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Volunteer

All volunteer opportunities

Volunteers help with many different conservation tasks such as bird counts, historic building restoration, habitat restoration, hut maintenance, weed control, whale strandings, tree planting, and giving talks. This national overview may help you find a volunteer programme that interests you.

Northland

Hen & Chickens Islands weeding

Find out how you can join the DOC weed team on their trips to the Hen and Chickens Islands near Whangarei.

Kauri Coast area volunteers

Find out about volunteer opportunities in the Kauri Coast area.

Mimiwhangata Coastal Park volunteers

Volunteers are needed at Mimiwhangata Coastal Park throughout the year to assist park rangers with a variety of tasks.

Waewaetorea Island planting

The ongoing reforestation project aims to create a corridor for fauna to link the north facing and south facing catchments of the island.

Whangarei area shorebird volunteers

You can assist with our shorebird programme including shorebird monitoring, trapping, advocacy and site manipulation.

Auckland

Omaha Shorebird Protection Trust August 2010 project update

Find out what's been going on at the Omaha Spit recently.

Omaha Shorebird Protection Trust December project update

Find out what's been happening at Omaha Spit this summer.

Devonport Guardians

Join DOC rangers at North Head and Fort Takapuna to help maintain buildings and tunnels, plant natives and remove weeds.

Fairy tern volunteer opportunity in Pakiri

Find out about how you can help protect nesting fairy terns at the Pakiri River Mouth.

Kaipatiki Project volunteer opportunities

Find out about how you can volunteer for the Kaipatiki Project to help restore the Witherford Reserve in Glenfield, North Shore City.

Kawau Island volunteer programme

Volunteers on Kawau Island help with upkeep of the historic Mansion House and its gardens, and help maintain tracks, signs and buildings in the Kawau Island Historic Reserve.

Little Barrier Island backcountry weeding

Find out about an opportunity to get involved in backcountry weeding to control climbing asparagus on Little Barrier Island (Hauturu).

Little Barrier Island bird monitoring by distance sampling

Find out more about bird monitoring by distance sampling, the most challenging volunteer project on Little Barrier Island (Hauturu).

Little Barrier Island general maintenance

Find out more about the opportunity to help with general maintenance on Little Barrier Island (Hauturu).

Little Barrier Island reptile monitoring

Find out more about an opportunity to participate in reptile monitoring on Little Barrier Island (Hauturu).

Motu Kaikoura - Great Barrier Island/Aotea

Find out about volunteer opportunities on Motu Kaikoura Island, near Great Barrier Island/Aotea.

Motuihe project volunteers

The Motuihe Project requires volunteers year round to help with restoration activities on this pest-free Hauraki Gulf conservation island.

Motuora Island volunteer programme

Throughout the year volunteers are needed to help with an extensive revegetation project on pest-free Motuora Island.

Motutapu restoration project volunteers

Learn more about how you can be involved with the Motutapu Restoration Project.

New Zealand dotterel and shorebird advocacy and protection

Find out about breeding and flocking sites in the Auckland region for the New Zealand dotterel and other shorebirds, and the community groups and local residents who protect them.

Omaha Shorebird Protection Trust

The Omaha Shorebird Protection Trust requires volunteers to help protect the endangered New Zealand dotterel and other shorebirds at Omaha spit near Warkworth.

Rangitoto historic bach restoration project volunteers

The Rangitoto Island Historic Conservation Trust is looking for volunteers to help restore several baches on the island.

Raoul Island weed control & maintenance

Volunteers are needed for weed removal and maintenance projects on Raoul Island.

Tiritiri Matangi Island volunteers

Volunteers are needed to help maintain the pest-free wildlife sanctuary on Tiritiri Matangi Island.

Coromandel

Cookson Kauri Walk and Wainora Tramping Track maintenance, Kauaeranga Valley

The Cookson Kauri Walk begins from the Wainora campsite in the Kauaeranga Valley. Volunteers will be assisting with track maintenance. Various dates.

Coromandel volunteer information

Find out how to apply for projects, what to expect, and view acceptance and cancellation details for Coromandel volunteer projects.

Dotterel Watch Programme minders

The New Zealand Dotterel Watch Programme protects the endangered NZ Dotterel at beaches all around the Coromandel Peninsula. Volunteers protect, advocate for and monitor these birds from 1 September 2011 - 28 February 2012.

Kauri dieback advocacy at events

Volunteers will help prevent the spread of Kauri dieback disease into the Coromandel Peninsula by attending sporting and other high profile events in the Coromandel Peninsula.

Muriwai Walk site restoration

Muriwai Track starts at the eastern end of Port Jackson climbing up onto the coastal cliffs. Volunteers will assist with track maintenance. Various dates.

Opito Bay Historic Reserve enhancement

This reserve is located on a headland at Opito Bay. Volunteers will assist with mowing grass, weed control, structure and track maintenance. Various dates.

