Meet Lily, Waimangu Operations Supervisor
Our Operations Supervisor Lily keeps the day to day operations working smoothly at Waimangu.
She is passionate about sustainability, and is constantly looking for ways to minimise our impact on the environment, both in her private life and at work.
Lily started at Waimangu as a Summer holiday job in 2014, and then stayed with us when she left school, working her way through various roles.
Lily is our environmental champion at Waimangu. She works across various special projects and is currently reviewing all of our sustainability initiatives.
When she’s not at work, you can find her in the gym, on the rugby field or in a boxing ring, or hanging out with her big family over at the beach in Ohope.
What’s your role at Waimangu?
My role includes a range of tasks from writing rosters, taking bookings and answering emails to other more exciting projects such as helping set up our new POS and RES systems and I have just recently started working on our sustainable actions which is super fun!
What does a typical day at work look like?
No two days are the same, which makes my job more exciting! I usually start the morning answering emails and bookings then the day can range from anything such as serving customers and making coffee to dealing with stock and arranging souvenirs to working on one of our recent projects.
What have you been working on recently?
Over the last year I have been getting more involved in special projects like our Point of Sale and Reservation system upgrade. Right now I’m working on our sustainability initiatives, we’re doing a big review of everything we do, and how we can improve.
What improvements would you like to make in the valley?
I’d love to replace all our fleet with electric vehicles. In February I brought a fully electric car, a Gen 2 Nissan Leaf. It’s the best investment I have ever made, it is zero emissions (and zero fuel cost), and one of the most reliable cars on NZ roads. It’s is the only way to do all the daily travel I do without impacting the environment.
My parents also have an electric car, they taught me a lot about environmental sustainability. My dad made a solar panel from drink cans. I’d like to say I helped, but really I just drank energy drinks and collected the cans to use as materials!
What is the best part of your job?
Being able to make an impact on the environment. Kaitiakitanga is a core belief of mine and I am passionate about looking after our environment. I also love to share our beautiful valley with like-minded people!
And the worst?
Filling out spreadsheets – I am absolutely hopeless when it comes to Excel
What’s your favourite feature of the valley?
There is a small hot spring a about 200m down from Inferno Crater – Clamshell spring. It’s not the biggest or brightest feature but it’s my absolute favourite and I can never walk past without stopping and telling whoever I’m with about it.
Tell us something about Waimangu that nobody knows?
Waimangu is home to thermophilic bacteria that many scientists believe to have been present at the beginnings of the earth (this bacteria lives in my favourite spring, Clamshell Spring)
What’s the best place to go in Rotorua?
The Pig and Whistle when there is a good band on is always a highlight.