Volunteer

Volunteering on Motuihe is open to everyone — no experience needed. Full training is given on the day. Children under 16 are welcome when supervised. Bring your lunch, a drink, sturdy shoes or gumboots, garden gloves, and sun and rain protection. Please bring your own medication if required (e.g. EpiPen). We provide tea, coffee, and milo.

Weekend Trips

Weekend volunteer trips run year-round. Tree planting and nursery work is undertaken during the wetter months and over the summer season we turn to nursery work, controlling invasive weeds and track maintenance. To register, follow the link to input your details and put your name down for upcoming trips. You can also sign up to receive the newsletter by following the same link.

• Bring your lunch, a drink, sturdy shoes or gumboots, garden gloves if you have them and sun and rain protection. Please remember to bring your own medication if required, i.e. EpiPen, Antihistamine. We provide a hot drink of tea, coffee or milo
• Biosecurity is very important on Motuihe Island. Please make sure your shoes are clean and that your bag is sealed and that ants, pests, plant seeds or insects have not inadvertently snuck on board

We look forward to meeting you and we hope you enjoy your day on Motuihe. Any questions or queries, please email info@motuihe.org.nz

Midweek and Corporate Trips

Weekday volunteer trips are currently being arranged with the use of the charter vessel Dreamweaver. Please contact Simon Sheen at volunteermotuihe@gmail.com for further information. Cost $49 per person with the vessel departing Z Pier Westhaven Marina at 8.40 am and returning to Westhaven approximately 4.15 pm.

The Trust runs a flexible midweek volunteer programme. If you are a corporate team looking for an excellent ‘volunteer day’ and are keen to make a difference, email: volunteermotuihe@gmail.com

Activities are season dependent, with tree planting from autumn to early spring, with the rest of the year including; seed collecting, nursery tasks, weedwork, track clearing, and other relevant jobs. Along with Trust Leaders we can tailor a day to fit with a wide variety of ages (5–80), fitness levels and experience. The aim is to enjoy the beautiful island and contribute to its future.

• Health and Safety: Hazards for volunteers
• There will be a briefing on the island
• First Aid kits available on the tractor and in the woolshed
• AED Defibrillator in place at Isthmus Toilet Block for emergency — please follow instructions
• Mobile phones work fine on the island, but there is no wifi
• What is on the island:
• No shops, vehicles, people (excluding DoC Ranger) or pests
• 440,000 trees planted since 2000
• Little Spotted Kiwi, Tieke, Kakariki, Tuatara, Whitehead, Duvaucel Geckos and more…

*Please familiarise yourself and comply with biosecurity rules such as sealed containers

Kiosk and Guiding

From Boxing Day through to Easter weekend, volunteers open the kiosk on a roster. Dates and times depend on availability of volunteers and transport.

Accommodation

Rustic but comfortable accommodation is available in the woolshed for volunteers. Facilities include bunks in cubicles, a kitchen and seating area, a flush toilet and hot shower. There is a fridge and freezer to store food, and a solar power system for basic lighting.

Kiosk

Duties cover the sale of ice creams, tea, coffee, water and merchandise, liaising with the Kiosk Co-ordinator in relation to stock levels etc. Duties also cover talking to island visitors about the Trust restoration background, current Trust operations and heritage information on Motuihe (notes are provided).

Training

Full training is provided, and new volunteers are teamed up with an experienced volunteer to allow familiarisation with Motuihe Operations. On busy days, an extra pair of hands is greatly appreciated by the team.

Email info@motuihe.org.nz if you are interested in joining the Kiosk crew.

Leadership Opportunities

We’re always on the lookout for regular volunteers who wish to lead groups in island activities, including planting, nursery work, weeding and other tasks.

Motuihe Trust offers leaders training programmes and on-the-job training to give them the skills they need to supervise small teams of volunteers. We are lucky to have dedicated people who have been part of the Project for many years, and who are willing to share their skills and knowledge.

There are many different leadership roles required to ensure the Motuihe Project operates smoothly. If you are interested, please contact operations@motuihe.org.nz and we can find a role that suits your skills and interests.

Health and Safety