 Conservation Volunteer New Zealand
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Conservation Volunteer New Zealand is a great way to enjoy the beautiful New Zealand environment while making a contribution to its practical conservation.
You volunteer as part of a team and get to meet people from across New Zealand and the world. |
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The programme’s base is in Auckland on the North Island, although you’ll find yourself in different locations on the North Island depending on the time of year and the conservation priorities throughout your programme.
Founded in 1982, Conservation Volunteers New Zealand runs a leading conservation volunteer programme, which enables you to protect, preserve and restore the unique and beautiful New Zealand environment.
Volunteers participate on projects in urban, regional and remote locations and include:
- Tree planting and seed collection
- Endangered species protection and weed control
- Fencing and walking trail construction
- Flora and fauna surveys and heritage restoration
- Environmental monitoring
Following your arrival, you’ll join a team of approximately six – ten volunteers and meet your Team Leader. The Leader provides all training required on-site, explains the conservation aims of the project and is responsible for the safe conduct and management of each team.
Once you’ve started the project, you’re likely to spend most of the time in regional areas, returning to Auckland only at the end of the placement. Projects normally run five days per week, with one or two days free for relaxing or sightseeing. Working hours are from 8am – 4pm daily, although this varies on some projects when required by seasonal conditions or project activities.
This is a great way to see New Zealand, as the team travels to a different location every week or two. This means that in a six-week programme, you’ll generally visit at least three different projects, and will usually undertake several different types of activity.
The types of projects you’ll work on will depend on the location, the season and the conservation priorities, although we do our best to ensure a variety of projects or locations during each programme.
Click here to read stories from past volunteers.
What to take with you
As space is limited, please keep your luggage to a maximum of 15 kg in a backpack. We suggest that you also take a small daypack to carry lunch, sunscreen, water bottle etc. The following items are essential:
- Backpack, long trousers and strong boots
- Wet weather clothing, long sleeved shirts, sleeping bag and mat
- Wide-brimmed sun hat, personal drink bottle and insect repellent
- Work / gardening gloves, sunscreen and sunglasses
- Mosquito net
From the Saturday that you arrive, 2 nights’ hostel accommodation is provided including breakfast (lunch and dinner is not included at the hostel) and a sightseeing trip. Once you have moved on from the hostel, all accommodation and 3 meals a day are included, seven days a week during your programme.
- Accommodation: This varies according to project and location. Typical accommodation can include caravans, hostels, shearers’ quarters, bunkhouses, and camping (we supply tents). Volunteers should bring a sleeping mat as well as a sleeping bag, and be prepared to share a room.
- Food: Basic but filling meals are included. Be prepared to help with the preparation of meals and cleaning up of dishes, plus some domestic duties as required. We can cater for vegetarians but if volunteers have very specific dietary requirements (for example, food allergies) they may need to provide their own food.
- Choose to start any Saturday throughout the year.
- Choose between a 1 – 6 week programme, or stay longer by adding additional weeks up to a maximum that your tourist visa will allow (normally 3 – 6 months).
- The programme finishes around 4 pm on a Friday.
- International flights are not included.
- Airport transfers are not included as part of the programme, although these can be arranged on request.
- All transport during the project is included. The team travels together in a minibus driven by the team leader.
- Please note that you only require a tourist visa to participate. To apply for your visa, please see www.immigration.govt.nz
- All of Twin’s volunteer placements are in partnership with recognised charities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) government ministries or registered agents, giving you the confidence of working with reputable organisations.
- Comprehensive insurance is available for each of the volunteer placements.
- Our local partner provides 24-hour support.
- There are no specific skills required to join the programme, just a willingness to get your hands dirty and to contribute to the experience within your team.
- Suitable for people who enjoy outdoor activities and have a reasonable level of fitness.
- Open to volunteers aged 18 to 70.
- All briefings, safety and project instructions are given in English.
Please remember that your contribution not only covers accommodation food and transport, but also is vital to the ongoing conservation efforts. All prices are in £ GBP Sterling:
- 1 week: 450
- 2 weeks: 550
- 3 weeks: 650
- 4 weeks: 720
- 5 weeks: 850
- 6 weeks: 950
- 1 additional week thereafter: 150
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