Volunteers will work in the Wellington office alongside our ecology specialist Toby Malcolm and program coordinator Rachel Dickenson. They will help to give you an insight into the issues that not only affect the native New Zealand ecosystem, but the whole world. You will have the chance to develop your own ideas to educate and raise awareness of climate change and environmental issues and promote ways people can reduce their carbon footprint as well as preserve native flora and fauna.
Please note that the activities you undertake during your volunteer period are not limited to those mentioned here. Once you arrive in NZ we will discuss your specific interests and to a certain degree we can tailor your volunteer time around these.
As well as your work in the office, you will spend several days a week working alongside volunteers within the New Zealand Nature Program (www.globalvolunteernetwork.org/newzealand). On these days you will have the opportunity to aid local organisations in their work: getting first hand, on-the-ground experience in New Zealand's own conservation and environmental restoration efforts.
Examples of projects you may expect to work on:
* Replanting native forests
* Educational visits to Kapiti island - a key offshore sanctuary for New Zealand wildlife (weather permitting)
* Restoring degraded dune ecosystems
* Removing pest plants from several native ecosystems (e.g. dunes, forests)
* Monitoring and control of introduced predators for the protection of native wildlife
* New Zealand Fur Seal monitoring at several sites in the lower North Island
* Trash and weed removal from harbour islands.
As a volunteer on the Heal The Earth Project you must:
* be 18 years old or over
* be from NZ, Australia, North or South America, UK, Europe, Japan, China, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, or South Africa. (Please note: if you're not from one of those countries, please submit the application form after you've confirmed you can obtain a NZ entry visa independently and mention this on the application form)
* have no major health problems
* be moderately fit (e.g. can hike for several hours over uneven/steep ground)
* be proficient in English
* possess initiative and an enthusiasm for the environment
* be willing to work, rain or shine
You can join the program for as little as 2 weeks, up to 6 months. All accommodation and meals will be provided for on the program. Volunteers will live in co-operative housing with the New Zealand Nature Program volunteers: sharing cooking and cleaning duties. No program is offered on public holidays. Please note it is not possible to guarantee that you will participate in a specific project during your time on the program - many projects are seasonal and weather dependent, and can also change due to demands of our project partners. However, you can contact the volunteer coordinator for further information on projects you are likely to participate in during the time you intend to volunteer.
Please see our website for full details on the costs of this program
http://www.globalvolunteernetwork.org/newzealand/heal_the_earth/
The in-country fee covers placement arrangement, accommodation, food, project costs, supervision, an airport pickup, and all transportation to and from the field projects.
The other costs you will need to meet are return travel to Wellington, New Zealand, travel insurance and all applicable departure taxes (US$15.00), and Visa (if required).
The Global Volunteer Network offers volunteer opportunities in community projects throughout the world. We currently provide volunteer programs through our partner organizations in Cambodia, China, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Ghana, Honduras, India, Kenya, Nepal, New Zealand, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Romania, Rwanda, South Africa, Thailand, Uganda, USA, and Vietnam.
