VOLUNTEERING

REGULAR / ONGOING EVENTS

Management Committee

Can you spare a few hours a month to help us with work “behind the scenes”? The Management Committee members perform a variety of essential tasks such as fundraising, event organisation, media liaison, advertising, promotion… and much more. We meet up for a couple of hours in the evening of the first Tuesday of each month at a local address in the Peninsula, and members contribute what they can, when they can, working around their own work and family commitments.

We are currently looking for a Treasurer with prior experience and a Minute Secretary. Additional members are always welcome to help with managament tasks. No previous experience required for most positions, just a genuine interest in the Sanctuary and the ability to work with people from different backgrounds and age groups.

Please get in touch with Allan on 09 424 5055, or drop us an email if you would like more information.

Pest Proof fence inspection (weekly as part of a roster)

The inspections are done by two-person teams who walk both sides of the fence concurrently. The inspections include checking the gates, the base, the mesh and the hood of the fence, culverts which the fence traverses as well as adjacent vegetation.

Small repairs can be made during the inspection process, but where major repairs are required, immediate notification will be made to the rangers. Full training will be given to each two-person team and no special skills are required other than a moderate level of fitness.

We would like to hear from anyone who feels they would like to become a member of the team and are happy to answer any questions you may have. Please contact Alison Wesley on Alison@onewesley.co.nz  or 09 424 2258.

Pest Control: Trappers needed (fortnighly or monthly)

We are looking for more people to help monitor trap lines around the park. This is a critical job that needs to be done on a fortnightly or monthly basis (depending on the line). Trappers make sure that pest numbers are kept under control and this job will be even more important once we introduce endangered species into the park.

If you are interested in helping, please have a word with one of the rangers during your next visit to the park; you can also send an email to parks@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz or phone 09 366 2000 - ask for Shakespear and your call will be forwarded accordingly. Alternatively, you can also contact us for more information!

Please note this is not a job for the squeamish!

Tuesday Volunteers (weekly)

Volunteers have been helping the park rangers with a great variety of tasks for over 10 years now. Some come religiously every week, rain or shine, whilst others come along whenever their schedule permits. We also have younger children who join us during school breaks and corporate groups who join us once a year.

There is a lot going on in the park so there’s always something for everyone to do! It’s a very relaxed atmosphere and many lasting friendships have been formed over the years. So if you’re free on Tuesdays, why not come along and see what it’s all about.

No skills/experience necessary. There is a fully equipped workshop on site and training will be provided as and when required. The tasks are many and varied and cater for all levels of fitness and abilities, so there’s no excuse for not getting involved!

Here are some examples of the things the volunteers do:

• Building and repairing fences and gates
• Building bird relocation boxes (cutting, sanding and painting the wood)
• Building traps for pest eradication programme and monitoring trap lines
• Maintaining tracks and picnic sites
• Building bike ramps
• Docking sheep
• Carrying out wildlife surveys
• Erecting signs
• Planting, fertilizing, pruning, hedging
• Nursery work: collecting and planting seeds, transplanting seedlings, repotting plants

Needless to say our work would not be possible without the volunteers’ invaluable assistance. If you would like to join them and be part of great group of people working together towards a common goal, just pop along to the ranger’s office in Te Haruhi Bay any Tuesday from 8:30am. If there's nobody there, please use the phone outside to let us know you're there and someone will come and pick you up.

OCCASIONAL EVENTS

Share your passion with Auckland’s youth

SOSSI is ramping up its series of educational talks, and need your help to make them happen. One upcoming event will take a local school’s year 7 students on a guided walk through the park, as well as present information on the sanctuary, why it’s needed, and what people can do to help. We will also involve the students in projects around the park, for example beach clean-ups.

If you are interested in being involved with guiding walks or helping with presentations, please call Allan on (09) 424 5055.

Planting Days

We have several planting events from May to September every year - for more information on past events, please take a look at our Past Events page.

One of our short-term goals is to expand our nursery to hold around 25,000 plants, which will be grown from seeds collected within the park. This means there will be plenty of work to do for any green-fingered volunteers who may be interested in joining us on Tuesdays (see Tuesday Volunteers section above) to help us ensure we have plenty of trees available for future planting days.

FUTURE EVENTS

Guided Walks

We would like to start offering guided walks in the park next summer (2011/12), once it is a fully operational Sanctuary. If you would like to get involved and become a volunteer guide, please drop us a line to register your interest now!