When Rosa Stones talks about the outdoors, her whole face lights up. A third-year Environmental Science student at the University of Canterbury, she’s built her studies around ecosystem health and biosecurity, but it’s her love of the natural world that truly defines her. Whether she’s mountain biking through forest tracks, carving down ski fields, or climbing toward a new summit, Rosa is most at home outside.
This summer, she’s traded lecture halls for waders and field notebooks as Tasman Bay Guardians very first intern, an opportunity she describes as “a dream come true.” And she hasn’t wasted a moment diving in.
From freshwater monitoring to flood-recovery planting, from marine reserve education and snorkelling, to wetland restoration and īnanga spawning surveys, Rosa has been hands-on with projects that directly support the health of the region’s precious ecosystems. Each day looks a little different, but every task connects back to the purpose that drives her: helping restore and protect the environments she loves.
For Rosa, this work is more than field experience, it’s deeply personal. She grew up in the Motueka Valley, spending countless hours swimming and exploring the Motueka River. Now, returning as an intern, she’s helping care for the very places that shaped her childhood.
“This internship brings everything full circle,” she says. “I get to use what I’ve learned at uni to give back to my home.”
As Tasman Bay Guardians steps into a new chapter with its first intern, Rosa is already making her mark, combining scientific skill, community spirit, and a genuine passion for the natural world.
And this is only the beginning.
