Volunteer Voices - "I take my hat off to our volunteers in the field." - Guy Kennedy

Guy Kennedy, Chairman of Wanaka Backyard Trapping, starts his volunteering story talking about a rat. “I was working from my home in Auckland and spotted a rat running across my deck. Wanting to get rid of the rat and protect my backyard long term I went in search of a local predator free organisation I could join. There was no such a thing.”

And so, Predator Free Herne Bay was born. “Although we didn’t have many other types of predators in that area we had big yearly surges in the rat populations. Within three years we had sharply reduced the backyard rat populations in three suburbs.”

Now living in Wanaka Guy saw the role of Chairman of the Board of Wanaka Backyard Trapping on the Volunteer South Website and felt it was a good fit for him.

“I've only been in the role about 6 months, so kudos must go to Kris Vollegbret, former Chairman who set the organisation up in 2018. Originally it was literally that, traps in backyards, but among many other things set up deals with DOC and QLDC to have traps on public land so now we have much bigger responsibilities and we operate in the wider Upper Clutha.”

The 900 traps along 20 traplines are a familiar sight on tracks, trails and trees in our area. A team of 120 local volunteers and support staff from Southern Lakes Sanctuary work tirelessly to ensure they are located in key predator areas and continuously calibrate, check and rebait the traps as well as collecting catch data.

Guy says his role is one of governance. “I take my hat off to our volunteers in the field. They are passionate about keeping the traps working. After owning my own software company, I have skills in strategy, management and leadership and that’s where I can best be utilised.”

Alongside a secretary, treasurer and a paid part time support person from Southern Lakes Sanctuary he works to guide the organisation to fulfil its governance obligations, ensure robustness of operation and guides long term planning.

As the organisation has grown the responsibilities to stakeholders has deepened and Guy says things like data analysis and keeping ahead of rapidly changing technology are crucial in this space.

Guy travelled extensively throughout New Zealand before choosing to settle in Wanaka and build a house. “I was attracted to the beauty of Wanaka and all the wonderful outdoor things. I see volunteering with Wanaka Backyard Trapping as a way I can help to protect what we have here and right some of the wrongs that have occurred in this precious playground.”

He is committed to making the Upper Clutha Basin predator free in 25-30 years. “If we keep the accelerator on, we’ve definitely got a good chance," says Guy.

Interested in volunteering for Wanaka Backyard Trapping? Roles of Secretary and Treasurer are available and there is always a need for more volunteers in the field. Contact: Guy Kennedy, 022-406-1663

Written by Juliette Hicks