Ranger Heritage and Visitor

Department of Conservation - Te Papa Atawhai; Te Anau; On-site; NZD 66,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Conservation - Te Papa Atawhai in Te Anau is seeking a hands-on maintenance professional for Fiordland National Park. You will maintain huts, bridges and historic sites, assist with track maintenance, and support rangers on Great Walk huts, with lead safety responsibilities daily.

Permanent, full-time role based in Te Anau. Applicants should be physically fit, able to work in remote terrain, and hold a valid driver’s licence; helicopter/boat familiarity is advantageous.

Qualifications

• We are looking for a confident communicator who can work well in a team environment as well as alone.
• Hands-on, practical skillset gained through trades such as carpentry, building, plumbing or infrastructure maintenance.
• High level of physical fitness and experience in backcountry environments.
• Experience in hut and bridge maintenance is desirable.
• Desirable: First Aid certificate and chainsaw/excavator certifications.

Responsibilities

• Maintain back country huts, bridges and other structures.
• Perform maintenance on historic sites.
• Clear and maintain tracks in back and front country with appropriate equipment.
• Support rangers at Great Walk huts with supplies and sewage system maintenance.
• Lead team safety briefings and ensure daily safety for self and team.

Skills

Hands-on practical skills

Physical fitness

Teamwork and communication

Health and safety focus

Ability to lead teams

Helicopter/boat awareness

Tech-savvy with apps

Valid driver’s licence

First Aid certificate

Tools

Chainsaw certification

Excavator operating certification

Experience with helicopters and boats

Job description

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

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

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.

• 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.

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 summer 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.

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

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

Me he pātai anō, whakapā mai | For further enquiries, please contact Luke Bovill – Principal Ranger at [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. Read more about DOC