Environmental Conservation Helper
The program
This amazing, collaborative conservation program is a long term project with various government, businesses, community organizations, universities and volunteers to pool resources to deliver significant environmental and community benefits in the Punakaiki area. A significant part of the program is restoring ex mining land into a nature reserve, creating an ecological corridor that spans from the mountains to sea, reflecting the rich biodiversity of the area that includes the only nesting ground of the vulnerable Westland Petrel, the natural habitat of the Blue Penguin and the sand plain forests bearing Nikau Palms and Rata trees many hundreds of years old. Volunteers will work on restoring biodiversity of the area, support species protection, help to strengthen community networks, and provide enhanced conservation land for the benefit of future generations. From working with the most threatened species, to assisting in environmental restoration, volunteers make a huge difference on this program.
Goals of this Project:
- Help to protect the Blue Penguin and Westland Petrel
- Create a nature reserve from ex mining land and restore native forest
- Enhance and protect wetland ecology
- Enable inter-cultural exchange between all parties and teach international visitors more about environmental practices and New Zealand
Volunteers play an integral role in achieving the goal of this program - to create an ecological corridor that spans from the mountains to sea, restoring ex mining land to create an amazing nature reserve. Volunteers work to conserve, restore, rehabilitate and manage land using conservation tools and people power to improve conservation land and to provide access for people to enjoy and appreciate nature. Like many conservation programs, a willing volunteer labor force is essential to the success of the program. Volunteers will assist program staff with tasks that are essential to conservation projects such as planting, weeding, removing invasive pest plants, seed collection, plant propagation at the on-site nursery (where all native plants for the project are grown) and creating walking tracks. Working in a team of up to 10 other international volunteers, teams work alongside local communities, environmental groups, universities and conservation experts on well-planned and managed, safe, valid and essential projects. Full training is given by project team leaders. Volunteers gain a wonderful opportunity to learn about conservation issues and learn practical conservation skills and can earn references and certificates.
Volunteers will contribute in a number of ways and on any number of environmental or wildlife projects and can expect to undertake the following tasks:
- Plant propagation
- Tree planting
- Walking trail construction
- Wildlife surveys
- Seed collection
- Weed control
- Heritage restoration
Typical day
A volunteer’s work day on this project will generally last between 4 and 6 hours and while we ask all volunteers to be flexible in this regard, a typical daily schedule is likely to go something like this:
7:30am Breakfast at the accommodation
8:00am Walk or bus to the project site
8:30am Pre-start meeting with the project supervisor
9:00am VOLUNTEERING DUTIES START
Lunch is taken at the project site.
3:00pm VOLUNTEERING DUTIES END
3:10pm Debrief with the project supervisor
3:30pm Walk or bus back to accommodation
Afternoons and evenings are free to relax, keep in touch with friends and family (please note that wifi may not be available at the project location) and explore the local area.
6:30pm Dinner.
Volunteers help to prepare the evening meal.
Free-time activities
Program Requirements
Included Services
- Airport pick-up on arrival
- Orientation & full safety briefing
- Accommodation
- Food & Meals
- 24/7 local support network
- Project placement & onsite supervision
- LV Registration Fee included
Volunteers arrive into Christchurch airport and are booked on the 2:15pm West Coast Shuttle to Greymouth where they are met by local team.
The local team will provide an orientation lasting around one hour using a visual presentation (DVD), with additional information provided by a presenter. Volunteers are also required to complete a Volunteer Registration Form at this point, including our local teams Conditions of Participation.
The first weekend is free time for volunteers, though some travel may occasionally be required on Sunday if you are going to a very remote project location. Volunteers will be advised when their Team Leader will pick them up for the first project – usually 8am on Monday morning (times may vary slightly by season).
Additional inductions take place on every project site, carried out by the onsite Team Leader, before the volunteers begin each activity. These cover the conservation aims of the specific project, how it will be carried out, including any instruction or training required for the volunteers, essential safety information, the facilities on-site and nearby.
- Arrival Day: FRIDAY PRIOR TO 2PM
- Departure Day: FRIDAY
- Arrival Airport: Christchurch International Airport, Christchurch, New Zealand (code: CHC)
This program offers a range of accommodation options dependent on the project location. Volunteers may be hosted in a volunteer house, caravan, hostel, bunkhouse or camp site (tents are provided). A great way to experience the great outdoors!
Accommodation is shared and volunteers should bring their own sleeping bag and small pillow. The program fee covers accommodation from the Friday of arrival until the Thursday preceding the final day volunteering. Volunteers should fly out Friday evening or arrange their own accommodation that night.
All the usual amenities are available in each location including western-style bathrooms, laundry facilities (either on-site or nearby), kitchen, communal areas for relaxing and hot showers. Wi-Fi may not always be available in remote locations.
Dates & Fees
Details on arrival
Program fees
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