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On Track For Fantastic Vocation

January 12, 2018

Jordan Tibble on her way to the bush after completing her
NZ Certificate in Land Based Sustainable Practices.

 

Getting choppered into the Waioeka bush has been all in a day’s work for EIT student Jordan Tibble who has just completed her NZ Certificate in Land Based Sustainable Practices.

Spending a few days with Department of Conservation workers clearing tracks, maintaining bush huts, bathing in the river and cooking over a campfire were what she had dreamed about for her working future.

This was followed by a few days with a scrub bar at Anaura Bay, preparing the DoC’s camping grounds for the summer.

She is now looking forward to a field trip to Portland Island to help with DoC’s pest control programme.

“I can’t wait – the work they have done there so far has been awesome. The island is almost pest free. There are no possums, no goats – they are now targeting ants. These get into nests and over-ride the eggs. There is a very rare endangered species on the island – a shore plover. Helping to protect it will be very exciting.”

Working as a ranger for DoC has been a long-held dream for Jordan. When she left school she went to Waikato University to study for an Environmental Science degree. However, she had to return to Gisborne when her mother became seriously ill and later died. Jordan stayed on to take care of one of her sisters.

Two years later she decided to continue her studies. Leaving Gisborne was not really an option but she found a great alternative when she looked online at what EIT offered locally.

Jordan Tibble on her way to the bush after completing her NZ Certificate in Land Based Sustainable Practices

“I found this programme on Land Based Sustainable Practice and have enjoyed it very much.”

Students worked a lot with DoC and planted native trees.

“It was awesome getting out with the DoC staff and a good way of finding out how to get into DoC which is something I have always wanted to do.”

It was difficult to get a voluntary work placement at first but with the encouragement of her tutor Leigh Jones, she persisted. Eventually botanist Graeme Atkins took her under his wing and got her involved in some fieldwork.

“He has been awesome – he is one of those people I really look up to.”

Next year she plans her first trip around the South Island to check out all the tracks and huts in national parks there.  This trip will culminate in Nelson, where DoC has a two year ranger’s course she plans to do.

Having grown up on the East Coast, she was always more comfortable trekking through the bush and being around animals.

“My biggest interest is native trees and how Māori used to use them” she says. “Helping protect native trees is my passion.”