About Me

Andy Wards Ecology was created in 2022 and brings together my lifetime of skills. I thrive as an operations manager, particularly doing remote work in the backcountry of New Zealand. I am more than an ecologist and do more than ecological work.

I also have access to a few other good bastards that can help with larger works needing to be done, so don't think your job is too big for me!

I've experience working with regional and district councils, DOC, Community organisations and trusts, QEII block owners, Farmers with tracts of native forest, private landowners with pest animal and pest plant problems.

I grew up as a practical lad on a dairy farm in Taranaki, then studied earth sciences at Massey University. Early work highlights include: underground gold mine geologist in Australia, seismic exploration in Papua New Guinea and Australia. Later I diversified into ecology working for Te Ngahere Native Forest Management doing track and structure work and predator control, 5 years in Fiordland National Park managing the visitor track infrastructure for DOC. A move to the Tasman district in 2009 immersed me in ecological restoration and biosecurity work with Kaitiaki o Ngahere for the next 14 years, involving on-the-ground control, managing operations, mapping & reporting. I live on a small farmlet in Dovedale with my family, and enjoy surfing, cricket, tramping, savouring a great brew with a few mates, and enjoying the camaraderie of an outside camp fire.

I am passionate about the ecological restoration and maintenance of significant areas of native bush. This involves the vision and delivery of eradicating invasive pest plants and animals from crippling the ecosystem and subsequent maintenance and/or planting plans. I love the process of meeting clients/landowners and talking to them about their vision of restoring their native patch. I then survey the area and create maps of areas needing targeting. I create a workable plan which identifies priorities and focuses precious resources where they need to go - becoming our mission to achieve forest restoration!

I also support local and central organisations with their missions, whether this be data collection in remote sites, ecological restoration plans, GIS reporting etc.