People Helping Nature Podcast

About People Helping Nature Podcast

The People Helping Nature Podcast is all about sharing the incredible stories of people who are helping nature. We do this by bringing a megaphone to the world of conservation by featuring people from all walks of life who are doing interesting and important things to help nature thrive. We aim to make it easy for everyone to learn, understand, take action, and feel like they’re a part of the solution. Our vision is simple: make conservation mainstream... Produced by the Conservation Amplified Charitable Trust. Find out more & join the community at www.conservationamplified.org.

Publisher

Conservation Amplified

Category

science

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

6 Aug 2024

Latest episode

7 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

45 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   7 Oct 2026

   How South Westland Became a Massive Nature Sanctuary

   Is Predator Free 2050 achievable? Is it possible to remove possums, rats and stoats from 100,000+ hectares of mainland New Zealand, and keep them out, without a fence? When ZIP began working in South Westland, this was unchartered territory: even the team wasn’t sure. But the local community agreed that it was worth a go. Starting with a trial in the remote Perth Valley, they worked across the landscape block by block. Some river boundaries helped keep predators out. Others were so leaky that dealing with returning animals made it hard to move on. In this episode, Nate St Hill from Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP) shares how the team kept finding ways forward, combining familiar tools with new technology and adapting as they learned. With initial predator removal completed across more than 100,000 hectares, Nate describes the rewards, like seeing kākāriki in the Perth Valley where he once worked for years without hearing one, and residents telling him their dawn chorus has changed. It’s a story of persistence, ingenuity and community support, with lessons for anyone wondering whether Predator Free 2050 is possible. This is the first episode of a two-part mini series looking at this incredible elimination programme. The next episode explores how predator removal is changing life for locals and tourism operators in Ōkārito Lagoon. We recorded this episode during a visit in late March 2026. Whilst the majority of what we discussed is current at the time of publishing, you can find the latest project updates and numbers here: https://pfsw.org.nz/news (https://pfsw.org.nz/news/) Here are some of the key topics we discussed: What predator elimination means in an open mainland landscape Using glacier fed, fast-flowing rivers, mountains and the sea as natural boundaries How 1080, traps, innovation and AI cameras work together Why different predators need different responses Working alongside landowners and local communities Learning how to manage reinvasion and prevent predators from re-establishing Maintaining the gains and the role of the Tomorrow Accord Nate’s lessons and insights for adapting this approach elsewhere in Aotearoa And much more… 🧑 About Nate: After completing a Bachelor of Science at Sydney University and travelling overseas, Nate stumbled into the world of conservation as a volunteer for the Department of Conservation on Raoul Island. He spent the best part of two years working on the weeding program there. Nate joined ZIP as a field ranger working at the temporary Haast field site back in 2017. He’s been with the South Westland team since ZIP began work in the Perth Valley in 2019. These days, he doesn’t spend much time working in the field but enjoys exploring the more accessible parts of the stunning South Westland environment with his 2 year old son. 🔗 Learn more: https://zip.org.nz (https://zip.org.nz) https://pfsw.org.nz (https://pfsw.org.nz) https://www.instagram.com/projectpfsw (https://www.instagram.com/projectpfsw) https://www.facebook.com/predatorfreesouthwestland (https://www.facebook.com/predatorfreesouthwestland) 🎙️Learn more about the podcast at www.conservationamplified.org (https://www.conservationamplified.org)

2. 

   31 May 2026

   What I Learned From 20 Years Running a Zoo (with Karen Fifield, Te Nukuao Wellington Zoo)

