All activities

Introduction

This national overview of all our volunteer activities may help you find a volunteer programme that interests you.

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.

    View by region

    Northland

    Volunteer on the Kauri Coast

    Join a DOC ranger for a day and help to preserve our beautiful natural environment and carry out conservation work.

    Whangārei volunteer Wednesday

    Third Wednesday of the month: Spend the day with a DOC ranger, working on a variety of projects including weed control, planting and habitat manipulation.

    Auckland

    Camp host on Aotea/Great Barrier Island

    Applications are closed for the season.

    Kawau Island volunteering

    There are a few different types of volunteer opportunities on Kawau Island.

    Motuihe island volunteering

    DOC led volunteering is not currently available at Motuihe. We encourage you to look at opportunities with Motuihe Trust.

    Motuora 5-day volunteer programme

    Applications are invited for Monday–Friday volunteering to support the Motuora Ranger.

    Rangitoto-Motutapu volunteers

    Applications are invited for Friday–Monday volunteering to support rangers with mahi on Rangitoto and/or Motutapu.

    Seal Observation Squad volunteers

    Seal Observation Squad volunteers will support DOC rangers by responding to call-outs from the public about distressed seals during seal haul out season.

    Te Hauturu-o-Toi/Little Barrier Island volunteering

    Get involved with maintenance or weeding on Te Hauturu-o-Toi/Little Barrier Island.

    Tiritiri Matangi Island 7-day general maintenance

    Get involved on Tiritiri Matangi.

    Volunteer hihi field assistant on Tiritiri Matangi Island

    We are looking for a volunteer hihi field assistant to help with management of the breeding season for October 2023 to March 2024.

    Coromandel

    Dotterel minders on the Coromandel Peninsula

    August - March each year: Become a dotterel minder on your local beach during the dotterel breeding season.

    Bay of Plenty

    Volunteer days in Rotorua

    Come along to help DOC rangers and community groups enhance local gems in Rotorua.

    Volunteer days in Whakatāne

    Become a kaitiaki/guardian and help DOC rangers and community groups look after our beautiful taonga/treasures around the Eastern Bay of Plenty area.

    Volunteer in the Tauranga area

    Help DOC rangers and community groups enhance local gems in the Tauranga area.

    East Coast

    Whirinaki biodiversity monitoring volunteer opportunities

    This volunteer activity is now full for the upcoming season.

    Taranaki

    Egmont National Park hut wardens

    Ongoing/dates vary: Volunteer hut wardens are required to help out during summer and holiday weekends at various huts in Egmont National Park.

    Manawatu/Whanganui

    Whanganui volunteer activities

    Ongoing/dates vary: The Whanganui area needs volunteers year round to help with many conservation and recreation projects.

    Hawke’s Bay

    Support weed control and native planting at Ahuriri Estuary

    Join a dedicated group of DOC volunteers to protect the wide range of habitats that support over 70 species of birds.

    Wairarapa

    Project Kākā ground control at Donnelly Flat

    Ongoing/dates vary: Help restore the forest and wildlife in Tararua Forest Park with Project Kākā.

    Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre volunteer projects

    Ongoing/dates vary: Find out about volunteer activities at Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre and reserve.

    Tararua Forest Park hut wardens

    October - April: Volunteers are needed during peak times at several different huts in the Tararua Forest Park.

    Wellington/Kapiti

    Kapiti Island summer season volunteers

    Volunteers positions for the 2023/24 season are now mostly full. If you are available in November, or you’d like to join the waiting list, please read all the requirements below to check if the role is suitable for you before applying.

    Matiu/Somes Island volunteer opportunities

    Ongoing/dates vary: Located in Te Whanganui-a-Tara/Wellington Harbour, Matiu/Somes Island Scientific and Historic Reserve is a tranquil retreat for wildlife and visitors.

    Nelson/Tasman

    Angelus volunteer hut wardens

    Applications for the 2023/24 season will open in September 2023.

    Blue Lake hut wardens

    Applications for the 2023/24 season will open in September 2023.

    Kerr Bay camp hosts

    Applications for the 2023/24 season will open in September 2023.

    Motueka Nursery volunteers

    Every Monday: Get together every Monday to help nurture and raise native plants.

    Nelson Lakes biodiversity volunteer ranger

    Applications are now closed for the 2023/24 summer season.

    Onetahuti volunteer camp hosts

    Dates for the upcoming season are currently full. New applicants will be added to a waiting list.

    Tableland volunteer hut wardens

    Dates for the upcoming season are currently full. New applicants will be added to a waiting list.

    Travers-Sabine hut wardens

    Applications for the 2023/24 season will open in September 2023.

    Volunteer for Wasp Wipeout

    Help DOC staff protect native species from one of the most damaging insect pests and volunteer for Wasp Wipeout operations in Nelson Tasman.

    West Bay camp hosts

    Applications for the 2023/24 season will open in September 2023.

    Marlborough

    Camp Bay camp hosts

    October to April each year: Situated along the Queen Charlotte Track and close to Punga Cove, this is a popular camping site. 2 weeks minimum time commitment.

    Kenepuru Head camp hosts

    October to April each year: A perfectly situated campsite for boating in the Sounds and enjoying the nearby Queen Charlotte Track. 2 weeks minimum time commitment.

    Molesworth Acheron Cottage camp host

    October to April each year: Become a camp host at Acheron Cottage, an idyllic, remote campground at Molesworth Station.

    Molesworth Recreation Reserve Cob Cottage camp host

    October to April each year: Become a camp host at Cob Cottage, an idyllic, remote campground at Molesworth. 2 weeks minimum time commitment.

