Tutors: Fay McKenzie, Geoff Button, external helicopter providers

Get ready for an immersive experience in the field! This course equips you with essential skills for working safely and effectively in remote conservation environments. You’ll learn how to:

• Safely operate around helicopters
• Drive a 4WD vehicle on rugged terrain
• Read and cross rivers confidently, both solo and in groups

With a mix of theory and hands-on training, including online modules and supervised practical sessions, this course prepares you for the realities of conservation work in Aotearoa’s wild landscapes.

Please note that a Learner driver's licence is needed, and at least a restricted licence is expected. Practical experience driving a manual vehicle is also required.

Tutors: Fay McKenzie, Geoff Button

Ever wondered how DOC keeps tracks and huts in top shape? This course introduces you to the fundamentals of recreational maintenance, including:

• Understanding visitor types and facility needs
• Track upkeep using tools like scrub bars
• Reporting issues to ensure they’re addressed in work plans

It’s a great way to build awareness and contribute to the ongoing care of our natural environment.

Tutor: Rāwiri

Wāhi Tapu

Step into the role of cultural guardian. This course helps you understand the tikanga and significance of wāhi tapu (sacred sites) and taonga tūturu (cultural treasures) from the tangata whenua perspective. You’ll learn how to:

• Respect and preserve culturally significant sites
• Engage meaningfully with local iwi and hapū
• Apply tikanga in your conservation practice

Ideal for those who want to deepen their connection to te ao Māori and support culturally respectful conservation.

Kaitiakitanga

Explore the concept of Kaitiakitanga - guardianship of the natural world - through the lens of tangata whenua. This course prepares you to:

• Understand the responsibilities of a Kaitiaki
• Apply Māori values and perspectives in conservation
• Build relationships with iwi and hapū in your mahi

A powerful elective for those passionate about integrating indigenous knowledge into environmental stewardship.

Tutor: Becs Gibson

Pre-requisite: Completion of the Plant Identification course

Learn how to measure the health of te ngahere (the forest) using the Foliar Browse Index (FBI)—a practical tool developed by DOC to monitor possum damage. You’ll gain skills in:

• Assessing forest health beyond trap catch data
• Identifying indicator species and signs of pest damage
• Collecting, recording, and analysing data using DOC protocols
• Creating reports and business plans based on your findings

This course is perfect for those interested in ecological monitoring and pest management.

For more information about this course, please see the Foliar Browse Index short course(external link).

Academic requirements

Applicants under 20 years

• Achieved NCEA Level 2 (credits in Maths, Science or English desirable).

Applicants aged 20 years and over

• No minimum academic requirements.

English Language requirements

All applicants must have a level of English sufficient to be able to study at this level.

Those applicants whose first language is not English should have an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) overall academic score of at least 5.5 issued within the last two years (or equivalent).

Refer to NZQA: https://www.nzqa.govt.nz/about-us/our-role/legislation/nzqa-rules/nzqf-related-rules/the-table/(external link)

Other requirements

• Conservation First Aid short-course(external link) certificate (or similar covering unit standards 6400, 6401, and 6402)
• Curriculum vitae
• Selected applicants will be required to attend an interview/hui (see the selection notes below)

Applicants must hold New Zealand or Australian citizenship/permanent residency or have a New Zealand Work Visa due to the Department of Conservation and NZ Council workplace constraints around offering employment to international citizens

Recommendations

Full, manual drivers license

Special entry

In exceptional circumstances, an applicant under the age of 20 years who does not meet the academic entry requirements may be granted entry to the programme at the discretion of the selection panel and Curriculum Manager.

Considerations

Applicants should be aware that;

• NMIT and industry require drug and alcohol-free training and work environment. Students will be required to adhere to the workplace policies of any organization that they work for on their summer placements.
• Students will be required to sign a declaration on entry to the programme stating any medical issues that NMIT needs to be aware of. This adheres to the Health and Safety in at Work Act 2015.
• The programme has aspects that require a certain level of agility, physical strength and fitness. Applicants must be physically capable of completing all aspects of the programme and may be asked to provide evidence.

Selection

All admissions to the limited places on the Kaitiaki Whenua Trainee Ranger Certificate programme are subject to the approval of the programme selection panel. 

Final acceptance onto the programme is dependent on an interview/hui and is at the discretion of NMIT and iwi (or other delegated local body). They decide whether or not applicants meet the entry requirements and have demonstrated their likelihood of completion and suitability for the Programme. A further five or six applicants are selected for a waiting list in case any of the successful applicants withdraw their application.  This waiting list is ranked according to their interview/hui results.

Applicants are encouraged to bring whānau support to the interview/hui if this makes the process less stressful for them.  Additionally, applicants who wish to be interviewed in Te Reo Māori should indicate this when contacted regarding interview scheduling to enable appropriate individuals to be available.

Interview candidates will be selected from applicants who have met all other requirements. A Criteria Sheet may be used to help identify the most suitable applicants for the programme based on the information submitted.  This process will be carried out by the programme selection panel immediately after the application closing date. The programme selection panel is made up of a minimum of three individuals, including at least two members employed by NMIT and iwi (or other delegated local body).

The following criteria will be considered by the programme selection panel to select applicants for interviews.

