Jim Livingstone

At present he works for the Department of Conservation as its biodiversity programme manager for the Franz Josef Waiau Area, on the West Coast of the South Island. In this role, Jim’s largest work programme is the rowi recovery project at Okarito kiwi sanctuary, 11,000 hectares of protected rainforest within Westland Tai Poutini National Park. That includes managing a dedicated team of rowi recovery staff and the programme’s budget.

Why kiwi?

Growing up in Scotland, Jim says every school project he did was about birds or small mammals. ‘I was most fascinated by birds of prey, especially owls. Foxes, badgers, stoats and weasels also fired my imagination no end. For me, any creature active in the dead of night held a mystique that bordered on the supernatural.’ He never lost the fascination and has managed to work close to all of these species.

When he found himself in New Zealand, kiwi were a natural focus. ‘Kiwi are the ultimate night operatives and there aren’t too many of them left. How could I resist?’

High point

Jim says BNZ Operation Nest Egg™ management techniques have afforded good recovery for the rowi population and releases of these offspring back to Okarito kiwi sanctuary always mark a satisfying homecoming. ‘Transferring the birds to the release areas across beautiful Lake Mapourika in the gloaming, with high hopes for their future wellbeing, brings great motivation and reward,’ he says.

Low point

Jim is thankful that deaths of rowi are relatively infrequent. ‘Given the precarious state of the population, any loss brings acute anguish.’

Thoughts for the future

‘As much as I’ve always admired stoats,’ Jim says, ‘I think that it’s time that our kiwi were permanently ridded of their scourge. A tall order, but surely…’