Project Summary

Volunteer in New Zealand and get involved in vital environmental conservation projects. This project focuses on preserving and restoring New Zealand’s unique, natural beauty. Volunteers will take part in varied activities which may include: environmental monitoring, heritage restoration, tree planting, endangered species protection and disaster relief. This project will be enjoyed by all who have a love for the outdoors, who are environmentally concerned and who are up for a challenge. Although the start location is Auckland, volunteers can choose to transfer to more rural locations, around Hamilton, where the natural environment can be truly appreciated.

Why choose this project?

The need for us to become responsible global citizens is getting bigger and bigger. All over the world the impact of environmental issues, such as climate change and pollution, are being felt. New Zealand boasts varied landscapes, including: subtropical forests, volcanic plateaus,vast plains, glaciers, sandy beaches and rugged mountains. Unfortunately, these fragile environments are suffering species loss, habitat loss and environmental degradation due to climatic instability and negative human impacts. Deforestation and natural disasters are also common in the North Island.

Role of the volunteer

On this project, you will rotate every one- two weeks to different areas around the North Island, giving you the opportunity to work on a variety of conservation activities. Volunteers work in groups of 6-10 and are assigned their projects upon arrival. The reason for this being that the conservation work depends on seasonal conditions and conservation priorities at the time of the volunteer’s arrival.

Examples of projects on the North Island include:

• Planting trees in locations like Tawharanui Regional Park as part of ongoing restoration of this incredible landscape. This has allowed many endangered birds to be reintroduced, including the rare, iconic and flightless New Zealand Kiwi.
• Improving habitats through planting and weeding in Lake Serpentine for rare birds and fish, such as bitterns, patekes and mudfishs. This project focuses on restoring globally rare peat lakes in the Waikato area.
• Boosting biodiversity and providing additional habitats for native birds by removing exotic weeds, which threaten to swamp native plants on the North Shore of Lucas Creek, Auckland
• Doing track work to keep access to the interior open, controlling exotic plants, and (depending on the season) planting at the Hunua Ranges Regional Park. This project also involves habitat restoration for Dotterels, an endangered bird species, on shell banks at Duder Regional Park.

Skills Required

There are no specific skills required to participate in these projects, but you must have a love for the outdoors. Volunteers should be prepared to live and work as a member of a team. A positive attitude is essential. We also advise that you have a reasonable level of fitness in order to take part in all activities.

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