Meet a volunteer series

Some people literally arrive in town and immediately make a big difference. Brett Savage has been a Karioi volunteer for just over a year, but already he has contributed to making our trap box-building days a roaring success. He also checks several traplines and maintains a selection of traps around his own home. Tradie by day and groovy dancer by night, Brett has taken to life in Whāingaroa like a duck to water. What would we do without Builder Brett?

We caught up with Brett to ask him a few questions…

1) Why did you join the Karioi Project? 

I was drawn to the Karioi Project via social media and started following the mahi being undertaken by the organisation and its volunteers. Its values and aims really appealed to my desire to give towards the cause of saving our native fauna.

2) What do you enjoy about volunteering?

Meeting and getting to know the great people involved has been the best thing.

3) In what ways do you volunteer?

I help look after the Christian Camp and the Upper Wainui traplines. I host tunnel trap-making days at ours and have also been developing and building a new version of the DOC250 trap box. We currently have seven traps around our property as well.

4) How do you spend your time outside of your volunteering?

In my spare time, I really enjoy growing veggies, fruit and native plants. I also like riding motorbikes, dirt bikes and a trail bike for the road. Music has been a passion all my life. I'm old-school and play mostly vinyl.

5) What keeps you motivated?

 I hope that my contribution is helping local birdlife to increase and flourish in our area.

6) What's your favourite native bird? 

My favourite native bird would have to be the Kōtare (kingfisher). We have quite a few of them around here and I am lucky to see up to five at a time sitting on the fence regularly at our place. They are shy, quiet and beautiful. Kiwi comes a close second. I have only had five encounters with Kiwi in my life. The best was at a remote beach on Rakiura / Stewart Island - up close, on a guided tour.  

7) Some trapping tips from Brett…

The working life of a Victor trap can be greatly increased by lowering the kill bar carefully back by hand, rather than triggering them. Same with the D-Rat traps.

BIG THANKS TO ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS FOR BEING EVERYDAY HEROES!