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Sophie Fern

@sophiefern.bsky.social
911 followers 121 following 5.3K posts

I read poetry to rare lizards.

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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 17h
It's not actually that I love trains as an object. I love being able to get places while reading a book and eating fruit pastilles. I'd love to finish work on a Friday and snooze my way to Christchurch for a weekend of seeing friends and going to the theatre. And I def love alternatives to flying
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 19h
Because the sun is shining and therefore the solar is pumping those electrons, I have the rice and quinoa cooked for the week’s porridge, the laundry on a hot wash and a cake in the oven. Also, on the deck in the sun, are the dog, yesterda’s laundry and the bread dough to rise. And me and my book
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
South Island folks! Hey!!! Look- Dunedin to Christchurch! www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/green-par...
nzherald.co.nz
Greens announce plans for Auckland to Wellington overnight rail service
The party also wants a passenger rail service between Christchurch and Dunedin.
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
The small one, not having a bad day at all!
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
I went to a Decroly-method primary school and wonder whether it's that approach, or a bit of everything, that make me incapable of sitting within disciplinary boundaries. The one person I'm in touch with from that school is as bad as I am, if that's data!
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Workshop today, with the most gorgeous view of the harbour. Massive hilarity over getting the vision finally finalised, everyone is massively on board with theories ofchange, and we have a tonne of foundational actions sorted and rated. My colleagues were, as always, brilliant. I am exhausted.
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
How are you all getting through this week, folks? I have a tray of very lovely flapjacks (this morning's got me through the Monday meeting) for snacks. I have a brilliant team of co-facilitators for tomorrow's workshop and remembered to pack the herbal tea. (It's not all food but) posh breakfasts!
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Singing “send in the hounds” to the small one and despite the lyrics and despite it’s much more in my range than the other piece i’m learning, she still isn’t impressed.
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Ottolenghi confit tandoori chickpeas (with maybe 1/5th of the chilies ) with brown rice and herby yoghurt..
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
A major part of my workshop prep is making sure that I have food and snacks all organised for the week cos I need the energy to get through the day and will have no energy left to cook for the week afterwards. This week is workshop 5/6, we're looking at theories of change and actions.
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
1 pm today, Dunedin’s church bells will be rung to welcome the albatross home for the season.
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Being disabled in public today aka letting my team know that I’m too tired to work-from-work today. This stuff scares me as managers “help” and “concern” so often reduces the interesting and challenging work that helps you grow.
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Reposted by Sophie Fern
Andy McKay @korimakoecology.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
"To be able to come home, reconnect with the marae, reconnect with whānau, reconnect with culture, te reo Māori, and also gives them the opportunity to heal the land with their own hands, is really magical." I saw this 1st hand with J4N. Many powerful stories that were never measured by any metrics
rnz.co.nz
Bringing Aotea back to life through a te ao Māori lens
Ko au te taiao, ko te taiao ko au.
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Despite my side eye being misdirected at the headline writer, on re- reading I stand behind these VSTs (Very Serious Thoughts)
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
I have written some Very Serious Thoughts about the "shy" description of the Chatham island Black robin here: sophie-fern.medium.com/dear-headlin...
sophie-fern.medium.com
Dear Headline Writer: Karure Are Not Shy
I’d been off the boat for less than an hour and was maybe ten metres into the bush when I saw my first ever karure/Chatham Island black…
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Karure are not shy, ODT. It's true that we don't see them but that's because they are endemic to the Chathams (and we might not have been there) but equally that predators were introduced to the islands and tht they habitat was super modified leaving so few: www.odt.co.nz/news/nationa...
odt.co.nz
Shy little robin claims Bird of the Year title
Shy little robin claims Bird of the Year title
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Ah, karure/ black robins! My favourite one was a chick I nicknamed “pipsqueak” cos he was huge and refused to fledge! I could imagine him, warm and safe in his log, being fed by his harried parents for years to come.
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
The winter nellis pear has won “first to blossom” in the espalier fruit competition. To be fair to the others (another pear and two apples) this is the only one that didn’t fruit last year so is probably keen to get going
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
My garden, in black and green.
Chatham Ilsnaforget me nots, very much thinking about floweringA black dog (Belle, aka the Small One) chewing a pine cone
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Reposted by Sophie Fern
Jessica de Heij @jdeheij.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
The Ōtepoti Pathways Strategy also means every time a road needs to be resealed etc. it will consider improving footpaths, cycleways etc. How good! Something Auckland hasnt even solved yet 🙃 So listen and submit! 🛴🏃‍♀️🚲🛼😍 www.dunedin.govt.nz/services/roa...
accessmedia.nz
141 - Ōtepoti Pathways Strategy with Crs Steve Walker and Mickey Treadwell
Ōtepoti Pathways Strategy - Crs Steve Walker and Mickey Treadwell join Dr Barb and Trudi in the studio to discuss the Ōtepoti Pathways Strategy the vision, the Goals, How to make a submission. https:/...
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
I ran a really participatory and fun workshop for colleagues today (please stress test my programme logic! We want a clear line of sight between the problem and proposed solutions) and got a paper accepted for a conference.
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
I’m reading the Wombles and must share that young Wombles go to womblegarten during which they make tidy bags during their paw-craft lessons.
