Nga Manu Nature Reserve Team Volunteer Story Celebration 2024

Nga Manu operates a nature reserve with endangered birds, reptiles, fish, insects and plants in a 15 hectare site. Many of our species are also part of national DOC controlled breeding recovery programmes.

We're open to the public 364 days a year offering visitors opportunities to self-guide through to tours and experiences led by our team members.

The volunteer team of at least 75 gladly contribute to the success of the reserve by helping with:-

• greeting visitors and staffing our shop,
• leading and delivering tours about birds, eels, and our flora,
• looking after our precious animals with duties ranging from pest management and trapping, preparing food within very strict guidelines to feeding out,
• animal welfare duties ranging from aviary cleaning to onsite vet care,
• maintenance of grounds and buildings from weeding, mowing, pruning to heavy landscaping, cleaning to painting, governance (our governing board are all volunteers too), and other ad hoc support.

This team are reliable, good humoured, passionate about Nga Manu, ecology and nature. Many have been longstanding in their contribution with all new volunteers welcomed and nurtured as if members of an extended whanau. A large number of the team work outdoors often performing physical tasks in all weathers without complaint. Collectively the team gives 1440 days annually.

The roles this team perform are extensive. Many are here several days a week with others giving a few hours or days from time to time, but it's fair to say Nga Manu would not be able to operate with their invaluable mahi.