VOLUNTEER
Join our team to volunteer at one of Nelson's most unique and exciting charitable trusts. If you enjoy a dynamic environment, being outdoors, meeting new people, and are over 16 years of age, you may be eligible to volunteer at Natureland Wildlife Trust. Volunteers support our staff to create a welcoming, safe, fun site for nature play.
Please download our application form, and send in the completed form to volunteers@natureland.nz
Below are our available volunteering positions and information to help you decide where best you could help.
Keeping Natureland beautiful - Grounds work
We are looking for people who love working in the garden doing things like weeding, pruning, planting, keeping the bark and pebble areas raked and well presented, and watering (especially in summer). From time to time we also need to spread mulch and bark on the garden beddings. Your physical ability would determine which jobs you could do.
Optimum hours per week: 2 - 3 hrs
Hours of work: Any time during the hours of 8am – 4pm, any day of the week. Suitable work for individuals or groups.
If you can commit to at least a couple of hours per week/fortnight, we’d love to hear from you. This is the most flexible position available with you being able to choose your day and times.
Customer Service
Have you worked in a retail shop or have customer service experience? We are looking for volunteers to work in the retail shop and includes duties such as – ticketing, retail sales, making coffee for sale (you would be trained on the coffee machine), knowledge of the park for advising visitors, and great customer service as the front facing role for visitors to our zoo.
Optimum hours per week: 4 – 5 hrs
Hours of work: 9.15am – 2pm
Days of the week: Sunday to Friday
Ideally you would have a set day per week or fortnight. You must be able to start at 9.15am,
however the end time is negotiable.
Volunteers would be rostered according to their availability.
Fix it helpers
We are looking for tradespeople or general handy-people who can volunteer some time in the areas of:
Plumbing, Electrical, Carpentry, general fix-it jobs like fencing for the grounds/pens and perching for the birds.
Hours of work: whenever you can spare the time
Days of the week: Any day
Maybe you would be happy to come in once a fortnight / month and see what’s needed or be on call for when we need assistance.
Food preparation and dishes for the animals
Our animals rely on us to get their food just right – every day. We are looking for help with cutting up the food (vegetables, fruit), weighing food (pellets, fruit and vegetables), and washing dishes. You must be able to skillfully and safely use sharp knives, have good kitchen hygiene, and follow the strict diet sheets. Maybe you would just prefer to wash their dishes which is also incredibly important for the animal health & hygiene.
Optimum hours per week: 3 - 4 hrs
Hours of work: 8.15am start
Days of the week: Any day of the week
Food preparation takes around 2-3 hours in the morning and washing dishes takes around 2 hours.
Suitable work for individuals or groups. If you could commit to at least one day per week / fortnight, we’d love to hear from you.
Volunteers would be rostered according to their availability.
Keeper Assistant
If you have a passion for working with animals, then being a keeper’s assistant is the place for you. You will be helping our keeper with the care of our domestic animals. This role requires bending down and physical lifting so won’t be for everyone. Our domestic animals include Alpacas, Goats, Sheep, Pigs, Rabbits, Ducks and Chickens. Oh! – and you must be happy to clean up their poos and there’s lots of it. It is also an important job as it keeps them healthy, happy and safe. If you are interested in a longer-term zoo career, this would be a great way to start and learn about the animals.
Optimum hours per week: Minimum 3 hours
Hours of work: 8.15am start
Days of the week: Any day of the week
Volunteers would be rostered according to their availability.