rewilding in Action PODCAST episodes on:
▶️ OAR FM Website: https://oar.org.nz/shows/rewilding-in-action/
▶️ Spotify (latest episode): Listen to the episode on: https://tinyurl.com/SpotifyRewilding
▶️ Apple Podcasts (latest episode): https://tinyurl.com/ApplePodcastRewilding
▶️ YouTube (latest episode): https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeRewilding
▶️ or your favourite podcast provider!

27/08/2026

This lovely rewilding story has got me thinking about what I am going to start doing on my large berm! I currently mow around the edge of it, to let the neighbours know it's intentional and I care, and let the grass in the middle grow long to support the invertebrates. I've been wondering how to manage the longer grass in a way that would make ecological sense. So I'll start an annual mow of the middle at the end of summer - say Feb - and remove the cut grass. Over time, the nitrogen should deplete and I hopefully will get some interesting flowering plants come in. Be interesting to see if any are native.

I'll report back!

Farmer Derek Sayer let a boggy field run wild and just one annual hay-cut has led to remarkable biodiversity

22/08/2026

On Hinewai Reserve too, over 50 waterfalls have appeared since native bush was allowed to naturally regenerate.

National Trust’s Holnicote estate says restored wetlands and rivers offer proof of resilience to drought, wildfires and flooding

20/08/2026

EPISODE 40 - POST PIGS: The elimination of pigs from Banks Peninsula
https://tinyurl.com/40-Rewilding-in-Action

In New Zealand, introduced pigs even in low numbers have very destructive effects on our native bush and wildlife. In this episode (recorded in July 2026) I’ve come to Banks Peninsula to find out about the very recent elimination of over 3000 pigs from 22,000 hectares there – potentially NZ’s largest removal of a population that was established through illegal releases.

My guest, Graham Corbishley led the project as contracted project manager for Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust.

Graham takes me to where their pig elimination project started and describes the process.

Many thanks to Pōhatu penguins for kindly sponsoring this episode (www.pohatu.co.nz).

This episode contains the song of ruru Morepork recorded by Craig Wilson at Mount Cargill, Dunedin: Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/354393

Rewilding in Action is created and hosted by Dunedin based Dr Maureen Howard, an environmental education facilitator and a rewilding enthusiast.

This show was broadcast on OAR FM Dunedin - Community Access Media on the 20th August 2026. Many thanks!

Listen to ALL the Rewilding in Action PODCAST episodes on:
▶️ OAR FM Website: https://oar.org.nz/shows/rewilding-in-action/
▶️ Spotify (latest episode): Listen to the episode on: https://tinyurl.com/SpotifyRewilding
▶️ Apple Podcasts (latest episode): https://tinyurl.com/ApplePodcastRewilding
▶️ YouTube (latest episode): https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeRewilding
▶️ or your favourite podcast provider!

06/08/2026

Episode: 39 - Fungi Allies: Partnering with mānuka and kānuka to grow a Silver Beech Forest.
https://tinyurl.com/39-Rewilding-in-Action
Most trees grow much better when they are able to associate with mycorrhizal fungi. Native beech in particular are unable to live without certain species of ectomycorrhizal fungi. Is it a job we are wise to leave to the processes of natural succession? In this episode of Rewilding in Action, my guests Professor David Orlovich, Associate Professor Matt Larcombe and Dr Andy Nilsen from Otago University’s botany department take me, Maureen Howard, on a mini-adventure in Bethunes Gully in Dunedin to find a small remnant of original tawhai silver beech, also known as Nothofagus menziesii.

In addition to finding these beautiful trees, we talk about mycorrhizal fungi and how important they are in natural succession: in the successful transition from kānuka (Kunzea) and mānuka (Leptospermum) to native beech.

Many thanks to RIBBONWOOD NURSERIES (www.ribbonwoodnurseries.co.nz) for kindly sponsoring this episode along with OAR FM for airing it.

This show was broadcast on OAR FM Dunedin - Community Access Media on the 6th August 2026. Thank you!

Listen to ALL the Rewilding in Action PODCAST episodes on:
▶️ OAR FM Website: https://oar.org.nz/shows/rewilding-in-action/
▶️ Spotify (latest episode): Listen to the episode on: https://tinyurl.com/SpotifyRewilding
▶️ Apple Podcasts (latest episode): https://tinyurl.com/ApplePodcastRewilding
▶️ YouTube (latest episode): https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeRewilding
▶️ or your favourite podcast provider!

29/07/2026

A male korimako, taken in Orokonui Ecosanctuary at the weekend. All of the sugar water feeders have been removed to reduce the risk of transmitting avian flu. If you are feeling worried whether they are getting enough to eat, you may want to listen to Episode 13 that I recorded with Daria Erastova in Feb 2025 about the impacts of sugar water bird feeding.
https://accessmedia.nz/player?EID=c4f65842-069a-4ed6-84f7-1ca9e274bf63&audioOnlyMode=true

28/07/2026

As I was walking up a track on the flanks of Mihiwaka near Orokonui Ecosanctuary at the weekend, I saw lots of fallen kanuka. Perhaps wind or just age. Anyway, makes a rather atmospheric photo I think!
And - making way for the next succession of trees and shrubs to grab a bit of light and grow!

27/07/2026

What busy wee grass grubs! And native I'm told. These grass grubs have demolished this exotic patch of brown top and sweet vernal grasses. I can't find evidence that the ground cleared by them is able to clear the ground for natives to come in - but it would be great if they did! Has anyone else on here found grass grubs able to kick start native regeneration? Or are they a hindrance?

(From the 2025 archives - this from Bob and Carol's upland property on Banks Peninsula.)