Jonathan Miles (Hall House 1981–1985), Auckland Council’s Regional Biosecurity Manager, has spent more than three decades dedicated to the protection and recovery of New Zealand’s native birds, particularly the iconic kiwi. From groundbreaking predator control to species translocations, Jonathan’s work has significantly contributed to safeguarding the nation’s biodiversity and ensuring the survival of endangered species.

While at St Paul’s, Jonathan admits he wasn’t an academic standout. “I preferred looking out the window to concentrating on the work during class,” he recalled. “School was for football, sport and mates.” Jonathan played for the First XI football team from the 5th Form and represented Waikato.

Everything changed during his fourth form year (Year 10) when he attended Tihoi.

“I can use one word to explain where my passion for the environment started—Tihoi,” Jonathan said. Reflecting on his transformative experience, he shared four key lessons he learned:

Tihoi is a leveller.

There’s more to someone than meets the eye.

He wanted to work outside—"This is where I fit and feel comfortable."

If you abuse it, you lose it.

“These are lessons I continue to use every day, and they have shaped who I am,” he explained.

Inspired by his time at Tihoi, Jonathan pursued a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and Botany at Massey University, followed by a Master’s degree. His thesis, one of the first in-depth studies on the Northern brown kiwi (NBK), focused on food availability, territory size, and predator impact on two remnant populations in Tongariro National Park and Tongariro Forest Park.

“This research was the start of a lifetime of working to make a difference for New Zealand’s birds,” Jonathan said. “It’s been a privilege to work with a small number of people who are directly involved in saving the kiwi. It’s been a long journey, and it’s unique to the world.”

Jonathan’s career has taken him to some of the country’s most remote and beautiful locations. “I’ve gone to amazing places, including living in a hut on Lake Waikaremoana for seven years. I hunted, fished, and worked closely with iwi who adopted me. In all these experiences, I apply the lessons from Tihoi,” he said.

During his 15 years at Landcare Research in the 1990s, Jonathan led groundbreaking work on predator control. “Our initial focus was understanding how mustelids impacted kiwi survival, particularly at Lake Waikaremoana,” he said. This work laid the foundation for the stoat trapping networks and community conservation efforts still used today.

His work continued at the Department of Conservation (DOC), where he managed the Central North Island Kiwi Sanctuary, pioneered captive incubation of kiwi eggs with Rainbow Springs, and led translocations of kiwi to Maungatautari and back to Tongariro Forest. “One of the most challenging and rewarding aspects of this work was learning from iwi and hapu, who brought a cultural perspective to our conservation goals,” Jonathan said.

In 2008, Jonathan was part of the team behind the ambitious pest eradication project on Rangitoto and Motutapu Islands, then the largest and most complex of its kind in the world. “Today, it’s incredible to see takahē, saddleback, and the translocated Coromandel brown kiwi thriving on Motutapu,” he said.

Jonathan’s work isn’t confined to kiwi alone. He has contributed to pest eradication benefiting a variety of native birds, such as translocating great spotted kiwi to Nelson Lakes and Hauraki Gulf islands and helping re-establish native populations across the country. “Seeing these birds return to places where they once thrived is incredibly rewarding—it’s a reminder of what we can achieve with collaboration and determination,” he said.

Today, Jonathan oversees a $4 million portfolio of pest eradication and biosecurity projects across Auckland and the Hauraki Gulf Islands. His team works closely with iwi, communities, and initiatives like Predator Free 2050 to secure the future of New Zealand’s native species. “This work isn’t just about protecting the land—it’s about building relationships and creating a future where New Zealand’s unique wildlife can thrive alongside our communities,” he explained.

Published works: New Zealand Journal of Ecology; McLennan et.al 1996