Friends of the Earth

The Facts

Project details:
In New Zealand we work with a conservation charity called CVNZ. Founded as CVA in 1982 they are the biggest conservation charity in Australia and have now started operations in New Zealand. They are involved in a range of projects around the North Island of New Zealand, current examples of which include the creation of a network of walking paths for Hamlins Hill Regional Park in Mutukaroa and construction and invasive weeding projects at the Hunua Ranges Regional Park and trips to Waiheke Island where the project involves walking track maintenance near a crescent shaped beach on the south side of the island known for its mature coastal forest. The beach is home to the rare NZ Dotterell which can be observed on the beach. Some teams travel further afield to Whirinaki Forest just south of Rotorua’s geothermal region – the volunteers will help to restore native birdlife habitats and enjoy discovering geothermal activity on a bush walk in the forest.

Why the project needs volunteers:
The work of the projects is important in helping to preserve, monitor and re-establish the natural environment in rural areas of New Zealand. These projects are dependent on volunteers to run.

What kind of skills you need to go on this type of project:
Conservation volunteers will be hands on people who love the outdoors. You should be in good health and reasonably fit. Be prepared to take part to the best of your ability and work well in a team. You must be prepared for some hard physical work, Conservation volunteers need to be willing to get stuck in and get their hands dirty. You will need to be flexible and be prepared to move around the country and stay in various types of accommodation. Conservation is the priority and you must be willing to go where you are needed.

Your role as a volunteer:
There are a variety of conservation projects and the nature of work will vary depending on the time of year you visit. Typical projects include: creation of walking paths, trail maintenance, weed removal as well as other ad-hoc activities and manual labour jobs to support the conservation projects.

Project days are usually 5 days per week, typically Monday to Friday, starting at 8am and finishing at 4pm. However, this does vary, particularly during extreme weather conditions. Occasional projects in remote locations will see you working up to 10 days in a row, followed by a 4 day break.

Where the project is based:
Prior to your project you will spend 2 nights in Auckland. During this time you will have the option of a trip to the Bay of Islands or a sightseeing trip around Auckland City. You will then transfer to your project which will be based around the Auckland area.

Your accommodation in Auckland will be in a multi-share dormitory in a hostel:
There is a wide variety of accommodation at the projects including hostel-style, houses and camping (your project will provide tents and equipment). You will need to bring a sleeping bag and sleeping mat.

You will need to arrive into Auckland Airport (AKL) on the specified arrival dates.