Rewilding in Action

30/10/2025

EPISODE 27 - TO FRILL OR FELL, Replacing an exotic plantation with native forest

Sometimes, a very effective nursery species for natural native forest regeneration is an exotic dead plantation! In this episode I rejoin Bob Webster and Carol Jensen above Little River on Banks Peninsula to find out about the technique of frilling and how they used it to tackle three dense macrocarpa plantations with the help of some running mates. What is frilling? And how and why does it work? Listen in to find out!
This episode of Rewilding in Action is gratefully supported by the Rod Donald Banks Peninsula Trust. For more information go to www.roddonaldtrust.co.nz
This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - http://oar.org.nz on the 30th October 2025. Many thanks!
Listen to the episode 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!

23/10/2025

If you're enjoying the Rewilding in Action podcast please consider voting for it in the upcoming Listeners Choice Awards with Otago Access Radio. Find the form on the OAR FM Home Page. https://oar.org.nz/ Closes 31st Oct 2025.

16/10/2025

EPISODE 26 - REWILDING IN LATER LIFE

Would you love to buy land to rewild back to native forest but don’t think you’ll be able to afford it until you’re close to retirement?

In this episode of Rewilding in Action I visit the Banks Peninsula property of my guests Bob Webster and Carol Jensen who purchased land when in their 60s. Listen in to find out about the benefits of good monitoring, registering for carbon credits, and the fascinating role of old tree stumps and road margins for natural regeneration.

This episode of Rewilding in Action is gratefully supported by the Rod Donald Banks Peninsula Trust. For more information go to www.roddonaldtrust.co.nz

This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - http://oar.org.nz on the 16th October 2025. Many thanks!

Listen to the episode 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!

04/10/2025

Listen to the Latest episode 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!

This week on Rewilding in Action with Maureen Howard: Woody W**d or Nursery Plant?

Exotic woody w**ds such as sycamore can lead to the permanent replacement of a native ecosystem with a exotic one. Sometimes however, woody w**ds can act as a nursery species for natives to grow through.

Under what conditions does this happen? And with what exotic species? Maureen's guest, w**d ecologist Dr Kate McAlpine, shares her research and knowledge about natural native forest regeneration through woody w**ds.

Tune in this evening at 6pm, or catch the podcast later from:
▶️ OAR FM Website: https://oar.org.nz/shows/rewilding-in-action/
Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcast and other great podcast providers.

This episode of Rewilding in Action is supported by the Rod Donald Banks Peninsula Trust.
For more information go to roddonaldtrust.co.nz

CAMA - Community Access Media Alliance | NZ On Air

18/09/2025

Episode 24 -THE MOA: IMPACTS OF MISSING KEYSTONE SPECIES https://tinyurl.com/yc2cjsav

Nine species of moa, giant flightless birds, once dominated every part of New Zealand. What effect did their rapid extinction just 500-600 years ago have and how is their loss still affecting rewilding ecosystems today? And - can we really bring them back? Join me, Maureen Howard to find out, as I chat with my guest Quinn Berentson, author of The Moa: The Life and Death of New Zealand’s Legendary Bird.

This episode of Rewilding in Action is supported by Bin Inn Dunedin. For more information go to www.bininn.co.nz/otago/dunedin
Rewilding broadcast on OAR FM Dunedin - Community Access Media - http://oar.org.nz on 18 Sept 2025.
Listen to the episode 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!

08/09/2025

I was proud to be nominated and Commended in the Individual Pod category at the Keep Dunedin Beautiful Awards Ceremony last Friday. For the Rewilding in Action podcast! It was a great evening. There are so many fantastic initiatives happening in Dunedin.

05/09/2025

REWILDING IN ACTION with Maureen Howard
https://tinyurl.com/yudfc6vp

EPISODE 23 - Wild Gardening for Invertebrates
With guest Dr Jenny Jandt

You don’t need hectares of land to rewild! Rewilding can go as small as you like and the urban garden is a perfect example. Join me, Maureen Howard as I chat with my guest, insect behavioural ecologist Dr Jenny Jandt, in her garden to chat about how her intentionally wild garden is benefitting the growing invertebrate population living there. If you’re looking for a worthwhile reason to do less work in your garden, listen in to find out more!

This episode of Rewilding in Action is supported by Bin Inn Dunedin. For more information go to www.bininn.co.nz/otago/dunedin
This show was first broadcast on OAR FM Dunedin - Community Access Media - http://oar.org.nz on 4 Sept 2025.
Listen to the episode 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!

