Get Involved
Photo by Annalily van den Broeke
Join over 400 passionate volunteers helping to restore native biodiversity in the Waitākere Ranges.
Volunteers are the driving force behind our work – protecting wildlife through predator control, species monitoring, and a wide range of conservation activities.
Whether you’re eager to build conservation skills or simply want to spend time in nature, there’s a place for you at the Ark. From regular commitments to one off volunteering days, every helping hand makes a difference.
You could get involved in…
Trapping
Play a hands on role in protecting native species. Volunteers maintain traps, replace lures, and record results in CatchIT, helping us both reduce the number of pests present, but also track predator activity and identify hotspots.
Baiting
With over 4,800 bait stations across the Ark, baiting is key to reducing rats, mice, and possums. Volunteers play a vital role in all baiting field operations and recently played a key role in reducing rat indices in the ark from approximately 85% to under 5%.
Monitoring Wildlife & Predators
Help us understand how our efforts are working by monitoring both predators and native species. Volunteers take part in both pest and biodiversity monitoring.
Office Support
Not all conservation happens in the bush! Our volunteers also keep things running smoothly through data entry, bird call analysis, and preparing food for volunteer BBQs.
Weeding & Planting
Join our vegetation team to remove invasive weeds and restore native plants, helping regenerate the forest ecosystem.
Time Commitment
Volunteering is flexible. We run sessions twice at least week on Thursday and Saturday, with additional volunteer days scheduled for major field operations.
You can join as often as you like; some volunteers come regularly, others just occasionally. Trappers operate on a monthly roster, checking traps once a week on whichever day suits them best.
Skills & Training
No prior experience is needed, just enthusiasm and a passion for conservation.
We provide full training and ongoing support, and new volunteers are paired with an experienced buddy until they’re confident working independently.
Fitness & Accessibility
There’s a place for everyone at the Ark. Our lines range from easy to challenging, so you can choose a route that suits your fitness.
Prefer to stay indoors or do lighter work? We also have office-based and support roles that make a real difference.