Episodes

Conservation scientist Graeme Elliott is an ultimate bird nerd. With a career spanning over 50 years, Graeme has studied and worked with a range of native bird species, including moho pererū/banded rail, mātātā/fernbird, mohua/yellowhead, kākāpō, kea, and toroa/wandering albatross. His body of research has significantly expanded New Zealand’s knowledge of endangered birds and the threats facing them. In this episode, Graeme talks about the quirky behaviour of wandering albatross, the incredible...

Marine biologist and primatologist Dr Jody Weir has extensive expertise on marine animals, specifically: fur seals, dolphins and turtles – all things finned and beautiful. Jody has also researched lemurs in Madagascar, bears and wolves in Canada, and turtles in Barbados. Learn about her exciting and varied career in our latest episode. The audio at the beginning of the episode is a kekeno New Zealand fur seal. The music used is Let’s Get Down to Business by Cast of Characters.

George knows everything there is to know about hooved creatures that walk on their toes—ungulates, for those in the know—and he’s a keen hunter as well as a technical advisor on the topic of wild animals. Hear about where we’re at with hunting and wild animal control, from one of our foremost experts who is also a hunter. George wears all the hats. The audio at the beginning of the episode is a Western weka. The music used is Let’s Get Down to Business by Cast of Characters Content warning f...

Cassie has the most interesting answer possible to the question ‘what do you do for fun?’ She rehabilitates penguins. As one of our technical advisors specialising in fauna, in addition to running swim practice for penguins in her backyard, Cassie has a lot of wildlife rehabilitation stories and tips. Listen to this unmissable episode now. The audio used at the beginning is a tawaki/Fiordland crested penguin splashing in pool and making honking sound The music used is Let’s Get Down to Busin...

Terry is an expert in all kinds of parrots, specifically kākā, kākāriki karaka/NZ parakeet and kākāpō. He’s spent a lot of time catching and monitoring birds, studying them, and advising on the impacts of predator control on non-target species. Plus, he has some field stories that are so incredible, you’ll think he’s lying. At first, we thought he was lying. The audio at the beginning of the episode is the call of the North Island kākā The music used is Let’s Get Down to Business by Cast of C...

Part 2 of our special with kākāpō scientist, Dr. Andrew Digby. We ask listeners’ questions about kākāpō, talk about some of the biggest wins and disappointments in kākāpō management, and learn new facts about this rare, unusual species. Transcript and shownotes at www.doc.govt.nz/podcast

Dr. Andrew Digby does a deep dive on the science of kākāpō management, recalls weird behaviour he’s observed from them in the field, and explains some of the big challenges the population are facing, including disease outbreak and low fertility. Transcript and full shownotes at www.doc.govt.nz/pocast

To celebrate summer in Aotearoa, we’ve put together a supercut, packed to the brim with all the best bits from previous episodes. From cryptic species to sharks to seal production—this supercut has something for everyone. Full shownotes and transcript at www.doc.govt.nz/podcast

Volcanologist Hollei Gabrielsen (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Whitikaupeka) on providing advice about volcanoes, particularly in Tongariro National Park; and how her whakapapa, heritage, informs her work. Hollei discusses what you need to know to head out on an adventure in Tongariro, and answer listeners’ questions about lava, caldera, phreatic (steam) explosions, and more. The audio at the beginning is alpine wind ambience. The music used is Let’s Get Down to Business by Cast of Characters. Ful...

Freshwater scientist Nixie Boddy on researching non-migratory galaxiids, native fish, and her adventures in the field—some of which involve costumes. Nixie has a huge amount of knowledge about how non-migratory galaxiids interact with threats and river flows, and the broader ecology of their habitat. In this episode she explains fish passage, electric fishing, and many other mysteries of the deep/shallow. It’s another must-listen. The audio at the beginning is an alpine stream in Fiordland Nat...

Kiwi ranger Tim Raemaekers on the tokoeka kiwi monitoring programme in Fiordland, the predator control challenges at Shy Lake, and the emotional roller-coaster of starring in a conservation mini-series on YouTube. We also get into the detail of what makes stoats such a massive threat to kiwi and how 1080 can buy kiwi time. Tim led the kiwi monitoring project at Shy Lake from 2017-2022 and is the star of the Fiordland Kiwi Diaries, the YouTube series following DOC rangers in Fiordland as they wo...

Ranger and Biodiversity Project lead Tim Raemaekers on handling rare species, becoming a kiwi ranger, and the incredible things he’s seen robin/toutouwai, kākāpō and kiwi get up to. Tim is an on-the-ground expert, whose knowledge of predator control in Fiordland is second to none. He stars in the Fiordland Kiwi Diaries, a YouTube mini-series following DOC rangers in Fiordland as they work to save the iconic tokoeka kiwi. Tim had so many cool stories, we’ve split his interview into two episodes...