04/09/2025

My article on how we can help kākā rewild in Dunedin is in the InsideOut section of today's issue of the Otago Daily Times. And it's not a Subscriber only which I'm happy to see!

By taking action based on a long-term plan, our gardens can be part of a welcoming urban forest mosiac for kākā to return to Dunedin, writes...

21/08/2025

EPISODE 22 - PROTECTED FOREVER: https://tinyurl.com/Rewilding-22

One key thing that the landowners I’ve interviewed so far on Rewilding in action have in common is an open space QEII covenant on their land. Join me, Maureen Howard as I chat with my guest Dr Cathy Rufaut, a Regional Representative from QEII. Find out what this type of covenant is and the options out there, the benefits of a QEII covenant over other covenant types and what QEII is able to provide in the current economic climate.

This episode of Rewilding in Action is supported by Bin Inn Dunedin. For more information go to www.bininn.co.nz/otago/dunedin

This show was broadcast on OAR FM Dunedin - Community Access Media - http://oar.org.nz on 21 Aug 2025.

Listen to the episode 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!

07/08/2025

EPISODE 21 - A Kākā Comeback : https://tinyurl.com/Rewilding-21

Is your garden ready for a kākā visit? With increased predator control across Dunedin we are starting to experience more native birds, including kākā, in our backyards. Join me, Maureen Howard, on my visit with communications and advocacy lead Taylor Davies-Colley at Orokonui Ecosanctuary - Te Korowai o Mihiwaka. Listen in to find out - how we can live well with kākā, the benefits of big old trees - native or exotic, and why having a 1000 year plan is a perfect timeline for successful rewilding.

This episode of Rewilding in Action is supported by Bin Inn Dunedin. For more information go to www.bininn.co.nz/otago/dunedin

This show was broadcast on OAR FM Dunedin - Community Access Media - http://oar.org.nz on 7 Aug 2025.

Listen to the episode on:
▶️ OAR FM Website: https://oar.org.nz/shows/rewilding-in-action/
▶️ Spotify: Listen to the episode on: https://tinyurl.com/Spotify-21
▶️ Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/Apple-21
▶️ YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/Rewilding-YouTube-21
▶️ or your favourite podcast provider!

24/07/2025

EPISODE 20 - UNITED BY A STREAM GULLY

Rewilding requires ecological corridors to connect ecologically significant habitats. However in urban areas, native forest remnants are often isolated from one another, surrounded by multiple landowners.

Join me, Maureen Howard, as I chat with my guests Rachel Gibb and Ursula Ellenberg from Ravensbourne - where landowners have been working together to restore a stream gully spanning eight property blocks and where donkeys have helped restore native bush on Rachel's land!

This episode of Rewilding in Action is supported by Carey’s Bay Hotel. For more information go to www.careysbayhotel.co.nz

This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - http://oar.org.nz on the 24th July 2025

Listen to the episode on:
▶️ OAR FM Website: https://oar.org.nz/shows/rewilding-in-action/
▶️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/rewilding-in-action/id1764395381
▶️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/47mhmm6KwMINa2k3TzMq8T
▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLb6ValA0zfn8J7JtoH0cuZrDOI0nNl070
▶️ or your favourite podcast provider!

10/07/2025

After a two month break, I'm back behind the mic with a new podcast. Michael has some great perspectives to share to help us rewild Aotearoa. I hope you enjoy!

EPISODE 19 - Rewilding: Past, Present and Future

How can looking to the past, present and future help guide our rewilding goals? Join me, Maureen Howard as I chat with my guest Associate Professor Michael Knapp from the Department of Anatomy at Otago University. Taking a long time scale perspective, Michael helps shed some light on some of the ecological issues in recent rewilding episodes and how we can work better with nature. This episode of Rewilding in Action is supported by Carey’s Bay Hotel. For more information go to www.careysbayhotel.co.nz

This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - http://oar.org.nz on the 10th July 2025

Listen to the episode on:
▶️ OAR FM Website: https://oar.org.nz/shows/rewilding-in-action/
▶️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/rewilding-in-action-19-rewilding-past-present-and-future/id1764395381?i=1000716521140
▶️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7N0GOD49jJPASVg59p3Mlv
▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA2b3s9e9fo&list=PLb6ValA0zfn8J7JtoH0cuZrDOI0nNl070&index=1
▶️ or your favourite podcast provider!
This show was first broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - http://oar.org.nz on 10th July 2025