Lynne Huggins is the new editor of the Protact magazine. This is her profile....
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Hi, my name is Lynne Huggins and I have been asked to introduce myself as I am taking over from Kirsten as the new editor of Protect.
To get to where I am now has involved several re-incarnations. I have worked as a pump jockey in a petrol station, supermarket chick, waitress, a mum, a pre-school teacher and in the health system with dysfunctional families. I went to university as a mature student gaining a BSc with honours and completed my MSc while working full time at the Department of Conservation.
I started at Department of Conservation Invercargill 7½ years ago. Initially my job was monitoring, surveillance and some weed control work in the Murihiku Area Office. I am now the Technical Support Officer Threats for Southland. This job involves providing technical advice, including on biosecurity issues, to all the weed teams in Southland, including Stewart Island, Murihiku, Subantarctic Islands and Te Anau. I have been lucky in my job as I have seen many places that most people do not get to, including remote places in Fiordland and Stewart Island, and a trip to Campbell Island.
My biosecurity involvement is mainly in the weed programmes in Southland including the eradication programmes for Darwin’s barberry, Spartina, old man’s beard and Spanish heath. I liaise regularly with Environment Southland in regard to RPMS weeds, breaches of selling and propagating unwanted plants and any water-weed incursions. I do not really have much knowledge of animal pests but I do know the impact they have on our ecosystems.
At the moment my main biosecurity concern is with regard to the increase in dairying which is taking place all around the country, and with what weeds farmers are moving to different areas of the country – not only in or on the animals, but seeds attached to equipment and clothing. Some plants are an issue in one area and not in another – do farmers know the RPMS strategy in their new area?
I am motivated to be in biosecurity as I have a passion for plants and the environment, and I want to keep New Zealand a great place for my children and grandchildren.
Technical Support Officer Threats
Department of Conservation,
Southland
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(03) 211 2473
