A day in the life of a Field Team Technician…
Reuben
A day in the life of Reuben Giles: Field Team Teachnician in the Stoat Eradication Programme Team for Te Korowai o Waiheke.
What does your day-to-day look like?
Where to start…. Get woken up by my puppy, who wants to go for a walk. Get that done and dusted before work. Attend our team meeting and secretly hope for my allocated area to be somewhere off the beaten track and breathtaking. Enjoy being in nature and working towards a predator-free Waiheke.
How did you get into this type of work?
I've always been interested in working in conservation, and moving to Waiheke allowed me to shift away from my previous career paths and finally dip my toes in the conservation pool. Te Korowai o Waiheke has given me the opportunity to be a part of the team and learn some new skills on the job.
What has your previous work experience looked like?
From about the age of 18, I gravitated towards working in tourism, first as a raft and Kayak Guide here in New Zealand and then running coach Tours through Europe.
The knowledge that I had gained over the years took me into Transport Management and that kept me busy with jobs in the UK, Europe And Australia.
What attracted you to working in conservation?
Being able to give something back to the environment. We tend to endlessly take from the planet and its other inhabitants, I wanted to buck that trend on a personal level as well as try to do something positive for the critters eking out a living around us.
How did you get to Waiheke?
My partner has been living on the motu for about the last 9 years. She finally managed to convince me to take the step and move here... All the way from Melbourne as well.
What’s the weirdest job you’ve had?
Probably being the dish pig (dish washer) at a Gasthof in Austria during the winter season. Worked the breakfast and dinner shifts, which allowed me to ski/Snowboard throughout the day. Pay was terrible, but the lifestyle was grand!
How long have you been working in conservation?
I'm very much a newbie to the conservation game. Te Korowai o Waiheke gave me an opportunity mid 2024 with a short-term contract, and I've been lucky enough to be brought back again this year.
What’s your best work story at Te Korowai o Waiheke?
I'm not sure I have a ‘best’ story, but I do feel incredibly lucky to get out and about with this job. Being granted access to some of the private/secluded areas on the motu and taking in the scenery is an amazing bonus to working for Te Korowai o Waiheke.