Nature nerd extraordinaire
Blogger: Forest & Bird’s (newest) Conservation Advocate, Nic Vallance.
Gidday everyone,
I’m Nicola (Nic) Vallance, and I’ve just taken up a role as Conservation Advocate based in Christchurch, working on the Mackenzie campaign, mining, and pest control .
Nic gets up-close-and-personal with a giant weta.
I’ve just finished my first week, so it’s all pretty new, but I’m quite excited to be working for Forest and Bird, and getting stuck into some of the challenges that we are all facing at the moment regarding conservation of our precious wildlife and wild places.
My background is in zoology and natural history communication. Prior to taking the role with Forest and Bird, I worked for the Department of Conservation, both in Otago Conservancy, and more recently as the national media advisor in Head Office.
Over the past three years I was lucky enough to work with TVNZ to produce over 200 episodes of Meet the Locals for TVNZ 6.
During this time, I had the privilege of travelling from one end of the country to the other, including Hauturu/Little Barrier Island, Codfish Island/Whenua Hou, th Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve, Fiordland, the Chathams, Waipoua Forest – to name but a few places. I also got up close and personal with a plethora of protected wildlife, and have been sat on, bitten by, and occasionally crapped on by all manner of species, including kakapo, black stilts, tree weta, giant weta, kiwi, kauri snails, you name it! You can see more about Meet the Locals here http://www.tvnz.co.nz/meet-the-locals
I took the job with Forest and Bird, because I am first and foremost passionate about protecting our unique wildlife and wild places.
As a kid who had the benefit of growing up in a national park (Aoraki Mt Cook), I am very worried about the government’s suggestion that they might open up Schedule 4 land (including national parks) to mining. I also spent five years of my childhood in the Mackenzie Country, so I’m looking forward to getting the opportunity to sing the praises of our unique Mackenzie heritage. I’m also really glad to be back in my beloved South Island, close to friends and family.
Last year, I wrote my first children’s book for a series on NZ nature. It’s called “Invaders” and its all about the pests and predators that are making life so difficult for our native wildlife.
I live out at Woodend with my partner and my dog Nemo, and I’m loving the simple life at the moment, camping, eating veges out of the garden, fishing for salmon in the Waimakariri, going on bush walks, swimming and trying to remember how to surf at Waikuku Beach.
