Dream job alert! New Zealand is looking for a person who would agree to fly over the country in a helicopter to save a bird threatened with extinction: the kiwi; reports the New Zealand media stuff. But the authorities are desperate. The Department of Conservation in the small town of Haast, perched west of Mount Aspiring National Park, has so far only received three applications for the position of biodiversity supervisor, the official said. Wayne Costello.
“The main objective is to lead a team to save New Zealand’s rarest species of kiwi, the Haast tokoeka,” explains Wayne Costello. The job involves patrolling spectacular scenery and tending to kiwis – a flightless New Zealand bird – penguins and lizards.
A “fairly isolated” post
“The west coast is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream world,” says the manager, who acknowledges, however, that despite the “exceptional beauty” of the towering mountains that flank Haast and its region, the post has its downsides. “It’s pretty isolated,” he admits. The nearest supermarket is two hours away, the hospital four hours away.
In addition, this shy and “very nervous” kiwi has a population of around 500 individuals and it is not easy to find them. “Some of the places you have to go are by jet boat, or quite often by helicopter because it’s quite remote and difficult territory.” Despite the lack of interest, Wayne Costello remains hopeful and has decided to extend the application period for another three weeks.
