A Bachelor of Environmental Management from SIT has facilitated a flourishing academic pathway for Kelsi Hayes, alongside hands-on, practical work in the local Environmental Management (EM) sector.
Southland born-and-raised Kelsi was working on the family farm in Progress Valley when she had the opportunity to get involved in a regional forum for freshwater management through Environment Southland. “It gave me a crash course on the topic”, said Kelsi, and it whetted her appetite for more.
“I wanted to stay in Southland,” she explained. “[The course] gave me an opening to go to SIT and study Environmental Management.”
Kelsi had a “rough idea” of what SIT had to offer and went into her course without any expectations. “… I thought it’s local, it has Zero Fees. If I really don’t like it, I can always go back to work; I’m not getting into debt.” However, Kelsi took to the programme like a duck to water and has never looked back.
“It was way better than what I thought it would be … It’s a real family environment; I got to know all the [student] year groups and all the tutors on a personal level. It made it a real positive learning experience.”
And Kelsi appreciated that she learnt good study habits in that positive, supportive environment, as she had bigger fish to fry, academically speaking. After completing her degree, she studied a Master of Environmental Management by distance learning through Massey University, “to prove I was well rounded”.
Kelsi discovered there was more advanced learning in her degree at SIT than the master’s material, attributing it to “very passionate tutors who really knew their stuff; it was a well-rounded programme”. She recalled the field trips tutors took them on, “You learned in a practical and theoretical way simultaneously.”
The whole course was “really worthwhile”, from learning how to write safety sheets and assessments of the RMA (Resource Management Act) and how to use GIS (Geographic Information System), to Health and Safety legal requirements, EM theory and ecosystems.
“It sets you up to work for DoC and regional councils,” Kelsi explained, noting the programme equally suited people who got their degree and went back to work, as well as academics who carried on studying; “both groups were catered for… It was real in-depth study.”
“SIT does this awesome thing, and why everyone one who studies EM should go [there]; you get to foster relationships with people in the sector, such as Environment Southland; you meet all the people you’d be working with if you work in the region.”
Kelsi found studying at SIT encouraged her into more critical thinking, “about how we manage the environment, not just accepting the first opinion that comes along”. She added the broad perspectives gained at SIT were not typical and tertiary students were able to bring a fresh perspective to issues.
She appreciated the international students in her class as they brought a different lens to New Zealand conservation. ” …Rather than just thinking New Zealand does it best, you learn how to think about things in a different way… how to justify your opinion and provide back-up for it.”
Integrating with the EM industry in Southland was the most valuable aspect from Kelsi’s degree. She learned a range of beneficial skills outside the classroom: doing trap lines with Motupohue Environment Trust; seed propagation with the Rances at Southland Community Nursery; volunteer opportunities to work with penguins; or controlling wilding pines. “Things like that really make it worthwhile because you’re building up your network.”
Kelsi also became a certified Electrofisher through working with Hokonui Rūnanga. The fish is stunned using electricity, removed from the water to measure and check, then placed back into the water again. “They bounce straight back”; it’s the best method for conservation work, she explained. Having the skill “really set me up” she adds appreciatively.
The social aspect of student life was great for Kelsi; she had a great time at SIT. “I absolutely made a heap of friends.” Another student from her class is still studying as well – they’re currently both doing a PhD through Otago University. “We can catch up and [we] realise how valuable the SIT experience was.”
Kelsi says her course highlight was the quality of the teaching. “I think the tutors – Jordon Traill and Anna Palliser – are top-notch tutors. I was fortunate… to experience a range of tutors. They’re so passionate they really know their stuff.” Her former SIT Tutor, Anna, is now a co-supervisor for her PhD, “because that’s how good they are”.
The most challenging time of Kelsi’s studies came during the pandemic. “Lockdowns were the worst thing,” she said, resulting the cancellation of some field trips. “It could’ve marred the experience, however, we were all in the same boat. The tutors did their best under the circumstances. We did miss out on a few things.”
After completing her master’s, Kelsi began her PhD, looking at translocating freshwater mussels as a bioremediation tool - a way of trying natural biological methods to improve ecosystems. “It’s to help remediate ecosystems… to improve water quality, using freshwater mussels… a taonga species”.
Kelsi’s still home based in the Catlins and only travels to Dunedin “when I need to” for PhD requirements. Local environmental work keeps Kelsi busy. She conducts population surveys and monitoring of bats for Hokonui Rūnanga, as well as seed collection and planting projects. “I’ve been really fortunate working in the field as I’ve studied, as SIT facilitated [those] relationships early on.”
“One of the things that my qualification has enabled me to do is to really start looking after my area.”
Kelsi got involved in creating/writing/developing an integrated catchment management plan for the Waikawa catchment for a new charitable trust who’ve set up a community nursery in Waikawa, near her home. “It is very rewarding work.” Situated behind the museum, the garden is for growing native plants, to help with planting riparian margins and building wetlands, and encouraging people to grow their own. “The funding is to help the catchment … we’ve set a goal of 2,000 plants a year.”
With the inspiration undoubtedly coming from her home turf, Kelsi says “I want to look after Southland; to help the area and ensure that the environment here is good; practise a bit of stewardship (Kaitiakitanga). One thing we’re blessed with in Southland is we have got a lot of environment.”