Ranger (Fixed-Term)

Come spend your summer with our Karamea based team maintaining amazingly wild visitor experiences

Mix of front-country and backcountry work, including tracks, huts, campsites, and visitor facilities

With a small team and many visitor sites to look after, you'll get a huge breath of practical conservation skills and experiences to jet propel your conservation career

Diverse role across heritage, visitor, and conservation operations with no two days the same

$62,192-$67,446 depending on skills and experience

Full-time fixed-term position November - May 2027 based in Karamea

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

Mo te turanga | About the role

We are currently seeking to fill a fixed-term summer position based in Karamea, working within the Heritage and Visitor team across some of New Zealand's most iconic public conservation areas, including the Heaphy Track, Oparara Basin, and Kohaihai Campsite.

This is a hands-on, varied role that will see you contributing to the maintenance and enhancement of visitor facilities and conservation assets while working in remote and rugged environments. No two days are the same, with opportunities to develop a broad range of practical conservation and recreation management skills.

If you're looking to an opportunity to live and work a bit on the wild side, then this could be your opportunity to experience that without having to make any long-life commitments. The position will be focussed on:

Managing assigned project work and day-to-day operational tasks

Maintaining both backcountry and front-country tracks and visitor infrastructure

Carrying out hut, campsite, and amenity maintenance and cleaning

Supporting conservation and heritage work programmes across the district as required

Assisting with vegetation control, scrub bar work, and general asset maintenance

Working in remote locations, including overnight and multi-day backcountry trips

Engaging positively with visitors and helping provide a safe and enjoyable experience in the outdoors

Click here for Role Description

Nga pukenga me nga wheako | Skills and experience

You will be versatile and resilient and able to tackle a variety of mahi. If you have the following attributes, we are keen to hear from you:

Full drivers' licence, ideally with the ability to manoeuvre a trailer

Experience with track maintenance, hut maintenance, vegetation control, or general grounds maintenance is desirable

Experience and NZQA qualifications with use of chainsaws, weed eaters, scrub bars and 4WDS

Strong health and safety focus

Good level of physical fitness with backcountry experience

People skills with an ability to work as part of a team and independently

Tech savvy skills with the ability to use computer databases and mobile applications

Confidence working independently and as part of a team to deliver work programmes and projects

A positive attitude, strong work ethic, and willingness to learn new skills

Good planning and organisational skills, with the ability to manage assigned tasks and priorities

Experience riding motorcycles or operating outdoor equipment is advantageous

Comfortable working and staying overnight in remote backcountry locations for multiple days when required

Growsafe certified

Current First Aid certificate

Even if you don't tick all the boxes but believe your skills and experience closely align, then we still encourage you to submit an application.

He aha nga painga mou? | What's in it for you?

DOC is committed to a culture where everyone can participate, thrive, and grow. We're driven by our values and behaviours, and are working towards being an organisation that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive by default. Want to know more?

Tonoa inaianei | Apply now

Apply online with your CV and cover letter outlining your relevant experience and motivation. We're unable to accept emailed applications or provide feedback to applicants not shortlisted.

If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, let us know and we'll try to accommodate.

Salary: $62,192-$67,446 depending on skills and experience.

Eligibility: You must hold a valid NZ work visa that covers the duration of employment.

Ra whakakapi | Applications close at 11:59 pm on Wednesday 4 November 2026.

Me he patai ano, whakapa mai | For further enquiries, please contact David Guppy, Supervisor, [email protected]