Passionate about connecting with nature

ELOISE MARTYN

Sammy Garrett really enjoys her roles as a Board Support Officer for the Nelson Marlborough Conservation Board and Programme Management for the Jobs for Nature Unit for the Department of Conservation (DOC) that she has held the past six years. “I feel very lucky to have a job that I am passionate about and really enjoy” she says. Sammy grew up on a Dairy farm in the Aorere Valley, Golden Bay. “DOC work really appealed to me as I have always been drawn to the natural environment.” She also mentions that career options in Golden Bay can be very limiting due to its location and size.

DOC is in its final year of its ‘Jobs for Nature’ work programme. Jobs for Nature is part of the Government’s $1.219 billion Jobs for Nature programme aimed to help revitalise communities through nature-based employment and stimulate the economy post COVID-19. Jobs for Nature funding helps to create nature-based job opportunities on private and public conservation land focusing on predator control, restoringwetlands, regenerative planting, improving tracks, huts, and other recreational assets.

“Back in 2020 DOC were allocated a $488 million fund for Jobs for Nature, a huge investment,” Sammy explains “It has been really great for the local area, and a great success throughout the country. Having recently joined the project team I’m blown away by the outcomes which have been achieved to date.” A few of the local projects that are underway through the programme are: Mt. Richmond Wilding Conifers Project, Maitai Ecological Restoration, Picton Dawn Chorus Project, The Te Hoiere/ Pelorus Catchment freshwater restoration project, Restoration of high biodiversity value sites in Wakapuaka and Whangamoa catchments, creating jobs for eco-restoration in Mohua (Golden Bay), Invasive & Noxious Weed Control as well as a handful of others listed on their website. As the programme draws to a close DOC are looking at a variety of funding options and putting some succession planning around the programme.

A big focus for local DOC teams has been recovery from recent big weather events. Sammy works with the Nelson Marlborough Operations team who have been involved in the repairing of walking tracks including the Abel Tasman, Queen Charlotte and Heaphy Track which were all badly damaged. “The tracks are open, and people have access to them for the summer season which is great the work has been carried out by local DOC teams and contractors.

Sammy’s back ground and upbringing on her family’s dairy farm has given her a deeper understanding and a broader perspective when engaging with landowners “I facilitate local open public forums for the Nelson Marlborough Conservation Board, during those I am able to see both sides across a range of issues.”

Her family still owns and operates ‘Stoneyfield,’ the Aorere Valley dairy farm where she grew up. The farm milks approximately 300 cows via a 50-bail rotary. And although Sammy and her young family now live in Māpua they frequently take family holidays over to the farm which they all thoroughly enjoy. “It never appealed to me to stay and work the farm, but we really enjoy going back and spending time there, it’s a special place”