Whenuakite Kauri Walk and Lynch Stream Tramping Track maintenance

Volunteers will be undertaking improvements to both Whenuakite Kauri Walk and Lynch Stream Tramping Track. Various dates.

Whitianga Rock Historic Reserve enhancement

Volunteers will be involved in mowing, weed control, structure and track maintenance. Various dates.

Bay of Plenty

Waitawheta Hut wardens

There are occasional vacancies for this role which is based in the Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park. Help look after the hut and provide a welcoming environment for trampers.

East Coast

Gisborne volunteer programme

Learn about how you can become involved in community conservation around Gisborne.

Te Urewera volunteer opportunities

Several volunteer positions are available at our Aniwaniwa Office, situated on the shores of Lake Waikaremoana

Whirinaki Forest hut wardens

Between November and February hut wardens are needed at the Central Whirinaki Hut in Whirinaki Forest Park on the East Coast.

Central North Island

Tongariro National Park hut wardens

Learn about some of the volunteer opportunities available in Tongariro National Park in the Central North Island.

Taranaki

Egmont National Park hut wardens

Hut warden opportunities are available in Egmont National Park in the Taranaki Area.

Taranaki volunteer opportunities

The Taranaki region volunteer programme requires volunteers year round to assist with an array of conservation and recreation projects.

Manawatu/Whanganui

Manawatu volunteer opportunities

The Manawatu area Volunteer Programme requires volunteers year round to assist with an array of conservation and recreation projects.

Whanganui volunteer opportunities

The Whanganui area requires volunteers year round to assist with an array of conservation and recreation projects.

Whanganui National Park hut wardens

During the "great journey" season (October through April), hut wardens are needed at John Coull Hut in Whanganui National Park.

Hawke's Bay

Boundary Stream Mainland Island project volunteers

There are many ways you can get involved as a volunteer for the Boundary Stream Mainland Island project including locating and monitoring our native birds.

Hawke's Bay volunteer projects

Volunteers help out all year round in the Hawke's Bay region with a wide variety of projects.

Mike Lusk, Havelock North - Boundary Stream volunteer

Keen botanist Mike Lusk became a Boundary Stream volunteer when he retired in 2007. He spends two days a month there, undertaking a variety of tasks including monitoring trap lines, landscaping and recording native orchids.

Poutiri Ao ō Tāne volunteer opportunities

Find out about volunteer opportunities associated with Poutiri Ao ō Tāne - a unique ecological and social project aimed at returning wildlife to Hawke's Bay.

Wairarapa

Project Kaka ground control at Donnelly Flat

Help restore the forest and wildlife in Tararua Forest Park with Project Kaka.

Pukaha Mount Bruce captive management

Find out about volunteer opportunities at Pukaha Mount Bruce.

Pukaha Mount Bruce pest control

Help protect wild kaka, North Island brown kiwi, kokako and other flora and fauna by maintaining a network of traps and bait stations throughout Pukaha Mount Bruce in the Wairarapa.

Pukaha Mount Bruce telemetry volunteers

Pukaha Mount Bruce is a 942 hectare reserve in the Wairarapa. The lowland forest has a popullation of approximately 40 north island brown kiwi. Volunteers will assist field staff to monitor the locations of these kiwi using telemetry equipment.

Tararua Forest Park hut wardens

The Wairarapa Area Office requires volunteers to hut warden at the Totara Flats, Powell, Jumbo, Mitre Flats and Tutuwai huts in the Tararua Forest Park.

Tauherenikau Spanish heath control

Volunteers are sought to help control the exotic plant Spanish heath in the Tauherenikau Valley in the Wairarapa.

Waiohine bats monitoring and pest control

Short tailed bats were rediscovered in the Tararua Forest Park in 1999. Monitoring, pest control and searching for bat roosts is ongoing to collect data and protect the population.

Wairarapa campsite wardens

The Wairarapa Area Office requires volunteer campsite wardens at Corner Creek, Waiohine Gorge, Putangirua Pinnacles, and Kiriwhakapapa road end.

Wellington/Kapiti

Community project volunteers

DOC works closely with community groups on volunteer projects in the Wellington region.

Matiu/Somes Island volunteer opportunities

Find out about the volunteer opportunities available on Matiu/Somes Island.

Rimutaka Forest Park hut wardens

Become a hut warden in the Orongorongo Valley, Rimutaka Forest Park.

Nelson/Tasman

Farewell Spit lighthouse keepers house maintenance

Volunteers are needed to do some maintenance work on the lighthouse keepers house in Farewell Spit Nature Reserve.

Lake Rotoroa - volunteer beech clean-up

Four volunteers are sought to work with a DOC 'mainland island' ranger to recover surplus materials left over from decades of natural history science work on Mt Misery at Lake Rotoroa.

Lake Rotoroa Sabine Hut spruce up, Nelson Lakes National Park

A small team of volunteers are sought to help spruce up Sabine Hut which after almost a decade of good service is due for its first interior repaint.

