Steering towards success: reflections from the support team 

The Kaihoe: 

What have you seen through your BioHeritage mahi that inspires you? 

Andrea: “I’ve worked with great people from many different backgrounds, but what inspires me most is seeing the amazing outcomes that can be achieved when teams from various disciplines, who share similar values and a passion for their work, collaborate.”

Aaron: “I’m inspired by way that the researchers have embraced the Challenge values, and our high trust flexible contracting approach, to deliver excellent research for the benefit of New Zealand’s Biodiversity and Biosecurity.”

Kerry: “I have sat down with 30+ researchers, covering topics from impact propagation to customary harvest rights. I’ve been so nourished by these interactions and I always have remarkable things to share with my friends and family.” 

Julie: “The collaboration of science and research to gain the best results for NZ.” 

Mel: “Researchers embracing new ways of working, including mission-led, values-based, transdisciplinary research with communities and te taiao at its heart.” 

Keith: “I’ve been inspired by the diversity of research in the biodiversity and biosecurity space, the variety of approaches and methods, and the innovative outputs from people working together across locations, disciplines, teams and organisations.” 

Daniel: “I have seen a real commitment to working in ways that produces research outcomes and positively impacts our biological heritage, improves our biosecurity and resilience to threats and pests. I suppose it’s down to being values-led, Te Tiriti honouring and working closely with communities, industry and stakeholders to make a change.” 

Anna: “What stands out for me is the passion and dedication of everyone involved – the researchers, communities, kaitiaki and others – people from all walks of life who’ve come together in this mahi for te taiao. It’s impossible not to be completely inspired!” 

What has you feeling optimistic about for the future of Aotearoa’s biological heritage? 

Stacey: “The sheer number and diversity of people with an overwhelming passion for te taiao and everything that lives in it. To know there are so many people out there working towards the same goal gives me hope!.” 

Anna: “I think it’s seeing the amazing relationships that have grown between researchers and communities through this mahi. You could really see it and feel it at Crazy and Ambitious and Kaurilands, and I’m hoping these will live on and keep us moving closer to the ultimate goal.” 

Aaron: “I am on the fence. There is certainly a will – the passionate people with the knowledge and skills – but at the moment the way is less certain, given the cuts occurring at CRIs, Universities, and in Government Agencies, on top of cuts to science funding (a large part of NSC funding was a transfer of existing science budget (not new ‘time-limited’ money) which has been lost).” 

Andrea: “Aotearoa is fortunate to have so many dedicated people and communities working in this space. It’s encouraging to see that many of the BioHeritage “ways of working” are already being adopted elsewhere, which gives me hope that the work we’ve done over the past 10 years will continue.” 

Keith: “Overall, given the threats to our biodiversity and biosecurity, combined with the recent budget cuts and funding outlook for science including BioHeritage partners, it isn’t easy to be optimistic about the near future of our biological heritage. However, there’s been progress in some areas; some of it spearheaded by BioHeritage in how solutions to national problems need the involvement of all, not just scientists or policy-makers, but land managers, councils, communities and catchment groups.” 

Kerry: “He tangata, he tangata, he tangata.” 

Daniel: “The commitment of the people, the many collectives, Māori communities, kaitiaki, researchers and individuals across sectors, institutions and the motu to find new and novel ways to support our biodiversity to thrive, to create new knowledge and action and empower and lead others to act – even in the face of crisis, uncertainty and lack of support for needed research and the environment with the current administration!” 

Mel: “Communities who are passionate about their places will continue to do the bulk of the mahi to protect and restore our biodiversity. Hopefully this Challenge will have influenced their expectations of researchers who come to work with them at their places. Also, early career researchers who have been involved in the Challenge will forever work in ways that uphold Te Tiriti.” 

What has been a challenging aspect of your work? 

Anna: “Keeping up with everything that was happening in the Challenge and NRT often kept me on my toes – so much has been done and achieved by so many!  That, and lots of cat-herding!” 

Mel: “Ten years is not enough time to reverse the decline, and the RS&I system is not actually conducive to doing things differently, nor is it friendly for Māori researchers or communities. So, it was always going to be a bit of an uphill battle.” 

Andrea: “Wrapping BioHeritage up!  It’s concerning to see the impact that funding uncertainty is having on many members of the wider BioHeritage whānau. I’m worried about how these uncertainties might affect our efforts to protect and restore our biodiversity. 

Keith: “The most challenging aspect for me coming in late in the game – I only came on board in September last year with nine months left to run for the NSCs – has been getting my head around the work of BioHeritage, across tranches, programmes, leaders and individuals. A large chart on my office wall shows me two SO2s and three SO5s, with some projects completed in the first five years, and some people co-leads of several programmes. Then add to the mix, Ngā Rākau Taketake (NRT) which BioHeritage managed from 2019 to earlier this year.” 

