Volunteer Abroad New Zealand: Nature Conser­va­tion

You do not need any special prior knowledge or skills to take part in the project. Only a sound knowledge of English and physical fitness are required, as some of the work you will be doing will be strenuous and involve long hikes in rough terrain to the actual work location. You may also need a visa for your stay. You will need an NZeTA to enter the country, which you can apply for online. Check with the Foreign Office beforehand or contact the NATUCATE team directly.

Before you start your journey, we will advise you on your travel plans and travel insurance. We will reserve your place in the project and help you plan your itinerary. In addition, you will be briefed and provided with food at an information event upon arrival at the respective location. Transfers between the various project locations in Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington are organised at the volunteers' expense. Throughout your stay in New Zealand, you can contact us at any time if you have any questions or problems and the local team will also support you.

You will need travel insurance to start your volunteering work with Natucate. We can provide you with all the necessary information. In general you need to talk to your doctor and make sure you are vaccinated against Morbilli, Mumps and Rubella. In case of injuries it is also advised to be vaccinated against Tetanus. For current information and warnings regarding your destination you should check out the homepage of the foreign department. In general New Zealand is a safe country without any severe sicknesses. Still you should inform yourself beforehand on the foreign department’s website about possible risks and how to prevent them.

No special work equipment is required during your time on the project. However, you will need outdoor equipment with hiking or work shoes, robust work trousers, and long-sleeved shirts. You should also take a drink bottle, work gloves, a rain jacket and rain trousers. Sun cream, headgear, and insect repellent are also highly recommended.

We will support you during your organization and planning process. You will have to book your flight to Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch on your own. When you arrive at the airport you can take a bus or shuttle to get to the city. You will receive all the information you need to arrive at the bureau. If you want to change location during your stay you will have to pay for the transfer on your own.

After you arrive in the city, there will be an introductory meeting in the office on Friday at 11 am. You will need to organise your transport from the airport to the office or accommodation. There you will receive all the information you need for the project. You will have the first weekend off and start work on Monday morning. Transfers during the assignments will be organised for you.

After your arrival at the office of the respective location, you will be introduced to the assignment locations and the activities that await you at an information event. You will have the first weekend off and set off with your team on Monday. The respective assignments are designed to last at least two weeks, with you generally working from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays. Some assignments, for example in remote regions, are designed for 10 days, followed by a few days off.

Your work depends on what kind of project location you pick. You will be actively involved in different types of environment and nature conservation. You will help protect the environment by planting trees, constructing hiking trails and fences. Furthermore you will be part of a project that monitors the environment and wildlife. You will also help cleaning up beaches and traditional sites. Volunteers will be distributed to the project sites depending on the current demands.

To ensure a greater learning effect, the group size will consist of 3 to 8 volunteers.

Your accommodation depends on the project and its location. Volunteers are accommodated in their own volunteer houses.

Depending on the available space it is possible to be placed with your partner or friend. You can also apply as a group if you want to. Depending on the open space you will have the chance to work on the same environmental project.

You will be provided with three meals daily. The meals will be prepared by the whole team. For breakfast you will get cereals, bread or toast, some coffee or tea. For lunch you can prepare yourself a sandwich and have some fresh fruits. In the evening the whole team will eat a proper dinner.

A vegetarian / vegan / glutenfree diet can be implemented in the project, especially as the meals are prepared independently. Unfortunately, special requests or diets that take allergies into account, for example, cannot be catered for. Please let us know in advance about any dietary requirements.

You generally work from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the week, whereby the times depend on the specific circumstances of the project. The projects usually last two weeks, with weekends off.

In New Zealand you can find all kinds of activities. You can spend your free time outside in the beautiful nature and try out some outdoor activities like kayaking or surfing. You can also try Bungee jumping and parachuting if you like. If you want you can also just go for a nice hike or take a boat tour through the fjords.

On site you will be working with a team of volunteers and project leaders. The experts will be your supervisors and may help you with any concerns.

During your time on the project, you will be provided with meals and accommodation. At the camp, you will generally only incur costs for the use of washing machines. There are additional costs for optional excursions in your free time and, if applicable, for your transfers between different locations. There are also costs for accommodation and meals in your free time. If you change location after a project or take a break, you can withdraw additional cash from ATMs in the cities.

Mobile phone reception may be very poor on assignments outside the cities. However, WiFi should be available in the accommodation. You can also always find a café or library with an internet connection during your weekend excursions.

The weather conditions totally depend on the project’s location. The North has a tropical summer and the South has cold winters with temperatures below zero. Due to coastal influences the whole country has a rather mild climate. The further you go south the colder it gets. January and February are the warmest months and July is the coldest month.

Yes, alcohol is strictly prohibited during the whole project. You may not drink at the project site, in the bureaus or vehicles. You may drink alcohol during your free time and go to a pub. Smoking is also prohibited.