Join the team at Ngā Manu
Volunteer at Ngā Manu
Do you enjoy being part of a team, love being immersed in nature and want to make a difference to your community?
Our volunteers are a vital part of Ngā Manu and we would love your support. We welcome volunteers from all walks of life, and have different roles depending on your skills, experience, availability and fitness. You must be over 15 years old to apply and acceptance.
available Volunteer roles at Ngā Manu
Ngā Manu Kids' Party Host
Youth & Children | (Some)Afternoons / Weekends. Love working with kids and nature? Become a Kids' Party Host at Ngā Manu! You'll lead fun, nature-focused activities and guided walks for groups of up to 15 children (ages 5–10), making their birthday celebrations unforgettable.
Theo's Cottage Housekeeping
Theo's Cottage is one of Ngā Manu's best visitor experiences. Guests get to experience the reserve after the public have gone and are treated to a stunning native bird dawn chorus. The housekeeping team cleans and resets the cottage ready for new arrivals. This role is flexible in terms of days and times and is shared among a group of committed housekeepers - join the team now. We require you to be flexible with days and times, plus have an eye for detail and pride in your work. We would need one to two hours per clean, up to 1-3 times a week.
Visitor Centre Host
If you enjoy interacting with people and adding value in a public facing conservation-based role this is perfect for you. Nga Manu Nature Reserve is looking for a great allrounder to welcome our visitors and sell our experiences and tours. You will be the face of Nga Manu welcoming our visitors in our visitor centre. The role includes explaining what to see and do at Ngā Manu, selling admissions, tours and retail merchandise. You'll add real value to Nga Manu and conservation broadly by offering and upselling tours, experiences and programmes. There are some general duties such as retail display, ensuring the shop and visitor centre is presented well, and maintaining our visitors' facilities including bathrooms when required.
Gardeners
Join our gardening crew and help Nga Manu Nature Reserve with its conservation efforts and looking beautiful for its visitors. If you love gardening, we need you to be part of our team to ensure the reserve looks its best at all times of the year. We're keen to find people to help with weeding, light pruning, some heavier work if it's easy and safe, and perhaps assisting with plant propagation and planting. All equipment is supplied, and tasks are allocated with consultation. You'll have a good knowledge of native plants, a desire to get rid of weeds, be physically fit and a team player. If you've got gaps in your knowledge don't worry as we can help with on-the-job training.
Maintenance Team Member
Do you love the idea of giving practical help to conservation and want to support an iconic local organisation? Then volunteering as a member of the maintenance team at Nga Manu Nature Reserve could be for you. Led by the Reserve Supervisor, the maintenance team volunteers are the quiet achievers of the reserve. From practical problem-solving to ongoing upkeep, their work adds real value by supporting conservation outcomes and ensuring the reserve remains a great place people love to visit and return to. If you’re handy, and love working with a team (and can nail a 5-minute quiz), you’ll fit right in. A trade ticket—plumber, electrician, carpenter, or painter—is a plus, but what really matters is enthusiasm and a can-do attitude. Maintenance team volunteers generally come together on Tuesdays and Thursdays, usually from 8:30 am to early afternoon. Hours are flexible and can be adjusted to fit your schedule. Occasionally, extra hands may be needed outside these times, but that’s always by request.