Ranger Chris Dodd (Doddy) on what it’s like to track and monitor rare kiwi birds in Aotearoa New Zealand. Doddy is a passionate kiwi conservationist who started his career working with seabirds on the Shetland Islands. He has years of expertise working with all kinds of kiwi. He features in the Fiordland Kiwi Diaries, an upcoming YouTube mini-series following DOC rangers in Fiordland as they work to save the iconic tokoeka kiwi. The audio at the beginning is a tokoeka kiwi The music used is ...

Marine biologist Laura Boren dives into her favourite topic, seals, and shares some on-the-job stories about this mischievous species. Laura grew up in the landlocked state of Nebraska and is now one of the preeminent marine biologists in this island nation, so our first question was why? Second was how? Laura was on the front lines saving marine species in the wake of the Rena oil spill, has recently been working to develop pup shelters, and is extremely passionate about responsible dog owner...

Ranger Hana Harris explains how we can help protect kauri from the notorious pathogen threatening our forests. Hana hails from the beautiful Northland region. In this episode she shares kōrero about her connection to native species and ecosystems through both her whakapapa and her role as a ranger. She covers the experience of discovering pekapeka/bat roosts, fighting to keep spaces pest-free, and of course, her work as kaitiaki kauri, teaching people about the magnificent kauri. The birdsong ...

Ecologist Michelle Bradshaw discusses what we can learn from the data we get from banded birds and shares some cautionary tales about on the fly identification. Michelle is in charge of the National Banding Scheme in Aotearoa and brings hands-on banding experience from bird colonies all around the world. If you’re a bird nerd, Michelle has the kind of work stories that’ll make you green with envy. The birdsong in this episode is the black-fronted tern The music used is 'Let’s Get Down to Busi...

The DOC Sounds of Science podcast is a behind-scenes-look at conservation in Aotearoa New Zealand. Every episode we chat with one of our experts about their greatest achievements and most interesting days on the job. Watch our trailer animation!

In this episode we’re talking about how our conservation past intersects with both our present and our future, and how our treaty commitments need to be at the heart of this. Aroha Gilling is an academic specialising in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and an experienced Treaty Ranger. She’s passionate about education, and this episode contains a wealth of expertise about nature and being a good Treaty Partner. Aroha is also a superfan of all creatures great and small in the Rangitahi Molesworth Recreatio...

CITES is an international agreement regulating the import and export of endangered animals and plants. What’s this? And why is it important? CITES officer Avi Narula is going to tell you. Avi has worked with big cats, endangered turtles, and renegade scamps like skunks and racoons. Now he’s here in Aotearoa New Zealand making sure wildlife goods don’t illegally cross the borders. The most important thing he wants you to know is that before you shop or travel, please check if your item needs a ...

Stories about velvet worms, tiny frogs, crooning bats and more from ecologist Jess Scrimgeour. Jess knows that the Fab Five—in this case we mean kākāpō, kiwi, whio, takahē, and kererū—are easy to love, but she wants to light your spark for the hard to see, hard to hear, or hard to find critters too: like pekapeka/bats, wētā, pepeketua/frogs, and even the peripatus/velvet worm which fires a sticky substance when it feels threatened. How iconic. The birdsong in this episode is a dawn chorus. Th...

Renowned shark expert Clinton Duffy shares niche knowledge and on-the-job stories. Sharks have a little bit of a PR problem. They’re fascinating, intelligent creatures, and most of them mind their own business. But they are predators, and the more you know, the better prepared you are. This episode has it all. Sharks that walk on land (we’re not making this up), a run through of shark reproduction which is so amazing and varied it could have come from a sci-fi writer’s brain, and an update on ...

There aren’t many jobs with us that Jack hasn’t turned his hand to. Remote island ranger, species monitor, trapper, hunter, ranger trainer, systems designer, operations manager – you name it, Jack has probably done it. He’s deeply passionate about conservation and has accumulated a lot of great stories. In this episode Jack shares stories about powelliphanta, kōkako, Tūturuatu, Canterbury Mudfish, Mana Island flax weevil, Alseuosmia the mimic plant, akeake the giant daisy, ongaonga the serious ...

Did you know that Aotearoa’s rarest parakeet is a small, forest-dwelling bird, and there are only about 360 estimated to be left in the wild? The kākāriki karaka, or orange-fronted parakeet are in serious trouble. Listen and learn about the work to monitor and track this species, control predators in critical areas, and boost numbers with captive breeding. Plus hear how Andrew got started in this specific field and has become the office ‘cat scat guy’— not a title he ever sought out. The bird ...

This is the much awaited second part of Brent Beaven’s Predator Free interview. In this episode, we’re talking about upcoming innovations as well as current predator control tools, and yes that includes 1080. This episode is a big swing and we hope it gives you some important context. The bird sound in this episode is the Northern brown kiwi The music used is Let’s Get Down to Business by Cast of Characters Brent’s excellent blog series about Predator Free is available on the Conservation Blo...