Website Department of Conservation
- Do you love the outdoors and have a passion for fishing?
- Join the Taupō Trout Fishery team and play a key role in monitoring and compliance, helping to deliver an exceptional fishing experience for licence holders.
- Requires a good level of fitness, emotional intelligence, and strong literacy skills
- Salary Ranges from $65,070 to $75,981 depending on skills and experience
- Permanent full-time position, based in Tūrangi
Our vision: Nature is thriving in Aotearoa | Te Oranga o te Ao Tūroa
The Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai (DOC) serves to protect and restore nature across Aotearoa. When nature thrives, we all thrive.
Ko tā Te Papa Atawhai he tiaki, he whakarauora anō hoki i te taiao puta noa i Aotearoa. He oranga taiao, he oranga tangata.
Mō te tūranga | About the role
Imagine working across some of the most stunning landscapes in Aotearoa, including the iconic Lake Taupō. If you’re passionate about fishing and enjoy working outdoors, this could be the role for you.
As a Fishery Ranger, you will contribute to the sustainable management of a world-class, wild trout recreational fishery. This is a predominantly field-based role, with most of your day spent outdoors working in small teams to deliver high-quality services to licence holders.
The position involves significant public engagement and compliance activity. You’ll need to demonstrate confidence working in the field and a strong commitment to DOC’s health and safety culture.
The position will be focussed on:
- Working collaboratively with your team to deliver fishery field operations and support daily work programmes
- Undertaking a variety of tasks, including vessel operations, angler advocacy and compliance, monitoring and data collection, and managing visitor assets at the Tongariro National Trout Centre
- Supporting programmes that promote sustainability and angler participation in the Taupō Sports Fishery
- Carrying out maintenance and refurbishment of structures, including fish track assets
There are also opportunities to contribute to wider departmental work such as fire response, biodiversity projects, and visitor asset management, so there will be plenty on offer to keep the role interesting and challenging.
Click here for the Role Description
Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience
If you’re driven to protect our natural environment and contribute to a world-class fishery, this is your chance to make a meaningful impact while working in one of New Zealand’s most iconic settings.
If you have some of following, we are keen to hear from you:
- Boat handling experience, or Boat Masters Certificate, or similar qualification.
- Experience using a wide range of machinery such as chainsaws and scrub bars.
- A strong interest in fishing
- High emotional intelligence and confidence engaging with the public, including conducting surveys and compliance activities
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, including report writing
- Good computer literacy (Word, Excel, Outlook)
- Sound problem-solving and analytical skills, with strong attention to detail when recording data
- A team-focused approach
- Good physical fitness
- Confidence working in and around water – strong swimming skills essential
- Availability to work weekends and outside standard hours
- The ability to be flexible and adaptable to change
- A full New Zealand driver’s licence
Desirable:
- PADI drift diving qualification
- First aid certificate
Mō te tīma | About the team
The Regional Operations Group is responsible for delivering conservation work on the ground through our biodiversity, recreation/historic, Treaty and community engagement.
We are a close-knit team that look out for one another and are passionate about the mahi that we do. We have fantastic team culture, with flexibility and wellbeing a priority. Working collaboratively with iwi, the team foster lasting relationships that create big changes for the future of our environment.
He aha ngā pāinga mōu? | What’s in it for you?
DOC places importance on developing a culture where everyone can participate, thrive, and grow. We’re working towards being an organisation that is diverse, equitable and inclusive by default. You can learn more about what we offer here.
Tonoa inaiānei | Apply now
Apply online with a CV and cover letter that highlights your relevant skills, experience and motivation for joining Te Papa Atawhai. Please note, due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to accept direct or emailed applications and provide feedback to those not shortlisted.
If you require any accommodations or adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.
The salary range for this position is $65,070 to $75,981 with the starting salary of the successful applicant being based on their relevant skills and experience.
Eligibility to work in New Zealand is mandatory – this includes holding a valid work visa that covers the whole period of employment.
Due to high volumes, we are not engaging with recruitment agencies for this role.
Rā whakakapi | Applications close at 11:59 pm on Thursday 5th March 2026.
Depending on the volume of applications received, we may close this advertisement early, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
Me he pātai anō, whakapā mai | For further enquiries, please contact Hayley Barlow, Recruitment Advisor at hbarlow.doc.govt.nz
