Take a drive along Coromandel’s spectacular scenic 309 Road and there’s a spot, somewhere around halfway between Coromandel town and Whitianga where a tarseal street branches off from the famous winding gravel 309. While other conservation volunteers usually have to travel to their work, Sara Smerdon – Community Advocate for Mahakirau Forest Estate Society – lives right in the environment she protects. “The Mahakirau Forest Estate Society was set up in 2001 to help the 24 freehold owners pool resources and govern responsibly. “We live at higher altitude (semi-cloud forest) and the frogs are underfoot at our door,” Sara says. Today it is still considered one of the rarest New Zealand gecko species and one of the most restricted in terms of location.

Source: Stuff March 05, 2021 15:56 UTC