Ranger (Fixed-Term)

Department of Conservation - Te Papa Atawhai; West Coast; On-site; NZD 62,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Conservation, Te Papa Atawhai, Karamea, New Zealand, invites applications for a fixed-term summer role supporting Heritage and Visitor teams across iconic sites such as the Heaphy Track and Kohaihai Campsite. You will maintain tracks, huts, campsites, and visitor facilities in remote settings while developing practical conservation and recreation management skills.

The role involves managing project work, daily operations, backcountry and front-country maintenance, and engagement

Qualifications

• Must have a full driver’s licence and be able to manage remote backcountry duties.
• Experience with tracks, huts, vegetation control, or grounds maintenance is desirable.
• Strong health and safety focus and good planning/organisational skills are essential.
• Able to work both independently and as part of a small team and engage positively with visitors.

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.
• Assist with vegetation control and general asset maintenance.
• Work in remote locations, including overnight trips when required.
• Engage positively with visitors to ensure a safe outdoor experience.

Skills

Full driver's licence

Backcountry experience

Health and safety

Teamwork

Motorcycle/Outdoor equipment

Tools

Databases

Mobile applications

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

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

Skills and experience

• 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 Even if you don’t tick all the boxes but believe your skills and experience closely align, then we still encourage you to submit an application.

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 are working towards being an organisation that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive by default.

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]

Our vision: Nature is thriving in Aotearoa | Te Oranga o te Ao Tūroa The Department of Conservation, Te Papa Atawhai (DOC) serves to protect and restore nature across Aotearoa. When nature thrives, we all thrive. Ko tā Te Papa Atawhai he tiaki, he whakarauora anō hoki i te taiao puta noa i Aotearoa. He oranga taiao, he oranga tangata. Our people bring this vision to life. Spread across Aotearoa, they care for our land, water, and native species. From frontline rangers and technical experts to vital support teams - we have a diverse range of roles.