Community Liaison, OAR FM
From 2012 to 2019, Dunedin-based environmental educator and facilitator Maureen Howard hosted the popular podcast and radio programme Eco Living in Action on OAR FM.
Now she’s back behind the mic with new show Rewilding in Action.
In this series, Ms Howard visits with local enthusiasts in the movement to increase biodiversity by restoring natural processes and allowing nature to lead the way.
Rewilding was not about removing human influence from land-use, she said.
Rather, it was about using ‘‘a lighter touch’’.
‘‘Every generation sees less and less biodiversity, and we do know historically how much more abundance there was. So it’s about giving more space to nature, and giving room to all the creatures on this Earth.’’
Originally from Northern Ireland, Ms Howard moved to New Zealand in 1994 where she completed her studies with a PhD in psychology from the University of Otago.
Since then, she has worked in a variety of environmental roles, and is currently the senior education co-ordinator with Town Belt Kaitiaki, a student-led education programme for Dunedin schools and early childhood centres that focuses on the natural environment of the Dunedin Town Belt.
A new episode of Rewilding In Action airs on 105.4FM and 1575AM every second Thursday at 6pm, replayed the following Saturday at 9.30am. Podcasts are available from oar.org.nz and other major platforms.
A full schedule of OAR FM programmes can be found at www.oar.org.nz.
