This week, we’re hearing from Dot, one of the friendly faces on our Landcare team. Dot brings incredible energy, care, and dedication to everything she does. From helping keep our community spaces beautiful to supporting the wider WISE whānau.
1- Can you tell us a little about what you do in the Landcare team and what a typical day looks like for you?
Working in the Landcare team means every day is different. Our hours are flexible, which helps us keep a good balance between work and life. We take on a wide range of hands-on and planning jobs focused on caring for the environment and restoring areas that need a bit of love.
Our work involves both volunteers and employed team members, all working together with the local community. Behind the scenes, we’re always putting in the hard mahi — keeping our WISE yard tidy, maintaining sites like Pohokura (OMV), completing private jobs, and helping out across all departments with section cleaning, gardening, and general site maintenance.
2- What do you enjoy most about working outdoors and helping care for the land in Taranaki?
What I enjoy most is the connection to nature and place — being fully immersed in Taranaki’s unique and diverse landscapes. This direct interaction creates a deep connection to the environment.
Working outdoors gives you a great physical workout through things like digging, planting, and walking. The fresh air is a positive release from day-to-day stresses, and it really helps with both mental and physical health.
Being involved in Landcare also connects me with like-minded people — the community.
3- How does it feel to see the positive impact of your work on the environment and the community?
Seeing a positive environmental and community impact can be profoundly fulfilling leading to feelings of personal satisfaction, pride and a sense of purpose. I feel a strong sense of pride in knowing my efforts are helping to make a positive difference in the community. Witnessing the positive results of my work can be highly motivating, reinforcing my commitment and encouraging me to continue working towards a better future, showing up to work on time, making an effort to be friendly and having a great work ethic, always making an impact at my jobs.
4- If someone asked you what makes WISE a special place to work, what would you say?
Wise Charitable Trust is a special place to work at because it combines a strong sense of purpose with a focus on employee development and wellbeing. Employees work for a great cause, contributing to community initiatives like Healthy Homes and Sustainable Employment while also benefiting from internal learning pathways. Mentorship and supportive team-oriented culture.
5- Have you had any funny, surprising, or memorable moments while working on Landcare projects?
I haven’t had any funny, surprising, or memorable moments myself, however I can share information about some of the notable moments and challenges that I have processed. My Landcare team shares laughter, a team that laughs together, grows together. Storytelling, enjoying each other’s company, keeping in touch, this is what keeps making work more enjoyable.
6- Finally, what does “working at WISE” mean to you personally?
Working at WISE, to me, means being part of something with a real purpose. It’s about feeling connected to our mission and being in a dynamic environment where every day is different. The work we do has an impact, and that sense of purpose makes it feel like more than just a job.
