After 50 years in the sector, veteran conservation professional Ray "Scrim" Scrimgeour reckons there are four things every ranger needs.
"A good pair of boots, a chainsaw, a rifle, and a reliable truck."
DOC has launched its Always Be Naturing campaign during Conservation Week. Nature is at the heart of who we are as New Zealanders – it shapes our identity, wellbeing, economy and future. But nature is in trouble, and the challenge is growing.
Scrim was inspired to get into conservation after an Honorary Forest Service Ranger visited his school when he was a teenager "lucky enough to be growing up in Golden Bay, doing nature study on the beach". Now into his late 60s, he's a familiar face to Maniapoto residents, having spent several decades living and working in Te Kuiti.
The ranger's visit to Scrim's school was profound. He remembers the ranger's grim story of eating kākāpō during the Great Depression, and the famous parrots' gradual disappearance.
"That really struck me – something like extinction of a species, which I'd always seen as being in the past, could happen in our lifetimes, and surprisingly quickly."
Initially a "woodsman" with the Forest Service – "learning some skills in an environment I liked" – Scrim joined DOC when it was formed in 1987. He has been with the department ever since, in many different roles including many initial years in wild animal control (with a team based in Te Kuiti), and more latterly in operations management and relationship-focussed positions.
"I saw a Department of Conservation as quite a logical step forward for New Zealand society. To me, it was an opportunity," he says. "It brought real strength to what had been quite a fragmented conservation sector."
Through his long service, he's met several Conservation Ministers and numerous Directors-General, and he points to his former colleague John Gaukrodger as a particularly strong influence.
He's also been fortunate to work in several different parts of the country, including several stints on Raoul Island where his initial contribution was controlling goats – leading to significant subsequent biodiversity improvements there.
The wild animal control work would often mean long days, overnighting in huts in the bush, and putting the body and mind to the test. He doesn't miss it but says he's glad he had those challenging and authentic professional conservation experiences.
"You do have some wonderful experiences in the bush, and hunting is the tool that gets you there," he says.
Work to protect kokakō and Mahoenui giant wētā was part of his Scrim's initial biodiversity experience – and those efforts continue today in DOC's Maniapoto district. The long-term kokakō work, which began in the 1980s, is a particular highlight for him, helping pull the species back from the brink of extinction.
Looking ahead, Scrim says the greatest challenge he sees for conservation is climate change. He anticipates significant resource will be needed to address the impact of warming planet and what that will mean for species and habitats. He sees great opportunities for "bright young people" to get involved in conservation through the advances of technology.
As he heads toward retirement, Ray says much has changed in the conservation sector – in particular digital technology and the importance of GPS systems, and the relationships with iwi and communities – but those old-school tools of "boots, chainsaw, rifle and truck" are still vital.
"In some ways, the more things change, the more they stay the same!"
Every person, business and community has a role in protecting and restoring nature. Whether it's picking up rubbish on your beach walk, cleaning your boat to stop invasive species, setting a predator trap in your back garden, or donating to a conservation project via the New Zealand Nature Fund, there's something everyone can do to help.
Background information
Always Be Naturing celebrates New Zealanders' love of nature and encourages everyone to get involved. DOC is one of many organisations protecting nature, and we need the collective effort of all New Zealanders so nature thrives for generations to come.
Find out how you can help: Always Be Naturing
