The Quarantine Island/Kamau Taurua Community focus on the ecological restoration of Quarantine Island. This Island is listed as a Historic Area with Heritage NZ and the Community help to care, protect and enhance the Island's ecology, biodiversity and heritage. Quarantine Island was once a completely bush-clad forest that was cut down to make way for quarantine buildings and farming.
The Quarantine Island/Kamau Taurua Community are currently looking for a Part-time Mahi Day Coordinator to provide support to the Island's employee Resident Keeper, who lives on the Island.
In this role you will be:
- Helping to oversee groups of between 20 - 30 volunteers according to best practice guidelines
- Overseeing volunteer Mahi Days and orientation (held 1 - 2 times a month)
- Assisting on occasion with Welcome Days (held on the last Sat of each Month)
- Helping to arrange biodiversity-related events on the island
- Overseeing volunteers as they re-establish/replant diverse native vegetation on the Island
- Overseeing volunteers as they engage in the predator control of mammalian pests (all training provided)
- Organising volunteers to perform weed control, beach clean-up, seedling release and maintenance tasks
- Overseeing volunteer planting activities and assisting volunteers to care for native seedlings
- Working alongside other QIKT Community members who live on the mainland
- Helping to promote/advertise the Island on social media to boost volunteer engagement
- Linking in with other organisations in the community
Training/Skills Gained:
- Training and support will be provided relating to all activities carried out on the island
- You will be working alongside, and learning from, the Keeper (Resident Manager) and other volunteers
- You may also be working alongside community members off the island
What are the benefits of the role?
- Gain experience in inducting and leading a team of volunteers
- You will be meeting like-minded people
- You will be working alongside passionate kaitiaki who have an infectious ability to inspire others
- Your work supports the work of other volunteers and the overall conservation goals of the charity
- You will be sharing similar values of social justice with others who care about the natural environment
- Volunteers find spending time together to care for, and enhance, the island is deeply satisfying & rejuvenating
- You will be encouraging and modelling a sustainable, caring and cooperative society that involves young people
- You will be protecting NZ heritage
- The role benefits the organisation by providing support to the Keeper
Requirements
- Public speaking and group facilitation skills
- Enthusiasm and passion for ecological restoration
- Gardening skills
- Knowledge of NZ biodiversity, natural history and nature conservation is preferred, but not essential
- Ideally you are someone who can foster relationships with individuals and community groups
- Social media and admin skills & experience: Instagram, Facebook, Canva et al
- Photography skills are beneficial but not essential
Personal and physical requirements include:
- Walking and working on steep inclines and uneven surfaces
- Some heavy lifting, long periods of standing, lots of walking/bending on steep inclines
- Leadership skills, independent, able to follow and give instructions while overseeing a team
- Friendly, warm, enthusiastic, energetic, enjoys outdoors
- Cares about the charities values; ecological restoration, heritage, sustainability, social justice, and spirituality
Time commitment
- 10hrs/week on average (varies depending on time of year)
- Mahi Days as needed, usually occur 1 - 2 times a month (Start at 9:30 and finish at 3:30)
- Welcome Days occur on the last Sat of each month
- Volunteering is busier/more frequent over the Summer Season (E.g. Feb runs 10 days in 14)
- Please note: Boat access only, charges may apply ($10 - $20 depending on group size)
- Boat transport options and all other details can be found on quarantineisland@org.nz or by emailing quarantineisland@org.nz when you apply
Getting started
The first step is to express your interest by filling out the form below.
We will then put you in touch directly with the organisation for more information on the role and how to proceed.
Apply for this role:
Dunedin