Nelson Lakes volunteer camp hosts

Volunteers are sought to act as camp hosts at picturesque Kerr Bay and West Bay camps, on the shores of Lake Rotoiti in the Nelson Lakes National Park.

Rotoiti Nature Recovery Project - volunteer ranger

The Rotoiti Nature Recovery Project is a long term multispecies pest control project to restore over 5000 hectares of alpine beech forest alongside Lake Rotoiti in the Nelson Lakes National Park. A major focus is on conducting research into pest management methods and sharing the lessons learnt. The successes to date include the reintroduction of great spotted kiwi.

Travers Sabine Circuit hut wardens

Volunteers are sought to act as hut wardens in the beautiful Travers and Sabine Valleys in Nelson Lakes National Park.

Marlborough

Blumine Island track system upgrade

Blumine Island is located in Queen Charlotte Sound, Marlborough Sounds. Work on the island will be upgrading the current track system, and some species monitoring.

Chetwode Island survey & track work

This bush-covered island at the entrance to Pelorus Sound is gaining in importance as a wildlife refuge. Volunteers will take part in survey and track work to help with conservation management on the island.

Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway planting days

Volunteers are welcome to join in the re vegetation and restoration efforts at four key sites along the walkway during spring and autumn of 2009/2010.

Marlborough Sounds campsite hosts

The Department of Conservation, Sounds Area, is looking for reliable and responsible campsite hosts. A number of opportunities exist for short term (2-4 weeks) and long term (2-4 months) positions.

Maud Island/Te Hoiere maintenance & species work

A great opportunity to live and work on Maud Island/Te Hoiere. Maud is a wildlife management island with native frogs, giant weta and takahe.

Maud Island/Te Hoiere weed work

An opportunity for you to join our weed team for a week in a stunning location in the Marlborough Sounds.

Moawhitu in Greville Harbour, D'Urville Island weed work

An opportunity for you to join our weed team for 10 days in a stunning location in the Marlborough Sounds.

Moawhitu, Greville Harbour, D'Urville Island

A property in Greville Harbour has been acquired by the Department of Conservation. Volunteers are needed to convert this former farming property into a reserve.

Onamalutu Restoration

The Department of Conservation and community volunteers have been collecting seeds and growing plants in the shadehouse at the Onamalutu Scenic Reserve.

Perano Whaling Station - historic restoration project

Help restore the last operationg whaling station in New Zealand and hear stories of true kiwi ingenuity and daring escapades as the whalers searched for the elusive whales that travelled through Cook Straight - as told by your trip leader Mike Sextus, whose ability to make these stories come alive is reknown. The station closed in 1964.

West Coast

Buller Conservation Volunteer Group

Buller Conservation Volunteers meet every second Tuesday, year round, to work on a variety of interesting conservation projects.

Rowi Kiwi Project volunteers

Find out about opportunities to volunteer with the rowi kiwi project.

Welcome Flat Hut volunteer warden

Find out about hut warden opportunities at Welcome Flat Hut in South Westland. A feature of Welcome Flat is the natural hot pools where you can bathe, located near the hut.

Canterbury

Canterbury volunteer fire-fighters

Learn about the Canterbury volunteer fire-fighters programme.

Community projects in Canterbury

DOC, along with many other agencies and community groups, is involved in an array of volunteer projects in the Canterbury region.

Mackenzie Basin - wilding tree and weed control

We are looking for between 3 and 8 volunteers to come stay in the Mackenzie Basin for a week to protect the area's unique biodiversity.

Otago

Pilots Beach blue penguin volunteers

This project involves volunteers at Pilots Beach, Taiaroa Head, Otago Peninsula managing the impact of visitors on blue penguins as they come ashore each evening.

Sandfly Bay yellow-eyed penguin/hōiho volunteers

Volunteers travel to Sandfly Bay in the late afternoon/early evenings to help minimise visitor impact on the resident yellow-eyed penguins.

Otago volunteer information

Find out how to apply for projects, what to expect, and view acceptance and cancellation details for Otago volunteer projects.

Fiordland

Other Fiordland volunteer opportunities

Find out about other volunteer projects in Fiordland.

Fiordland volunteer information

Find out how to apply for projects, what to expect, and view acceptance and cancellation details for Fiordland volunteer projects.

Southland

Casual volunteer opportunities

Find out about casual volunteer opportunities in Southland.

Centre Island/Rarotoka restoration

Assist with weed control, planting and general maintenance.

Other volunteer opportunities

Find out about other volunteer projects in Southland.

Southland volunteer information

Find out how to apply for projects, what to expect, and view acceptance and cancellation details for Southland volunteer projects.

Find out more

Publications

Urban greening manual: How to put nature into our neighbourhoods - Manaaki Whenua site

Conservation volunteers calendar 2012

Learn more

For other volunteering opportunities see www.conservationvolunteers.org.nz

Jobs at DOC
View DOC's current vacancies and how to apply for a job

Contacts

For general volunteering information email volunteer@doc.govt.nz or contact your local DOC office