Stacey: “Because of the diversity of people involved, communicating our stories in ways that resonated with everyone was a challenge. Everyone interprets information in different ways, so we had to do lots of tailoring of our outputs and, in some cases, make multiple versions of the same thing just to communicate in ways that suited the different audiences. 

Daniel: “There’s been many challenging aspects, but one I’ll share is working to ensure uptake of the research knowledge and tools, informing operations, policy and practice for impact. This is particularly the case given the breadth and depth of the research and the constraints on time and resources for both researchers and next or end-users and the respective parties expectations. Aligning priorities, thinking and focus, takes time, perseverance and there is much to align! The researchers and leadership worked hard to support uptake, however it was more challenging with Covid and the post-Covid environment, economic pressures and change in government. Nonetheless, working in partnership and adapting to what works for users was key and really rewarding – as we see some excellent examples of uptake and impact from the research.” 

What’s the best thing about the team? Can you share a memorable moment?

Aaron: “We’re all focussed on helping the researchers, and minimising admin for them. It was great to be all together and have a laugh in Wellington for the final Crazy & Ambitious Conference – bittersweet.” 

Julie: “There was always time for some banter, laughs, and of course good coffee! BioHeritage will always be memorable to me because of what was achieved and the people I worked with: a supportive and dedicated team.” 

Stacey: “Everyone’s sense of humour. At times we had to navigate some pretty tricky, political situations but someone always had a joke to lighten the mood. You knew if you were having a rough day there would always be someone who could help you take a step back and put things into perspective. 

A fairly extreme example was when we were on our way to the Kaurilands Summit and found ourselves in the middle of torrential rain, with flood warnings and road closures everywhere we turned. We ended up getting stuck in Warkworth and Jenny nabbed us the last eight beds in the entire town (being six months pregnant I was very relieved at that!). While it was a crazy situation, our team made the most of it and had a few laughs, and I remember actually talking about how lucky we were considering the circumstances.” 

Kerry: “I’ve never forgotten the group of us travelling via van between Tamaki Makaurau and Whangarei for the Kaurilands Summit in 2023. Before we knew it the rain intensified, the roads were inundated, and Aaron may as well have been a ship’s captain rather than a van driver. We had to abandon the drive and overnight in Warkworth! With this in mind, I’ll remember the team as intrepid, and always up for a laugh.” 

Mel: “They all care about the kaupapa and work their hardest to ensure every dollar is making a difference for our taiao. I really enjoyed the scoping process leading into Tranche 2 – meeting new people, doing icebreaker games with researchers who must win at all costs, and creating future newspaper articles celebrating our successes. I also loved the first Crazy Ambitious conference, especially the large cohort of rangatahi who came in to share their Ahi Pepe Moth mahi.” 

Daniel: “The team’s dedication to the mission, to supporting researchers and communities to achieve the shared goals, stands out as the greatest strength. Every member is focused on helping ensure delivery of the goals, contractual requirements, and impact for the mission. Crazy and Ambitious 4 brought so much together, and I was immensely proud to be part of such a movement and entity.” 

Keith: “For me, the best thing about the team was how everyone wanted to do their best for the Challenge – each person brings in a wealth of talents and skills. It was exemplified in the main event I was tasked with organising, this year’s Crazy & Ambitious conference at Te Papa.” 

Andrea: “It’s been a privilege to work with a team dedicated to making a real difference. Being part of a management team focused on simplifying and making the administrative side of research more flexible has been incredibly rewarding.

One of my most memorable experiences was participating in the scoping process, where people from different backgrounds came together with a shared goal of driving real change for our biological heritage. And of course, all our Crazy & Ambitious conferences are highlights for me.” 

Anna:
“It’s everything! The mission, the people, the friendships, the laughs and the scones! We’re a small team, but together we have done great things! Hopefully, we’ve contributed to something bigger that will make a lasting difference for te taiao and our taonga species!” 

If you could describe your experience at BioHeritage in three words, what would they be? 

Andrea: “Collectively we have “made a difference.” 

Aaron: “Not enough time.” 

Julie: “Insightful, interesting, enjoyable.” 

Keith: “Inspiring – Fulfilling – Purposeful” 

Stacey: “Nurturing, inspiring, challenging (in the best kind of way).” 

Kerry: “Trailblazing. Intersectional. Rangatiratanga.” 

Mel: “Not enough time!” 

Daniel: “Inspiring and challenging.” 

Anna: “One word – unforgettable!”