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Reposted by Sophie Fern
Jessica de Heij @jdeheij.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
The Ōtepoti Dunedin walking, wheeling and biking 30-year plan is now open for consultation!! 💕🏃‍♀️🚲 🛴🛼 GET IN THERE!! And let’s make Ōtepoti Dunedin the Paris of Aotearoa! 🙃 www.dunedin.govt.nz/services/roa...
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
@apocalypseelf.bsky.social I have passed your Tree Mapper question on to one of our analysts and will let you know his verdict
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Reposted by Sophie Fern
Paul_BarlowNZ @paulbarlownz.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Friends don’t let friends vote National. Especially if your friend has a child that went to school with the bed leg beater.
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Loving seeing the CRL posts!
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
In village news: Sealion on the village beach Harbour road closed this morning for the marathon The harbour swimming club has (harbour) swam already The gallery has sold First kōtare of the season Sunny and windy.
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
I cannot be absolutely certain that I'll get to the ed of this project with my sense of humour intact.
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Can you just IMAGINE NZ if we actually went the full Mamdani? Look, I'm even here for a partial Mamdani? And, yes, while you're asking I can absolutly imagine it. Cos we genuinly give a shit about each other and our place and we so want things to be better.
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Reposted by Sophie Fern
Ross @rossthesedays.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Excellent as ever from Paula and the team but I'm fascinated at Mundt describing feeling "haunted for years" by disinformation she could have easily corrected with a ten minute check of the legislation.
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
One of my colleagues has a “less wildings more water” water bottle and it’s killing me!
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
If you haven’t stood outside at dawn to listen to the birds recently, may I recommend? It’s a great time of year for dawn chroruses (dawn chori? Dawns chorus?)
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Was that another #eqnz?
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Workshop done! Some total legends got to the venue and turned back immediately as they didn’t want to be stuck there if the weather got worse. We chatted, we plotted, we had a very good lunch. And my feet are so sore that I’m possibly going to cry.
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
I'm running another community workshop tomorrow, this time signing off on our goals, putting work that's already happening onto the situation diagrams (including work that we do internally) and then I have a "strategy quest" exercise for them to begin thinking what we do about it all.
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
The winter Nellie pear reckons that spring is on its way. This is the first full year that the trellised fruit trees have been in and I love them.
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Seitan chip? Genius or the worst idea in a lifetime of terrible ideas?
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
dhal baked eggs with spinach, a pot of tea and an orange.
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Was thinking about my slightly peevish reaction to this, as my job also involves wandering into other people’s communities and chatting about conservation. I guess it’s that they know who I work for, and its co-development. Also I don’t love the “wildlife capital “ framing.
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
So someone is coming down from Wellington to tell us about conservation in our city? And shouldn't this be TOP branded? www.eventfinda.co.nz/2026/conserv...
eventfinda.co.nz
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
There is a mural being painted on the village hall wall, and I foiled whoever the dastardly person is who puts milk chocolate digestives in the dark chocolate digestives area. Not today, satan! Tiny, tiny wins
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Reposted by Sophie Fern
Andy McKay @korimakoecology.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
"But across every type of project we looked at, from native reforestation to wetland and riverside planting, the same finding held: without a financial return that comes close to what the land earns now, most landowners will not sign up."
nzherald.co.nz
Why we should pay landowners to plant natives
OPINION: Landowners care about nature, but care alone won't restore it at scale.
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
so sad to see stitch kitchen closing down
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
The sun is over the hills and hitting the house at 9.15 and this makes everything so much better
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
the good bits of today was catching up with one of my Catlins Co-chairs for a yarn first thing, one of my Dunedin and Coast co-chairs getting a lovely award and catching up with a few folks who had missed workshops and getting them up to speed on the work. And the bad bits... Can I resign?
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Despite what the article suggests, a higher threat rating doesn’t trigger additional funding, resources or work. www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3610...
stuff.co.nz
‘Violent virus’ wiping out rare baby penguins - expert predicts extinction within five years
The mystery illness is killing hoiho chicks within hours, adding another devastating threat to a species already down to 326 birds.
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
Singapore breakfast tea out of the smallest of Poole teacups as Monday is very much Monday-ing
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Exceptionally long day ended with a presentation to a community board - I take my hat off to those who sign up for these roles! Also, delighted that I had a potion of oven roast potatoes that, along with beans and sour cream, became a very good dinner. Now a small slice of cake and tea.
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
I realise that this may be (pauses for dramatic effect ) jam-splaining! Thank you yes, I did think of it myself.
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Sophie Fern @sophiefern.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Watching AOC's Instagram stories right now, and I keep remembering how valuable I found it when Golriz Ghahraman would post pictures of getting infusions in the hospital. I also did a bunch of serious analysis for my doctorate with a drip in my arm. We were/are all just getting on with our lives
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