Conservation Projects 

You will be assigned a volunteer project before arrival in New Zealand. After your course in school has finished you should travel to your project. You will be picked up from the nearest public bus or train station and taken to the site by your project co-ordinator. Accommodation is on site as all the projects are in isolated parts of the country. Your co-ordinator will explain your daily routine which will vary from project to project and season to season. You will work alongside other volunteers and local staff to plant trees, clear bush, protect native birdlife, or other conservation jobs. During your time off you will be able to go for walks in the bush, swim in the rivers and lakes and generally relax and enjoy nature. It is important to be prepared for this time of isolation from the city as the only nightlife around are the local nocturnal birds! Most projects have limited access to the internet but it is a good idea to take some books and games with you.

Sample Conservation Projects in New Zealand

Driving Creek, Coromandel
The Railway, Pottery is a dream of the owner Barry Brickell. His enthusiasm for the land and nature has turned his dream into a reality with the operation of the Railway which was initially used to bring clay out of the hills to use for his pottery work. The voluntary work here is very important to the operation of the many different tasks that are undertaken here.

We also like to teach the helpers about nature and conservation, and to give an insight into native forest conditions. The Coromandel ranges were once fully fledged kauri forests. This has urged Barry to replenish his “bit” of land back into what it once was. The work includes planting young trees, but not just kauri. We plant rimu, miro, matai, kahikatea, totara, maire, and many of the smaller varieties of native trees and shrubs. We also have a manmade wetlands area, which we hope to have fenced in very soon, to keep the predator animals out as the wetlands are also a Wildlife Bird Sanctuary.

Duties:
Duties will change from day to day and season to season depending on the weather and what areas are being worked on at the time. However you can expect to do at least some of the following:
Clearing bush, weeding, seed collection, planting, nursery work, gathering firewood, painting and digging. You will also share in cooking meals and cleaning of the volunteer house where you will stay.

Coromandel is a small but friendly settlement that is strongly Maori in population. You can expect a good welcome at the local pub or to be invited to help collect seafood at the nearby beach. The Maori are very relaxed and open people who enjoy hospitality.

Nga Uruora, Kapiti
Nga Uruora - Kapiti Project Charitable Trust - is a community based conservation project with a big work program and an even bigger vision. Set up in 1997 to reverse the drastic decline of coastal forest, we’re aiming to create a continuous ribbon of bird-safe native forest running from Porirua through to Waikanae.

Nga Uruora taps into the phenomenal success of pest control on Kapiti and Mana Island, not only for inspiration, but to supply the Kapiti - Porirua Coast with an unequalled supply of tui, bellbirds kereru and rare kaka and kakariki. Nga Uruora’s programme of restoring and recreating bird-safe forest on the mainland means we're well on our way to having the best dawn chorus in urban NZ.

Duties:
Duties will be flexible depending on the weather conditions but will most likely include some of the following:
Weeding, seed collection, planting, nursery work, trapping and sighting animal/bird life.

You will stay with a host family in the local township and be able to visit nearby attractions in your time off. Wellington is a train ride away and day trips are possible.