    Momorangi camp hosts

    May to December: Situated in a picturesque Bay along the Queen Charlotte Drive, this is a popular and well-equipped campsite 14 km out of Picton. Two weeks minimum time commitment.

    Nydia Lodge volunteer hut wardens

    October to April each year: This is a popular lodge situated on the Nydia walking track. 2 weeks minimum time commitment.

    Onamalutu camp host

    October to April each year: DOC needs volunteers to host the campsite at Onamalutu Scenic Reserve. 2 weeks minimum time commitment.

    Rarangi Beach camp host

    Between October and April each year you can become a camp host at Rarangi. Situated in Cloudy Bay, this area is a popular walking and picnicking area. 2 weeks minimum time commitment.

    Te Pākeka/Maud Island (Scientific Reserve) volunteers

    This is an opportunity to volunteer on a closed scientific reserve island in Te Hoiere/Pelorus Sound.

    Volunteer for Wasp Wipeout

    Help DOC staff protect native species from one of the most damaging insect pests and volunteer for Wasp Wipeout operations in Nelson Tasman.

    Whatamango Bay camp hosts

    October to April each year: Become a camp host at Whatamango Bay Campsite, just 10 km out of Picton. 2 weeks minimum time commitment.

    West Coast

    Buller conservation volunteer group

    Every second Tuesday: Buller conservation volunteers meet every two weeks, year round, to work on a variety of interesting conservation projects.

    Franz Josef campsite hosts

    November 2023 – April 2024: Volunteer for two weeks or more at Ottos/Macdonalds Campsite over the summer period.

    Welcome Flat Hut volunteer warden

    Spend two weeks or more volunteering at Welcome Flat Hut in Westland Tai Poutini National Park.

    Canterbury

    Banks Peninsula volunteer hut wardens

    We are currently not accepting new volunteers for Banks Peninsula hut wardens.

    Geraldine camp hosts

    October - April: Volunteer as a camp host at a South Canterbury campsite for three week or more over the summer.

    Mount Somers volunteer hut wardens

    We are now actively recruiting volunteer hut wardens for the 2022-23 summer season. Spend a minimum of one week volunteering throughout the season (Oct-April) at the Woolshed Creek or Pinnacles huts on the Mt Somers Track.

    Mueller volunteer hut wardens

    We are recruiting hut wardens for the 2023/24 summer season.

    Peel Forest camp hosts

    We are now actively recruiting volunteer camp hosts for summer 2022-23. Volunteer camp hosts need to volunteer for a minimum of 2 weeks throughout the course of the season (Oct-April) .

    Timaru wildlife response volunteers

    We are currently not accepting new volunteers. Volunteers will support DOC rangers by responding to call-outs from the public about injured, distressed or deceased wildlife within the Timaru area.

    Otago

    Catlins conservation trip

    The 2023 trip is now fully booked. You can still register if you would like to be added to the waitlist.

    Clutha planting days

    Join DOC on a day out restoring and enhancing habitat for the native freshwater fish species that call the lower Clutha River/Mata-Au catchment home.

    Golden Point historic site maintenance

    6 - 10 November 2023: Volunteers will help with the repair and maintenance of this significant historic site.

    Nugget Point Lighthouse Reserve – summer rangers

    13 November 2023 - 4 March 2024: Volunteer rangers are needed to provide assistance and education to visitors, as well as to maintain facilities at Nugget Point Lighthouse Reserve.

    Papatowai Campsite - maintenance

    19 - 23 February 2024: Assistance is required for general tidy up of the campsite and area surrounding the DOC house at Papatowai.

    Sandfly Bay - wildlife viewing ranger

    Mid-October 2023 to mid-April 2024: Help protect the wildlife at Sandfly Bay by teaching visitors about it.

    Sandfly Bay volunteer feedback

    Registered Sandfly Bay volunteers use this form to submit feedback about behaviour of visitors relating to yellow-eyed penguins and sea lions.

    Skippers Point School – maintenance

    19 - 23 February 2024: Help out with maintenance on the old historic Skippers Point School.

    Fiordland

    Fiordland – lakeside hut maintenance

    4 – 8 March 2024: Volunteers will carry out maintenance on a variety of different huts around two or three lakes in Fiordland.

    Milford Road – historic maintenance

    15 - 19 January 2024: Explore Milford Sound/ Piopiotahi while helping with a range of work on local walks and historic sites.

    Port Craig Hut and South Coast Track - maintenance

    4 - 11 June 2024: Volunteers will help with track work, clearing vegetation and minor structure maintenance.

    Southland

    Mavora Lakes Hut and facility maintenance

    6 - 10 November 2023: Volunteer tasks include hut, campsite, and hut maintenance, and setting up hut water supplies before the busy summer season starts.

    Moturau Moana – historic native garden maintenance

    9 – 13 October 2023: Volunteer tasks will include tree trimming, weeding, planting, garden maintenance and tidying.

    Piano Flat – historic water race restoration

    Volunteers will carry out maintenance on the historic water race in the Piano Flat area, the only known operational water race in Southland.

    Port Pegasus/Pikihatiti – historic tin mining site maintenance

    March 2024: Volunteer at Port Pegasus/Pikihatiti maintaining historical sites in the area.

    Southland - backcountry track maintenance

    13 - 17 November 2023: Tasks will include clearing wind falls, clearing vegetation using scrub bars and hedge trimmers and remarking the tracks using orange poles and triangles.

    Southland – preservation of historic relics

    22 – 26 January 2024: This is a wonderful opportunity to discover several of Southland's historic relics and help to preserve them for future generations.

    Stewart Island/Rakiura - Raroa historic house and garden maintenance

    29 April - 3 May 2024: Tasks include painting, cleaning, weeding and basic building maintenance.

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