We are very lucky to have Xander on our working group, and he brings not only his enthusiasm (obsession?) for plants but his energy and drive to the team. Meet Xander:
What inspired you to become involved in the Wairau Nature Network?
The Wairau is the artery of Marlborough, this unique and amazing place we all get to call home. Its health reflects the health of everything around it: the land, the people, the birds and the bees. I wanted to be part of something that sees the catchment as a whole living system, not just a series of isolated problems to fix.
What’s the biggest environmental challenge you think the Wairau catchment faces right now?
The hardest challenge is one of imagination. We tend to see land as parcels; yours, mine, the council’s, DOC’s. But a catchment doesn’t work that way. Water doesn’t stop at a fence line. Native birds don’t read property titles. The biggest challenge is shifting from a title-by-title mindset to a landscape-scale one. It’s as much about people and relationships as it is about ecology.
Can you share a project or achievement from the network that you are most proud of?
As the native plant manager for Trees for Marlborough, I’m a bit biased! Growing locally sourced native plants which were then planted locally by locals (and the Selmes volunteers) was a real highlight for me.
How do you see the role of community partnerships in restoring and protecting local ecosystems?
One landowner planting a few hundred natives is great. A network of landowners, a community nursery, and council working together across a whole catchment – that’s landscape-scale restoration! Partnerships let us share knowledge, share costs, and avoid duplicating effort. None of us has the resources to do this alone. Together, we actually have a chance.
What is your personal connection to the Wairau area – what makes it so special to you?
I arrived here by chance almost four years ago. Pretty much stumbled into the Wairau without any prior thought other than a simple job offer. But there’s something special about this place that I just can’t put my finger on. Maybe it’s because it’s the longest continuously inhabited settlement in the country. Or maybe it’s just the sheer overwhelming beauty of this place. I don’t know what it is, but I’m drawn to it, and I don’t intend to leave.
