Ranger Heritage and Visitor

New Zealand Government; Te Anau; On-site; NZD 66,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

New Zealand Government seeks a field-based ranger support role to maintain huts, bridges, and historic sites across Fiordland National Park. You will assist the Principal Ranger with logistics, safety, and backcountry operations, including necessary equipment and helicopter access when required.

The role requires practical skills in trades or infrastructure maintenance, strong physical fitness, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team in remote environments.

Qualifications

• We are seeking a hands-on trades or maintenance background such as carpentry, building, plumbing, or infrastructure maintenance.
• Experience in backcountry or remote settings is highly valued.
• Knowledge of huts, bridges, or historic site maintenance is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Maintain back country huts, bridges, and other structures across Fiordland.
• Perform maintenance on historic sites and undertake track clearing in back/front country.
• Assist rangers with supplies and sewage system upkeep at Great Walk huts.
• Lead team safety briefings and ensure daily safety of the team.
• Work may involve driving, walking, or helicopter access to sites.

Skills

hands-on skills

field operations

team leadership

communication

physical fitness

planning and organisation

tech-savvy

valid driver's licence

Job description

Put your practical skills to use in mahi that connects people with natureWork outdoors in Fiordland's remote backcountrySalary Range: $65,590 - $76,589Permanent, full time role, based in Te Anau

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

Mō te tūranga | About the role

You'll play a key role in maintaining visitor and historic assets across Fiordland National Park while supporting the Principal Ranger with field operations, logistics, and technical guidance for the ranger team.

In this role, you will be involved in:

• maintaining back country huts, bridges, and other structures
• maintenance work on our historic sites
• track clearing and maintenance in the back and front country, using scrub bars, chainsaws, and diggers (if you have the qualifications)
• supporting rangers at Great Walk huts with supplies and sewage system maintenance
• leading team safety briefings and taking responsibility for your safety and the safety of your team mates every day
• access to work sites is either driving, walking or helicopter

This position is predominantly field'based, with most of your work taking place in remote and rugged environments where you'll be required to spend extended periods in the backcountry. You'll also complete some office'based tasks to support project planning and organisation.

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

We are looking for a confident communicator who can work well in a team environment as well as alone. If you have some of following, we are keen to hear from you:

• a hands-on practical skillset, ideally gained through carpentry, building, plumbing, infrastructure maintenance, or similar trades
• a high level of physical fitness and experience in the backcountry
• experience in hut and bridge maintenance
• an understanding of or experience working around helicopters and boats
• good planning and organisational skills
• tech-savvy skills and experience using apps and computer-based systems
• a strong health and safety focus
• outstanding interpersonal and communication skills
• a valid driver's licence
• an ability to lead teams and volunteers undertaking work for the department

Desirable:

• a current First Aid certificate
• chainsaw certification
• Excavator operating certification/experience

Mō te tīma | About the team

You will be joining a supportive and collaborative team who value their staff and invest in personal development and growth. The wider Te Anau office consist of 50 staff, and this increases by approximately 40 during the busy season.

The operational team is led by the Operations Manager and consists of the Heritage and Visitors, Biodiversity, and Community teams. We have a positive work culture and sometimes get to work across teams when there is priority work on.

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

DOC places importance on developing a culture where everyone can participate, thrive, and grow. We're working towards being an organisation that is diverse, equitable and inclusive by default. You can learn more about what we offer here.

The salary range for this position is $65,590 to $76,589 with the starting salary of the successful applicant being based on their relevant skills and experience.

Eligibility to work in New Zealand is mandatory - this includes holding a valid work visa that covers the whole period of employment.

Rā whakakapi | Applications close at 11:59 pm on Monday 5 October 2026

Me he pātai anō, whakapā mai | For further enquiries, please contact Luke Bovill - Principal Ranger at [e-mail].