Volunteer in New Zealand

This program is located in one of the most picturesque cities in the world. You will join a small team of volunteers working to preserve, monitor, and re-establish our natural environment here in the Wellington region and beyond. Prepare yourself to encounter the challenges of 'hands on' conservation and environmental restoration work in our native forests, wildlife reserves, rugged coastlines, and offshore islands.

Our Aim

The aim of New Zealand program is twofold; first we provide much needed volunteer assistance to conservation groups and conservation projects within New Zealand. In return we offer our volunteers a unique and diverse experience that will expose them to many aspects of NZ conservation; this in turn will hopefully give our volunteers a greater understanding of conservation as a whole.

The Program

Volunteers form an integral part of our habitat restoration, wildlife monitoring and environmental/conservation research projects. The volunteer team is headquartered near to Wellington and our program area is based largely in the Greater Wellington region. However, several of our projects also provide the opportunities to work in other regions of New Zealand. The work that you will be involved with is typically a combination of direct habitat restoration (e.g. predator control, tree planting, invasive weed removal) and environmental/conservation research such as marine mammal monitoring and ecological projects.

Examples of projects we are currently involved with include:

• Replanting native forests (on the mainland and also on off-shore islands)
• Stream quality monitoring as part of a regional stream health project
• Sailing within Wellington harbour, recording sightings of dolphin and whale species (November - February only)
• Educational visits to Kapiti island - a key offshore sanctuary for New Zealand wildlife (weather permitting)
• Restoring degraded dune ecosystems
• Removing pest plants from several native ecosystems (e.g. dunes, forests)
• Monitoring and control of introduced predators for the protection of native wildlife
• New Zealand Fur Seal monitoring at several sites in the lower North Island
• Working in Kiwi bird sanctuaries to help preserve this national icon
• Trail construction and park maintenance within wildlife reserves
• Trash and weed removal from harbour islands- involves kayaking to the islands (summer only)

Please note that some projects are seasonal.

Program Location

New Zealand's capital city, Wellington, is perched on the shores of a deep natural harbour surrounded by wooded hills. The Wellington region encompasses diverse landforms, indigenous plants and wildlife, and an extensive and varied coastline. Wellington is a centre for threatened species management and has a number of captive breeding facilities working with some of our most rare bird, reptile, and insect species.

NZ Program Team Leader: Toby Malcolm
NZ Environment Programs Coordinator: Jim Kirkham

Program Requirements

As a volunteer on the New Zealand Nature Project you must:

• be 18 years old or over
• be from NZ, Australia, North or South America, UK, Europe, Japan, China, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, or South Africa. (Please note: if you're not from one of those countries, please submit the application form after you've confirmed you can obtain a NZ entry visa independently and mention this on the application form)
• have no major health problems
• be moderately fit (e.g. can hike for several hours over uneven/steep ground)
• be proficient in English
• possess initiative and an enthusiasm for the environment
• be willing to work, rain or shine

Program Schedule

You can join the program for as little as 2 weeks or as long as 6 months. All accommodation and meals will be provided for on the program. Volunteers will live in co-operative housing, sharing cooking and cleaning duties. Some nights are spent in the field in tents or cabins. No program is offered on public holidays. Please note it is not possible to guarantee that you will participate in a specific project during your time on the program - many projects are seasonal and weather dependent, and can also change due to demands of our project partners. However, you can contact the volunteer coordinator for further information on projects you are likely to participate in during the time you intend to volunteer.

The following links are examples of some of the projects you may participate in and also the kind of monthly schedule your team may follow (note this is a guide and your exact program may differ from this example):

Fur Seal study
Stream monitoring project
Otari Wilton's Bush re-vegetation project
Example of monthly program schedule

Program Cost

A US$350 application fee (fully refundable if you decide not to go) will secure your place on the program, with your program fee due for payment eight weeks before you begin your placement. You only pay your application fee once and then you can access any of GVN's volunteer programs over the next 5 years.

Your application fee includes the following benefits:

• Personal Staff Support
• Your New Zealand Program Guide
• Your Fundraising Guide and Software
• Access to Your Own Online Journal
• Online Video - Preparing For Your Trip
• Opportunities for Discounts on Airfares

Once your application fee is paid the remainder of the cost for your time in the New Zealand program is:

• Cost for 2 weeks - US $697
• Cost for 1 month - US $1297
• Cost for 6 weeks - US $1897
• Cost for 2 months - US $2497
• Cost for 10 weeks - US $3097
• Cost for 3 months - US $3697
• Longer placements also available up to 6 months.

The in-country fee covers placement arrangement, accommodation, food, project costs, supervision, an airport pickup, and all transportation to and from the field projects.

The other costs you will need to meet are return travel to Wellington in New Zealand, travel insurance, transport back to the airport on departure, departure taxes (US$20 from New Zealand), and a travel visa (if required).

Your program fee includes the following benefits:

• Your In-Country Fee
• In-Country Support
• 24hr Emergency Line
• Membership To The Change Makers Club
• International Travel Advice
• Letter Of Completion

Apply for the New Zealand Program

Your application process is free and seamless and if you are successful we will provide you with a choice of application fee payment options that include a secure online service. We also are one of the few organizations that offer a full money back guarantee on your application fee if you decide not to go.
Click here to apply for the New Zealand program.

Frequently Asked Questions

We have put together the following comprehensive page to answer any further questions that you might have. Please click here.

Volunteer Journals

If you would like to read about the experiences of some of our volunteers who are currently in New Zealand, you can do so here. This journal service is provided free to all our volunteers.
Click here

Articles

Read articles written about our volunteers in New Zealand.
Click here.

Book Resources

We have a selection of books available that you may find useful if you decide to volunteer in New Zealand.
Click here

Application Process

All applicants will be notified by email as to whether their application has been successful.

(1) Complete the Application Form: Fill out the application form below. Upon receipt of the form we will assess your suitability for the program within two working days.

(2) Contact You: If you are successful we will then email you a letter of acceptance.

(3) Decision Point: Once you have read through the letter of acceptance and we have answered any questions or concerns that you might have, it is time to pay your US $350 application fee to secure your place on the program. Please note that we will fully refund your application fee if you decide not to go.

(4) Confirmation: Once the application fee is paid, our volunteer partner will contact you to ensure everything is organized. We will also send you the link to our program guide which covers topics such as country information, travel links, visa application process, fundraising ideas and much more!

(5) Communication & Support: Throughout the application process, we are committed to working with you to answer any of your questions or concerns. During your placement we are also available as a form of support to you as a volunteer and will email you while in country to discuss how the program is going.

To apply for this program, click here