About Us
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We are a voluntary organisation whose vision is the creation of a large inland predator free ‘island’ in the Lewis Pass. In addition we want to aid the Department of Conservation in the maintenance of facilities that enable visitors to enjoy this beautiful part of Aotearoa. Furthermore we want to carry this out through an organisation that volunteers enjoy being part of.
The Lewis Pass is where we carry out our work. This pass straddles the Southern Alps and is a major route between the East and West Coasts. This surrounding area with its beech forest and mountains rising to over 2000m is protected as a national reserve. It has a high recreational value with many tracks and huts allowing trampers, hunters and fishers access to its unmodified forest, spectacular tops, many tarns, and pristine rivers. We operate here quite simply because we love this area.
The Lewis Pass is where we carry out our work. This pass straddles the Southern Alps and is a major route between the East and West Coasts. This surrounding area with its beech forest and mountains rising to over 2000m is protected as a national reserve. It has a high recreational value with many tracks and huts allowing trampers, hunters and fishers access to its unmodified forest, spectacular tops, many tarns, and pristine rivers. We operate here quite simply because we love this area.
Threatened species such as kiwi, kaka, kea, whio, jeweled gecko and mistletoe can all be found in the Lewis Pass area. Sadly introduced predators can also be found, with rats, stoats, weasels, cats and possums all present. Beginning in 2008 predator control has been carried out by Hurunui College in the Nina Valley. This has allowed the reintroduction of kiwi into the valley and has seen successful breeding of whio in this valley. Since 2017 Doubtless Conservation has been supporting the work of Hurunui College with additional trapping in the Nina Valley.
In 2021 Doubtless Conservation was runner up in the Canterbury Aoraki Conservation Board Awards. This was for an ambitious project trapping the entire Doubtless Valley floor. This was the first step towards having continuous predator control in, and between, the Nina and Doubtful Valleys.
The values of Doubtless Conservation and this project are closely aligned with Te Ao Māori, or the Māori world.
Whakaiti
Doubtless Conservation is led by three trustees, see below; they are no more important than any other volunteers.
Ko tau rourou
No one in Doubtless Conservation, including the trustees, gain any benefit of any kind from their involvement in the trust or conservation work. Financial reward is specifically prohibited in our Charitable Trust Deed documentation.
Whanuangatanga
Doubtless Conservation volunteer working groups are based around family and friends, some of which are multigenerational, thus helping to deepen relationships within whanau. Doubtless Conservation works closely with Hurunui College, helping out with trapping in the Nina Valley when required. We also work with Ryman's Healthcare, we are indebted to Rymans and to the residents there who have made many of our traps. We also believe we are stronger together, and so we cooperate with other organisations who carry out conservation work in the Lewis Pass.
Tāria te wā and kaitiakitanga
Doubtless Conservation recognises that conservation is a long journey. We are in this for the long haul, but having finite lives we are also identifying future leaders for our organisation.
OUR TRUSTEES
Marcus King
Marcus has tramped and climbed in the Southern Alps for his entire life and has been involved in conservation work for decades, most recently with DOC’s orange fronted kakariki project. As well as volunteering for DOC trap checking since 2008, he has worked for DOC as a biodiversity ranger reporting to Dean Turner, Rangiora on a casual contract since 2018.
Marcus established and still manages a volunteer trap line on Mt Vernon Farm Park in the Port Hills, organizing volunteers to check the line and ensuring that safe operating practices are always followed. With Stephen Young and Associates he is establishing a sanctuary in Cecilia Sudden Bay, Great Barrier Island using a combination of conventional and new-designed traps as well as toxins when necessary. Marcus and Stephen are using that site as a research base for developing a new internet-controlled trapping system.
Marcus has worked as a research engineer, until recently ceasing paid employment to focus on conservation activities. In his engineering work he was experienced at managing multidisciplinary projects involving diverse groups. Community engagement was a critical part of his health innovation, and he is experienced at public presentations. He currently presents to schools, scouts, university groups etc. on predator free and will continue to use these skills with the Doubtless Conservation work.
George Moran
George too has a background in climbing, skiing and tramping throughout the Southern Alps. In 2017, together with his wife Celia, he began conservation work in the Lewis Pass as a means of giving back to the environment that had given him so much. Following requests from his friends to find a way for them to also contribute he formed Doubtless Conservation in 2019.
George also works with the Craigieburn Trapping Alliance in the Craigieburn Range.
George trained as a secondary science teacher and was the head of science at Hagley Community College for many years. He views education as a lifelong experience and sees his work with volunteers and other groups as being an extension of his life so far.
Celia Allison
Best known as the creator of Cecily the cartoon character Celia has a wealth of outdoor experience. She has cycled, tramped and skied extensively both within Aotearoa and overseas. Celia's business experience is put to good use as she is the treasurer of Doubtless Conservation.
All three trustees have a strong connection with DOC and are guided by them to ensure that scientific rigour is maintained and that we are carrying out best trapping practice. To this end we work closely with Sandy Yong, a Department of Conservation Biodiversity Ranger based in Rangiora (the relevant office for the Lewis Pass).
Marcus has tramped and climbed in the Southern Alps for his entire life and has been involved in conservation work for decades, most recently with DOC’s orange fronted kakariki project. As well as volunteering for DOC trap checking since 2008, he has worked for DOC as a biodiversity ranger reporting to Dean Turner, Rangiora on a casual contract since 2018.
Marcus established and still manages a volunteer trap line on Mt Vernon Farm Park in the Port Hills, organizing volunteers to check the line and ensuring that safe operating practices are always followed. With Stephen Young and Associates he is establishing a sanctuary in Cecilia Sudden Bay, Great Barrier Island using a combination of conventional and new-designed traps as well as toxins when necessary. Marcus and Stephen are using that site as a research base for developing a new internet-controlled trapping system.
Marcus has worked as a research engineer, until recently ceasing paid employment to focus on conservation activities. In his engineering work he was experienced at managing multidisciplinary projects involving diverse groups. Community engagement was a critical part of his health innovation, and he is experienced at public presentations. He currently presents to schools, scouts, university groups etc. on predator free and will continue to use these skills with the Doubtless Conservation work.
George Moran
George too has a background in climbing, skiing and tramping throughout the Southern Alps. In 2017, together with his wife Celia, he began conservation work in the Lewis Pass as a means of giving back to the environment that had given him so much. Following requests from his friends to find a way for them to also contribute he formed Doubtless Conservation in 2019.
George also works with the Craigieburn Trapping Alliance in the Craigieburn Range.
George trained as a secondary science teacher and was the head of science at Hagley Community College for many years. He views education as a lifelong experience and sees his work with volunteers and other groups as being an extension of his life so far.
Celia Allison
Best known as the creator of Cecily the cartoon character Celia has a wealth of outdoor experience. She has cycled, tramped and skied extensively both within Aotearoa and overseas. Celia's business experience is put to good use as she is the treasurer of Doubtless Conservation.
All three trustees have a strong connection with DOC and are guided by them to ensure that scientific rigour is maintained and that we are carrying out best trapping practice. To this end we work closely with Sandy Yong, a Department of Conservation Biodiversity Ranger based in Rangiora (the relevant office for the Lewis Pass).