   After 20 years leading Te Nukuao Wellington Zoo, Karen Fifield is preparing to step down as Chief Executive. So we sat down with her to ask a simple question: What has a lifetime in zoos taught her? Her answer reaches far beyond the animals that visitors see. It’s about conservation, technology, ethics, diversity in the workplace, animal welfare, storytelling, and learning to share the planet with other living beings. Karen reflects on what animals have taught her about authenticity, why good zoos must be built around care and trust, and why facts alone rarely change how people see the world. As she puts it, “we’re storytellers as human beings, we are not fact collectors.” This is a thoughtful conversation about animals, people, and the role of good zoos in a changing world. Here are some of the key topics we discussed: What animals taught Karen during her time at Te Nukuao Wellington Zoo Lessons from observing animal behaviour Chimpanzee leadership styles and what we can learn from them The evolution of zoos towards conservation organisations How technology shapes conservation research and outcomes Why Karen cares so much about animal welfare The 5 domains of animal welfare What Karen has learned about leading people in a ‘heart-based’ profession How to empower staff to do their best work for animals The changing role of women in zoos, conservation, and leadership Why storytelling is more powerful than facts alone The evolution of technology in the zoo sector Karen’s outlook for the future of zoos and technology And much more… Love the People Helping Nature Podcast? Get notified when new episodes go live - subscribe for emails here: www.conservationamplified.org (https://www.conservationamplified.org) 👩About Karen: Originally from Australia, Karen’s zoological career began at Taronga Conservation Society Australia and Zoos Victoria before she joined Te Nukuao Wellington Zoo in 2006. In June 2026, Karen will step down as Te Nukuao Chief Executive after 20 years in the role. Alongside her Chief Executive role, Karen was also the President of the Zoo and Aquarium Association Australasia (ZAA) and was the most recent President of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) before she completed her term in October 2025. In 2023, Karen was recognised as one of the Power 10 Zoo and Aquarium Blooloop Top 50 Influencers internationally, and in 2016 became a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit MNZM for services to Business and Animal Welfare. Under Karen’s leadership, Te Nukuao has celebrated many achievements. In 2009, Te Kōhanga The Nest, a state-of-the-art veterinary hospital, opened. The Zoo was the first Toitū carbon zero-certified zoo in the world in 2013 and won the inaugural WAZA Environmental Sustainability Award in 2018. 🔗Learn more: Website: www.wellingtonzoo.com (https://www.wellingtonzoo.com) Instagram: www.instagram.com/wellington.zoo (https://www.instagram.com/wellington.zoo) Facebook: www.facebook.com/WgtnZoo (https://www.facebook.com/WgtnZoo) 🎙️Learn more about the podcast at www.conservationamplified.org (https://www.conservationamplified.org)

3. 

   15 May 2026

   Bringing Kiwi Back: The Story of Translocations (with Tineke Joustra, Save the Kiwi)

   One day, hearing kiwi call from your backyard could be normal again. To many New Zealanders, kiwi are our national icon - but not a bird they’ve actually seen or heard in the wild. Throughout Aotearoa, translocations are helping bring kiwi back from endangered to everywhere. In this episode, we sit down with Tineke Joustra, Operations Manager & Population Biologist at Save the Kiwi to explore how kiwi are being returned to places where they once lived - and why people are the key to ensuring they thrive. At first glance, a translocation might sound simple: move kiwi from one safe place to another. But as Tineke explains, it takes years of planning, predator control, monitoring, dog management, iwi and hapū relationships, community support, and a shared long-term vision before kiwi can be returned safely. Because when kiwi come back, they do more than boost population numbers. They can become “the carrot” that motivates people to go the extra mile. Here are some of the key topics we discussed: How current kiwi population numbers compare to historical estimates Why kiwi populations declined drastically What kiwi translocations are and how they work Save the Kiwi’s Kōhanga Kiwi Strategy How safe sites can help grow kiwi populations for future release What makes a landscape ready to receive kiwi Why relationships are central to successful translocations The role of iwi, hapū, neighbours, landowners and community groups How kiwi populations could eventually reconnect through safe habitat corridors Case Studies: Capital Kiwi & Waiheke Island translocations The importance of bringing kiwi closer to our backyards to restore our connection And much more… Love the People Helping Nature Podcast? Get notified when new episodes go live - subscribe for emails here: https://ww.conservationamplified.org (https://ww.conservationamplified.org) 👩About Tineke: Tineke Joustra is a conservation scientist with more than two decades of experience working with New Zealand wildlife. As the Operations Manager and Population Biologist for Save the Kiwi, Tineke merges science and logistics to lead the national strategic framework for kiwi conservation across Aotearoa. Her portfolio spans translocations, kōhanga management, population modelling, research/innovation, and driving excellence in best-practice standards. She is committed to building robust, science-based strategies in partnership with iwi/hapū and community projects to establish the best possible long-term decisions for kiwi recovery. 🔗Learn more: Website: savethekiwi.nz (https://savethekiwi.nz) Save the Kiwi Kōhanga Kiwi Strategy: savethekiwi.nz/about-us/what-we-do/kohanga-kiwi (https://savethekiwi.nz/about-us/what-we-do/kohanga-kiwi) Report a kiwi sighting: savethekiwi.nz/report-a-kiwi (https://savethekiwi.nz/report-a-kiwi) Kiwi avoidance training: kiwiavoidancetraining.nz (https://kiwiavoidancetraining.nz) Support: donate-save-a-kiwi.raiselysite.com (https://donate-save-a-kiwi.raiselysite.com) 🎙️Learn more about the podcast at www.conservationamplified.org (https://www.conservationamplified.org)

Who has been a guest on People Helping Nature Podcast

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Karen Fifield
• Samuel Purdie
• Paul Kavanagh
• Mark Roper
• Michelle Impey

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

22,656

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 47 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

64

Social presence

0

YouTube

72

Engagement

0

Contact People Helping Nature Podcast

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.