Employment

Kia Ora,

Thanks for showing an interest in employment opportunities with Hiking New Zealand. We offer work in both international tourism and nature conservation and restoration through its associated business, Southern Rewilding. You can work with us in one or both of these enterprises.

We have a supportive and friendly management team, and actively build a great working environment. We offer quality work-based training, competitive pay rates, and some wonderful clients or native flora and fauna to interact with!

Tourism summary - small group hiking tours

We have been operating our own trips since 1995. We also act as the New Zealand ground operator for a number of other travel companies that are based off-shore. Most of our 5 – 22 day itineraries involve good day walks combined with touring, comfortable accommodation and restaurant meals. We also run some of our ‘original’ more adventurous trips that get off the beaten track into the backcountry using huts and wild camping. Have a read over our hotel based New Zealand Uncut and tougher Ultimate New Zealand tours. Trips run from October to May.

Conservation summary - Orange Fronted Kākāriki Project

Our work to protect and restore New Zealand’s natural heritage is more recent. The Government’s Jobs for Nature  funding initiative enabled our ready workforce of outdoor professionals to transition to conservation following the impact of COVID-19. We started alongside the Department of Conservation doing predator control work to protect the orange fronted kākāriki in Arthur’s Pass National Park. Later we added wilding pine control and tree planting to our list of services. Mostly (but not always) this work is Canterbury based. Have a read about one of our guide's experiences working in predator control.

Employment Opportunities:

Guiding and conservation work in the backcountry presents many challenges. You will need to be enthusiastic, love the outdoors (and put up with all that it throws at you!) and if guiding, be able to pass that enjoyment and passion on to others. You will have proven initiative, know how to make the right decisions, and be prepared to take on responsibility. If this sounds attractive and a good fit for you, we encourage you to apply for one or both of the roles outlined below.

 Hiking guiding

Contract guide and assistant guide roles are available. Seasonal (October to May), Auckland to Auckland or Christchurch to Christchurch itineraries.

As the difficulty of the hikes across our tour styles varies, the hard skills and physical capacity required of our guides also varies, so we match tours to their capability and preference. We will not overlook applicants just because they have less backcountry experience. Assistant guide roles may also suit. All guides do need to be well organised, and have interest in and broad knowledge of NZ's natural and cultural history and the ability to communicate this to others. 

It’s preferable, that you are based in or close to our operations bases of Auckland and Christchurch although not essential. About half of our tours are single guide trips.

Our hotel-based tours and backcountry guide roles both require:

• Good health and fitness. You will be physically capable of tramping /walking in the areas you are working, which may include above the bushline. You need to be able to carry guide gear.
• Good group management and relational skills. You can work well with groups and take a leadership role confidently and competently, have excellent communication and organisational skills and be a great facilitator. (We have a range of clients from every nationality, from 18 to 80 years). 
• Understanding of risk management in the outdoors. You will be observant of your surroundings, able to identify any hazards and assess and manage the risks involved. You will assess the capability of the people you are guiding and the group as a whole, and always make safe and informed decisions. Trips may require experience crossing rivers and travelling across open tops. We have standard operating procedures which must always be followed. 
• Extensive New Zealand natural and cultural history knowledge. You enjoy sharing this knowledge and can give quality interpretation to clients on birds and plants, geology, and Māori and European history. You will be required to provide commentary while driving and out walking in the wilderness.
• Driving skills. You will be required to drive a 12 to 20 seater mini-bus often towing a trailer. As well as driving to a professional standard you will have a passenger ("P") endorsement on your New Zealand driver licence. 
• First aid skills. You will have a current Outdoor First Aid certificate, or attend our pre-season in-house course.
• Flexibility to spend long periods of time away from home. Our trips range in length from 5 to 14 days in one island. In a typical season a guide may work 30-90+ days depending on how much work they want.

Our more adventurous backcountry style trips additionally require applicants with:

• Substantial New Zealand tramping experience and outdoor leadership skills. You will have the ability to ‘think on your feet’ and if required, be comfortable guiding clients on tracks you may not be familiar with. Due to your solid outdoor background you will be operating well within your comfort zone. Backcountry travel and camping will be second nature to you. 
• Instructional skills with the ability to teach guests basic bushcraft; river crossing, navigation, fire lighting, camp cooking, pitching tents etc.
• On single guide trips, it is crucial to get everybody involved, organising them to cook meals, set up camp etc. 

Conservation work 

Full-time fixed-term from 1st September 2023 until May 31st 2024, with likely availability of ongoing winter tree planting work. North Canterbury based.

We are looking for applicants that are:

• Skilled and experienced in the outdoors through their work or recreational pursuits.
• Health and safety aware - competent in identifying hazards, and assessing and managing risk in the outdoors.
• Prepared to spend up to 10 days at a time away from home in the backcountry working outdoors in all weathers for as long as it remains safe to do so.
• Physically fit and resilient in challenging conditions where you will often be working alone during the day, and occasionally alone at night.
• Self-reliant and personally motivated with independent organisational, planning and management skills.
• Capable of working well in a team, processing relevant information and making decisions.
• First aid qualified - current Outdoor First Aid certificate preferred although training can be provided.

Conservation (biodiversity) knowledge, work skills and experience in animal and plant pest control is desirable although full training will be provided as required. This is a great opportunity to gain conservation work skills, qualifications and experience.

Application details