Introducing the new face of Meet the Locals and a special green-feathered guest
Archived content: This media release was accurate on the date of publication.
Introduction
Two new faces will take to the screen as they make their debut appearance on TVNZ’s Meet the Locals special Conservation Week episode on Monday.Date: 10 September 2010
Two new faces will take to the screen as they make their debut appearance on TVNZ’s Meet the Locals special Conservation Week episode on Monday.
Department of Conservation (DOC) Threatened Fauna and Ecosystems Technical Officer James Reardon will share his passion for New Zealand and conservation in a special episode featuring the much loved kākāpō.
James Reardon and Stephen Horn filming with Manu the kākāpō at Anchor Island
James will take viewers to Anchor Island where he is joined by DOC Kākāpō Ranger Stephen Horn to check on Manu the kākāpō.
In the show, James talks about strategies to move bird populations back from remote islands to the mainland for all New Zealanders to enjoy and about the work that goes on to ensure threatened species, such as the kākāpō, survive.
“Kākāpō are an iconic New Zealand species and also a great conservation success story but it’s important for people to understand that the work behind this success can only continue if the public keep up their support,” James said.
DOC Kākāpō Programme Manager Deidre Vercoe said Conservation Week’s theme, Love New Zealand is a great opportunity to celebrate the Kākāpō Recovery Programme partnership and the people involved.
“This partnership between DOC, Rio Tinto Alcan and Forest and Bird celebrates its 20th anniversary this year – that’s a lot of love for one of New Zealand’s most iconic species,” Ms Vercoe said.
“We encourage the public to continue supporting Kākāpō Recovery and informative shows like Meet the Locals help us to raise awareness for kākāpō.”
Additional information
The Meet the Locals Conservation Week special will play on TVNZ 6 on Monday, September 13 at 7pm and repeated on Tuesday 17 at 9pm and Thursday at 7.30pm.
James is a zoologist, ecologist and above all, a conservationist. He holds a PhD in ecology and has experience in conservation work in some of the world's most challenging environments. His passion for wildlife and their habitats has lead to him living and working in Wales, Alaska, Greece, Australia, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Thailand, Chile and England amongst others.
James also has a background in photography and cinematography. He has worked for the BBC's Natural History Unit and as the staff wildlife cinematographer for Oxford Scientific Films. He has worked on a number of award-winning documentaries and received an Emmy nomination for cinematography in 2004.
Conservation in partnership
DOC’s kākāpō recovery work is actively supported by a partnership involving Rio Tinto Alcan NZ, New Zealand Aluminium Smelters and Forest & Bird.
Signed over twenty years ago, the agreement is one of DOC’s longest running conservation partnerships and has already injected over $3.5 million towards breeding programmes and predator proof sanctuaries for the flightless parrot.
Its aim is to establish at least one self sustaining unmanaged population of kākāpō in a protected habitat and to establish two or more other populations which may require ongoing management.
The population of threatened birds has reached 122 – a crucial milestone and more than double the number of birds alive a little over a decade ago.