Tour Guide | Dark Sky Project

Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 41,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff discounts

Training & development

Job summary

Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Tourism is seeking a Tour Guide for Dark Sky Project in Takapō. You will guide visitors and deliver immersive night-sky experiences, while driving guests safely to and from locations. This role requires strong public speaking and a customer-focused mindset.

You’ll work shifts including nights and weekends, with opportunities to learn Māori language terms and contribute to a world-class tourism experience. Training and safety are emphasised in a values-driven environment.

Qualifications

• At least 3 years relevant experience in astronomy-based guiding or tour guiding.
• Proven public speaking and/or tour guiding experience.
• Demonstrated experience in a customer-facing role.
• NZ Certificate or Diploma in astronomy, science communication, visitor interpretation or equivalent.
• Current NZ Driver’s Licence and ability to obtain one.
• Class 2 Driver’s Licence or ability to obtain one.
• First Aid Certificate or ability to obtain one.
• Strong commitment to health and safety.
• Ability to complete routine vehicle inspections and maintain driver logbooks.
• Strong time management skills.
• Interest in learning and correctly pronouncing reo Māori names and terms.
• Availability to work shift work, including nights, weekends and public holidays.
• Additional language skills (e.g., Japanese, Mandarin) advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Guide visitors and deliver night-sky experiences as part of Dark Sky Project.
• Drive and transport guests as required in a safe, professional manner.
• Maintain safety standards and complete routine vehicle inspections.
• Engage with international guests and correctly pronounce reo Māori names/terms.
• Work a roster including nights, weekends, and public holidays.

Skills

Tour guiding

Public speaking

Customer service

Time management

Health and safety

reo Māori pronouncing

Education

NZ Certificate/Diploma in astronomy/science communication (Level 4+)

Job description

Permanent / Full-Time (Min 32 hours per week)

Takapō / Mackenzie District

Hourly rate: $29.90 – $31.00

Mō tātou, ā, mō kā uri ā muri ake nei – for us and our children after us.

Are you passionate about delivering exceptional customer experiences?

Does the opportunity to be part of a world‑class tourism development excite you?

Are you looking for an opportunity to work for Ngāi Tahu Tourism, one of the largest tourism operators in Aotearoa?

We have a newly created opportunity for a Tour Guide to join our talented team at Dark Sky Project. This role offers a unique combination of guiding and driving, welcoming manuhiri (visitors) and delivering unforgettable night‑sky experiences.

Located on the Takapō lakefront, our world‑class Astronomy Centre brings to life the science of the stars and Tātai Aroraki (Māori astronomy) through immersive and engaging experiences. These experiences are a world‑first and complement the outdoor experiences we deliver to domestic and international visitors to the region.

Our purpose is to make the connection – with our customers, through our people, to our place and to Ngāi Tahu.

We take great pride in warmly welcoming manuhiri to our experiences. Manaakitanga (hospitality) is one of the core values that drives the way we do business. As hosts, we care for our manuhiri and our team as our own whānau.

A Little Bit About You

• At least 3 years relevant experience in astronomy‑based guiding, science communication, visitor interpretation, or tour guiding (required if the qualification below is not held)
• Proven experience in public speaking and/or tour guiding
• Demonstrated experience in a customer‑facing role
• Previous experience working in the tourism industry (desirable)
• A New Zealand Certificate or Diploma (Level 4 or above) in astronomy, science communication, visitor interpretation, or an equivalent overseas qualification (required if the above experience is not met)
• A valid New Zealand Driver’s Licence, or the ability to obtain one
• A current P endorsement, or the ability to obtain one
• A Class 2 Driver’s Licence, or the ability to obtain one
• A First Aid Certificate, or the ability to obtain one
• A strong commitment to health and safety
• Care and attention when completing routine vehicle inspections and maintaining accurate driver logbooks
• Strong time management skills
• A genuine interest in learning and correctly pronouncing reo Māori names and terms
• Availability to work shift work, including nights, weekends and public holidays
• Additional language skills, including Japanese, Mandarine are advantageous in supporting our international customer base.

Why join us?

Aside from being a great place to work, we offer competitive remuneration, excellent training, staff discounts across Ngāi Tahu Tourism, and a supportive, values‑based environment. Dark Sky Project is a fun, unique and safe place to work, and we are committed to keeping it that way.

Before starting with us, you will go through a range of pre‑employment checks, including drug and alcohol testing. Health and safety is extremely important to us and is key to protecting our people and our manuhiri.

Want to find out more about us?

Visit www.ngaitahutourism.co.nz

Keen?

If you are a star who shines as brightly as those our manuhiri gaze upon.