Gary Coker, Conservation Manager for Rotorua Canopy Tours
This week's newsmaker is Rotorua Canopy Tours conservation manager Gary Coker, who plays a key role in a programme that eradicates pests in the Dansey Road Scenic Reserve and helps the area's native birdlife.
Tell us a bit about yourself?
I was born here in Rotorua, grew up locally and have a younger brother who is an excellent local electrician, he works for my father who owns PC Electrics, a local company. My mum is one of those exceptional mums that rise above adversity to prosper and is a terrific nana as well.
I am lucky to be married to a wonderful woman who puts up with my faults and has given me two beautiful girls whom we all love to bits. Hunting, camping, kayaking, boating, motorbikes and volunteering are some of the things I spend time doing but there are many others, there's just not enough time in the day.
Tell us a bit about your role as conservation manager at Canopy Tours?
As conservation manager for Rotorua Canopy Tours I have a dream job. My role varies, some days I'm guiding customers through our three-hour tour deep in New Zealand's amazing native forest. Other days I'm cutting, maintaining, checking and baiting our system of traps and trapping lines laid out within the forest.
I'm also a qualified arborist or tree surgeon so I climb the trees on and around our course doing regular safety checks and pruning to maintain the course.
What made you want to get involved in conservation work?
I first got involved with volunteer work at Rotorua's Kiwi Encounter then I started taking guided tours through the facility and learned more about just how vulnerable and endangered New Zealand's magnificent animals really are.
There is something incredibly powerful about being up close with a Kiwi and the thought of losing them like so many of New Zealand's other animals is such a terrible thought I started to look for other ways to help.
Now I head out to Mokoia Island as often as possible to assist in the maintenance of its traps and monitoring equipment as a volunteer with DOC. Knowing you are helping with such important work really feels worthwhile.
What do you think are the biggest environmental issues in the Rotorua and Bay of Plenty region?
I am by no means an expert but in my opinion the biggest environmental issues in Rotorua are the water quality issues of our local lakes and the continued slow decline of most native species in the area, from forests to birds to fish to bats and so on. I think many more people need to be aware what we are allowing to slip away right before our eyes.
Responsible land use and pest control are essential as there are so many introduced animals often predating on native species. Who knows how much longer some will survive?
What is the best part about your job?
There are many best parts of my job including seeing customers overcome their fears, relax and fully enjoy zipping through the tree tops. Some of the smiles at the end of the tour really make it worthwhile.
The staff I work with are an amazing bunch who are always laughing and enjoying life and this for me is a real highlight of the job. Certainly one of the most satisfying aspects so far has been watching the forest recuperated from the onslaught of so many possums, rats and other nasties.
The growth and vitality we are witnessing now the possums are gone is impressive as so many birds and animals are now much safer around our course as well.
Tell us three things about yourself most people wouldn't know.
I caught about 1023 trout in 2013. Fishing at night is my favorite time to go. I am scared of heights!