Niamh Espiner
Niamh’s path to preserving NZ’s national treasures.
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Explore our programmesAmid Aotearoa’s highest peaks and far-reaching glaciers, Lincoln graduate Niamh Espiner steps into her unique work office.
Currently a DOC Senior Ranger in Aoraki/ Mount Cook National Park, Niamh loves the purpose she’s working for in preserving this remarkable environment.
The park, like others in the country, is experiencing increasing visitor numbers, which Niamh explains “is fantastic but also has its threats.”
"I love spending time in parks and natural spaces, and I believe everyone can benefit from connecting more with te taiao/the natural environment," she explains. "However, people can also have unintended negative impacts on these special places when their behaviours are not understood and managed."
Growing up just a stone's throw from Lincoln, Niamh was drawn to the university not only for its academic reputation but also for its familial ties.
"Lincoln was close to home – literally and figuratively,” she shares. “My Dad had studied at Lincoln in the 1990s and still teaches there today, and one of my sisters studied at Lincoln just a few years before me.”
At Lincoln, Niamh pursued a Postgraduate Degree in Applied Social Science, majoring in Parks, Recreation and Tourism. Coming from a background in psychology, she was eager to delve deeper into the complexities of people's interactions with nature.
“The postgraduate degree was the best opportunity to explore the topics I was interested in and actually put my skills into practice through the papers and Research Master’s,” she says.
One of the highlights of Niamh's student experience at Lincoln was the close-knit community fostered by the university.
"I found the relationships I built through my time at Lincoln were really valuable for me both personally and professionally," she says. Being a relatively small university, there was a great sense of community and help in building connections which led to my career today
As she looks back on her time at Lincoln, Niamh's fondest memories revolve around completing her fieldwork in the picturesque landscapes of the Mackenzie and Waitaki Districts. "I had the best time travelling around and interviewing lots of interesting people about tourism management – many of whom were Lincoln graduates themselves!" she reminisces
After completing her thesis during the challenges of COVID-19 in 2020, Niamh navigated a tough job market. Picking up several research assistant and tutoring positions with Lincoln in the meantime, Niamh had her sights set on DOC, and when the hiring began again, she secured her spot at Aoraki.
In her current position, Niamh plays an important and diverse role in a small team, servicing the village and managing the National Park.
"I focus a lot on work programmes for our teams in the National Park, but I get to dabble in a lot more," Niamh shares. "I get opportunities with the Search and Rescue team, presenting to students on park management, water sampling and snow clearing, and sometimes even take off to service alpine huts!"
Niamh was always on the path to work in conservation, loving the outdoors and a good backcountry tramp. Through the knowledge and practical skills acquired at Lincoln, she’s now found her calling to contribute to what she loves.
"I feel so fortunate to be here, living in a national park" she says. I couldn't be happier here, in a position to actively shape the future of this very special national park."