We are looking for a part-time ranger, predominantly working in the Buller, mainly in the Charleston area. 20 hours pw on average.
Applications close 5pm, Wednesday 8th September.
Are you passionate about conservation and want to help protect penguins on the West Coast?
We are seeking a dedicated, part-time ranger with backcountry fieldwork experience to carry out our regular monitoring and research. Ideal applicants will have wildlife handling competence plus data processing and computer skills.
Hours vary throughout the year and are concentrated on the penguin breeding season: July to December.
Most of the work will be carried out alone, so applicants need to be comfortable working independently, planning around weather and other responsibilities, and have a proactive attitude towards health and safety. Objectives such as fortnightly monitoring, data collection and analysis, and reporting, need to be met in a timely manner.
A detailed job description is available here.
For more information, phone Trust Manager, Inger Perkins, on 03 755 8600.
To apply, please submit a CV and cover letter to info@westcoastpenguintrust.org.nz by 5pm, 8th September.
While materials were chosen that would stand up to the harsh coastal conditions, those same coastal conditions are conducive to plant growth! Occasional checks of the fences have been carried out by volunteers and rangers so that any maintenance needs can be identified and remedied. The never-ending need for maintenance is managing the vegetation that can grow through the fence, for example gorse, blackberry and hydrangea, pushing it to breaking point in places, or flop over causing damage from the weight of rank grass, rushes and weeds such as montbretia.
Volunteers recently spent a few hours tidying up the main fence along Woodpecker Bay north of Punakaiki so a big shout out to them - thank you Fiona, Jony, Reef, Katrina, Mandy, Marty, Teresa and Deb! Flax had been pressing down on the fence, but now the fence has been freed up by these wonderful volunteers - and they picked up a fair bit of rubbish too.
Volunteer Natassja Savidge has offered to check and help maintain the Hokitika penguin protection fence and joined Ranger Lucy Waller and Manager Inger Perkins in May to inspect the length of the fence. Some minor issues were found but the main finding was the extent of the vegetation growth that was damaging the fence in places. Big thanks to Natassja!