• Endorsement by iwi and active engagement with hapū
• Demonstration of a sound knowledge of, and strong interest in, conservation.
• Demonstration of knowledge of outdoor skills and experiences.
• Demonstration of good communication and people skills.
• Demonstration of reliability and the ability to complete the programme successfully.

To encourage applicants from throughout New Zealand, shortlisted candidates will be interviewed by our programme selection panel. Interviews may take place via phone, Zoom, or in person, depending on where the applicants are located. Sufficient time between the short-listing and the interview/hui will be allocated to allow applicants to arrange transport and time off from their prospective jobs (if necessary) to attend these interviews.

The interview/hui will also provide an opportunity for applicants to discuss their previous experiences. Applicants may apply for cross-credit of courses or Recognition of Prior Learning.

To complete your personal application, we ask you also to provide the following:

• Curriculum Vitae - a record of prior qualifications, employment history, work experience
• First Aid in the Outdoor Certificate (covering unit standards 6400, 6401, 6402 and 424)

If you do not already have the above First Aid certificate, we provide first aid courses so you can complete these before starting the programme. Register your interest today for the Conservation First Aid(external link) short course.

This training is Nelson-based and is usually held 1-2 weeks before the start date of the programmes. Students outside Nelson who cannot attend will need to complete this training independently.

 Register your interest today for the Conservation First Aid(external link) short course.

This training is Nelson-based and is usually held 1-2 weeks prior to the start date of the programmes. Students outside of Nelson who cannot attend will need to complete this training independently.

This programme has consistently high employment outcomes for graduates. Graduates are sought after to fill a wide range of permanent and seasonal positions.

Kaitiaki Whenua Project Moturoa graduates have the opportunity to apply for a range of permanent and seasonal positions within the Department of Conservation.

Job opportunities are constantly emerging, and we ensure you're prepared to step into these roles with confidence.

This selection process is carried out by an interview with DOC staff, which will be scheduled directly after completion of the programme. The Department of Conservation supplies projects, speakers, work placements and a co-ordinator to link DOC and the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology. 

Positions graduates have gone onto include working for local and regional councils in parks and recreation, working in nature tourism ventures as guides, and biodiversity work in private establishments such as zoos and kiwi houses. 

For careers with DOC you can also visit the DOC careers centre(external link) to see the latest vacancies or take a look at projects around Aotearoa(external link).

Other job opportunities

Below are some other projects that may offer you job opportunities:

Project Mahitahi: Restoring ecological health of the Maitai/Mahitahi Valley forest ecosystems - Our Nelson(external link)

Wilding pines projects give workers a lifeline - YouTube(external link)

Projects | Forest and Bird(external link)

The courses on the Kaitiaki Whenua Trainee Ranger programme are a mixture of practical and theory. Throughout the programme, off-campus training days are run (on average one day a fortnight) to provide you with a chance to hone your skills, work alongside DOC or regional council staff or be tutored by experts within the organisation’s structure in specific areas of learning.

These days provide opportunities for DOC and/or NMIT staff to assess you in specific areas of learning, enhancing the realism of the tasks a conservation ranger does in the workplace.

Some learning outcomes may only be achieved in a work situation so are observed and assessed during this practical training. These components of the programme bring together and integrate the learning from all courses.

During the programme, we aim to secure a summer work placement for you, which is typically paid but not guaranteed. We work closely with students to find suitable opportunities, though some placements may be voluntary.

This placement is set up and managed by the Conservation Coordinator, who works closely with DOC, councils and/or other conservation agencies involved in the programme.

If you work for DOC you are required to register with the organisation on a full-time fixed term contract (PSA DOC Collective Agreement 1).

The placements occur between late October and late February so you can experience the busy summer season.

Placements will range from 10 – 16 weeks long.

The jobs undertaken are real and standard tasks that would normally be carried out by summer temporary staff. As such the jobs may be repetitive or varied; either way they are what really happen as a conservation worker.

The NMIT team wants you to be prepared and comfortable during your training, see the list of gear you will need below or download the gear list here. [PDF, 50 KB]

NMIT will provide

• Hi-Vis vests
• Work gloves
• Access to discount prices on a pair of safety boots which you are required to wear when using chainsaws, scrub cutters and other situations on request.

You will need to provide the following essential list of items

• Day-pack
• Steel caps
• Good tracking shoes
• Polypropylene top and bottom
• Rain jacket
• Sleeping bag and liner (winter-rated if possible)
• Sleeping mat
• Multi-day pack (60L minimum) and liner
• Woollen or work socks
• Cup, plate, bowl, utensils (tramping set ideal)
• Warm jersey/jacket
• Torch
• Personal first-aid kit
• Sunglasses
• Pen and paper
• Compass for navigation (Silva)

Recommended

• Long pants suitable for cold/wet weather
• Rain pants
• Gaiters
• Emergency blanket
• Other camping gear (tent, stoke/gas cooker, etc.)
• Smartphone
• Laptop/tablet
• Sun hat
• Warm hat

Optional

• Silky saw (fold-up pruning saw)
• Any PPE you already own (earmuffs, hard-hat, hi-vis vest, etc.)
• GPS
• 2-way radio (UHF)