Nick Jones (Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Rahiri) is the founder of Rewild Limited — a conservation innovation company based in Taranaki. With a degree in Industrial Design from Massey University and nearly 20 years as an Industrial Designer undertaking Research and Development, Nick has combined technical expertise with a deep connection to whenua to design tools that help restore balance to our ecosystems.
At the heart of Rewild is a humane predator trap targeting ferrets, stoats, and weasels — key predators that threaten Aotearoa’s native species. The trap has been performance-tested and approved by the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) and is now in use across the motu. Designed with the end user in mind, it’s simple, effective, and reliable — making conservation accessible to anyone, from rural landowners to community conservation groups.
The journey to get here has taken time, grit, and learning on the go. As a business owner, Nick has picked up a few key lessons. One of the biggest? “Ask for what you need — not what you think people will give you.” For Nick, being ambitious means backing your ideas and not shrinking them down to fit other people’s expectations. “If you believe in your kaupapa, you’ve got to go all in. That’s when the right support starts showing up.”
Nick’s dream isn’t just about traps — it’s about growing capability in Taranaki. He envisions a company built on science, delivering world-class conservation technology, creating skilled jobs, and proving that high-value manufacturing can thrive here at home.
Through Rewild, Nick is laying the foundation for something bigger than himself — a business that embodies innovation, integrity, and intergenerational care for the taiao.
Learn more at www.rewild.nz
