Ranger (Fixed-Term)

Department of Conservation (DOC); Karamea; On-site; NZD 62,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Conservation (DOC) seeks a hands‑on summer team member to support heritage and visitor operations in Karamea. You’ll help maintain Heaphy Track, Oparara Basin, Kohaihai Campsite and other sites, with a mix of backcountry and front-country duties.

Role focuses on maintenance of tracks, huts, campsites and visitor facilities, plus vegetation control and asset upkeep. Remote locations involve overnight trips; a strong safety mindset is essential.

Qualifications

• Full drivers' licence required.
• Experience with track maintenance or backcountry maintenance is desirable.
• NZQA qualifications with use of chainsaws, weed eaters, scrub bars and 4WDs are advantageous.
• Strong health and safety focus and good physical fitness.
• Ability to work independently and in a team.

Responsibilities

• Manage assigned project work and day-to-day operational tasks.
• Maintain backcountry and front-country tracks and visitor infrastructure.
• Carry out hut, campsite, and amenity maintenance and cleaning.
• Support conservation and heritage work programmes as required.
• Engage positively with visitors to provide a safe outdoor experience.
• Work in remote locations including overnight or multi-day trips.

Skills

Full driver’s licence

Track maintenance

Vegetation control

Chainsaws/weed eaters scrub bars

Backcountry operations

First Aid certificate

Education

NZQA qualifications with chainsaws/weed eaters/4WDs

Tools

4WDs

Job description

• Come spend your summer with our Karamea based team maintaining amazingly wild visitor experiences
• Mix of front-country and backcountry work, including tracks, huts, campsites, and visitor facilities.
• With a small team and many visitor sites to look after, you’ll get a huge breath of practical conservation skills and experiences to jet propel your conservation career.
• Diverse role across heritage, visitor, and conservation operations with no two days the same.
• $62,192–$67,446 depending on skills and experience.
• Full-time fixed-term position November – May 2027 based in Karamea

• Come spend your summer with our Karamea based team maintaining amazingly wild visitor experiences
• Mix of front-country and backcountry work, including tracks, huts, campsites, and visitor facilities.
• With a small team and many visitor sites to look after, you’ll get a huge breath of practical conservation skills and experiences to jet propel your conservation career.
• Diverse role across heritage, visitor, and conservation operations with no two days the same.
• $62,192–$67,446 depending on skills and experience.
• Full-time fixed-term position November – May 2027 based in Karamea

Our vision: Nature is thriving in Aotearoa | Te Oranga o te Ao Tūroa

Mō te tūranga | About the role

We are currently seeking to fill a fixed-term summer position based in Karamea, working within the Heritage and Visitor team across some of New Zealand's most iconic public conservation areas, including the Heaphy Track, Oparara Basin, and Kohaihai Campsite.

This is a hands‑on, varied role that will see you contributing to the maintenance and enhancement of visitor facilities and conservation assets while working in remote and rugged environments. No two days are the same, with opportunities to develop a broad range of practical conservation and recreation management skills.

• If you’re looking to an opportunity to live and work a bit on the wild side, then this could be your opportunity to experience that without having to make any long-life commitments. The position will be focussed on:
• Managing assigned project work and day-to-day operational tasks
• Maintaining both backcountry and front-country tracks and visitor infrastructure
• Carrying out hut, campsite, and amenity maintenance and cleaning
• Supporting conservation and heritage work programmes across the district as required
• Assisting with vegetation control, scrub bar work, and general asset maintenance
• Working in remote locations, including overnight and multi‑day backcountry trips
• Engaging positively with visitors and helping provide a safe and enjoyable experience in the outdoors

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

You will be versatile and resilient and able to tackle a variety of mahi. If you have the following attributes, we are keen to hear from you:

Full drivers' licence, ideally with the ability to manoeuvre a trailer

• Experience with track maintenance, hut maintenance, vegetation control, or general grounds maintenance is desirable
• Experience and NZQA qualifications with use of chainsaws, weed eaters, scrub bars and 4WDS.
• Strong health and safety focus
• Good level of physical fitness with backcountry experience
• People skills with an ability to work as part of a team and independently.
• Tech savvy skills with the ability to use computer databases and mobile applications
• Confidence working independently and as part of a team to deliver work programmes and projects
• A positive attitude, strong work ethic, and willingness to learn new skills
• Good planning and organisational skills, with the ability to manage assigned tasks and priorities
• Experience riding motorcycles or operating outdoor equipment is advantageous
• Comfortable working and staying overnight in remote backcountry locations for multiple days when required
• Growsafe certified
• Current First Aid certificate

He aha ngā pāinga mōu? | What’s in it for you?

DOC is committed to a culture where everyone can participate, thrive, and grow. We’re driven by our values and behaviours, and we are working towards being an organisation that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive by default. Want to know more?

Salary: $62,192–$67,446 depending on skills and experience.

Eligibility: You must hold a valid NZ work visa that covers the duration of employment.

Applications close

at 11:59 pm on Wednesday 4 November 2026.

For further enquiries

please contact David Guppy, Supervisor, [e-mail]