Website Department of Conservation
- Are you passionate about the outdoors and caring for iconic visitor sites?
- Oversee visitor assets across some of the Central North Island’s most iconic locations
- Salary: $65,070 to $75,981, depending on skills and experience
- Permanent, full-time role based in Whakapapa (accommodation can be provided)
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
Would you like to work in one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most iconic national parks and a dual World Heritage area? Join Te Papa Atawhai and contribute to meaningful conservation outcomes across Tongariro National Park and the wider district.
As a Ranger Heritage and Visitor, you’ll play a key operational role within the close-knit Tongariro District team. You’ll help manage and maintain a wide range of visitor assets, including huts, tracks, structures, and campgrounds.
This role combines hands-on fieldwork with planning and coordination. You’ll scope and deliver work programmes, drawing on your practical skills as well as your ability to manage projects, budgets, and contractors.
The position will be focussed on:
- Managing contracts, projects, and budgets
- Maintaining and improving visitor facilities, sites, and assets
- Identifying and managing risks across work programmes
- Building strong relationships with partners and stakeholders, including community groups, councils, iwi, and the New Zealand Defence Force
We are passionate about developing our people, and will provide qualification training for specialised skills, including working at heights, chainsaw operation, helicopter safety, 4WD operation, and digger operation.
Accommodation may be available for this role, depending on requirements.
Click here for the Role Description
Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience
Are you a practical, solutions-focused person who enjoys working outdoors and taking ownership of projects from start to finish? We’re looking for someone who can combine hands-on skills with strong planning and coordination, and who takes pride in maintaining high-quality visitor experiences.
If you’re a team player who builds positive relationships, values safety, and is motivated to contribute to conservation outcomes, this could be the role for you.
If you have some of the following, we are keen to hear from you:
- Project management, prioritisation, and coordination skills.
- Contractor management, financial management and budgeting skills.
- Excellent communication and relationship management, with the ability to support and lead others.
- A commitment to health and safety.
- Computer literacy skills.
- Physically fit.
- Experience working with external stakeholders and iwi.
- Ability to work remotely in the backcountry, with overnight stays 7 – 10 nights per year.
- New Zealand full driver’s licence.
Desirable:
- Carpentry, construction, or other practical trade skills
- Experience leading a team
- Experience operating machinery (e.g. mini excavators, scrub bars, chainsaws)
- SAP experience
- GIS capability
Mō te tīma | About the team
The Regional Operations Group is responsible for delivering conservation work on the ground through our biodiversity, recreation/historic, community engagement and visitor centre teams.
The Central North Island team are a big whanau that place a strong emphasis on looking after one another. The team are very active, value social connection, and are very passionate about their purpose to look out for the maunga and whenua.
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.
We support flexible work arrangements for our kaimahi who are working in a wide variety of roles and locations across Aotearoa. Flexible options will be considered based on your role and in discussion with your leader.
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 Wednesday 15 April 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 Mark Judd, Supervisor Heritage and Visitor at mjudd@doc.govt.nz
