Organisation

Quarantine Island/Kamau Taurua Community Incorporated

Purpose

The Quarantine Island/Kamau Taurua Community focus on the ecological restoration of Quarantine Island. This Island is listed as a Historic Area with Heritage NZ and the Community help to care, protect and enhance the Island's ecology, biodiversity and heritage. Quarantine Island was once a completely bush-clad forest that was cut down to make way for quarantine buildings and farming.

Description

The Quarantine Island/Kamau Taurua Community are currently looking for a Part-time Mahi Day Coordinator to provide support to the Island's employee Resident Keeper, who lives on the Island.

In this role you will be:

• Helping to oversee groups of between 20 - 30 volunteers according to best practice guidelines

• Overseeing volunteer Mahi Days and orientation (held 1 - 2 times a month)

• Assisting on occasion with Welcome Days (held on the last Sat of each Month)

• Helping to arrange biodiversity-related events on the island

• Overseeing volunteers as they re-establish/replant diverse native vegetation on the Island

• Overseeing volunteers as they engage in the predator control of mammalian pests (all training provided)

• Organising volunteers to perform weed control, beach clean-up, seedling release and maintenance tasks

• Overseeing volunteer planting activities and assisting volunteers to care for native seedlings

• Working alongside other QIKT Community members who live on the mainland

• Helping to promote/advertise the Island on social media to boost volunteer engagement

• Linking in with other organisations in the community

Training/Skills Gained:

• Training and support will be provided relating to all activities carried out on the island

• You will be working alongside, and learning from, the Keeper (Resident Manager) and other volunteers

• You may also be working alongside community members off the island

What are the benefits of the role?

• Gain experience in inducting and leading a team of volunteers

• You will be meeting like-minded people

• You will be working alongside passionate kaitiaki who have an infectious ability to inspire others

• Your work supports the work of other volunteers and the overall conservation goals of the charity

• You will be sharing similar values of social justice with others who care about the natural environment

• Volunteers find spending time together to care for, and enhance, the island is deeply satisfying & rejuvenating

• You will be encouraging and modelling a sustainable, caring and cooperative society that involves young people

• You will be protecting NZ heritage

• The role benefits the organisation by providing support to the Keeper

Requirements

• Public speaking and group facilitation skills

• Enthusiasm and passion for ecological restoration

• Gardening skills

• Knowledge of NZ biodiversity, natural history and nature conservation is preferred, but not essential

• Ideally you are someone who can foster relationships with individuals and community groups

• Social media and admin skills & experience: Instagram, Facebook, Canva et al

• Photography skills are beneficial but not essential

Personal and physical requirements include:

• Walking and working on steep inclines and uneven surfaces

• Some heavy lifting, long periods of standing, lots of walking/bending on steep inclines

• Leadership skills, independent, able to follow and give instructions while overseeing a team

• Friendly, warm, enthusiastic, energetic, enjoys outdoors

• Cares about the charities values; ecological restoration, heritage, sustainability, social justice, and spirituality

Time commitment

• 10hrs/week on average (varies depending on time of year)

• Mahi Days as needed, usually occur 1 - 2 times a month (Start at 9:30 and finish at 3:30)

• Welcome Days occur on the last Sat of each month

• Volunteering is busier/more frequent over the Summer Season (E.g. Feb runs 10 days in 14)

• Please note: Boat access only, charges may apply ($10 - $20 depending on group size)

• Boat transport options and all other details can be found on quarantineisland@org.nz or by emailing quarantineisland@org.nz when you apply

Location

Quarantine Island/Kamau Taurua in Dunedin Harbour

How to apply

Email Jon at quarantineisland@gmail.com

Please copy (cc) volunteer@otago.ac.nz into your application email

You might like to check out their Facebook page and group where they often post upcoming activities:

https://www.facebook.com/kamautauruaquarantineislandwww.facebook.com/groups/QuarantineIslandKamauTauruaCommunity