Author: Taylor

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Orokonui

Join our team

Orokonui Ecosanctuary – Ranger Wanted!

Permanent, Full‑Time | 40 Hours Per Week
Location: Orokonui Ecosanctuary, 20 mins north of Dunedin

Do you thrive in the outdoors, love getting stuck into tough hands‑on work, and want to help protect some of Aotearoa’s most precious species?
Orokonui Ecosanctuary is seeking a practical, resilient, and passionate Ranger to join our Operations Team and help enhance and protect the biodiversity of the Orokonui Valley.

About the Role

As an Orokonui Ranger, you’ll play a key part in our biodiversity restoration and asset management programmes, including:

  • Pest monitoring and control
  • Weed control
  • Threatened species monitoring
  • Track and infrastructure maintenance
  • Fence surveillance and emergency response
  • Contributing to ongoing conservation projects that protect our taonga species

You’ll also share responsibility for the duty phone, responding to biosecurity alerts and weather‑related incidents to ensure the sanctuary remains predator‑free and safe.

What We’re Looking For

This is a physically demanding, field‑based role that requires resilience, initiative, and a genuine enjoyment of working outdoors in all conditions.
 We’re looking for someone with:

Essential Qualities

  • A high level of physical fitness
  • A positive attitude toward tough, hands‑on work
  • Proven practical experience in conservation, fieldwork, or outdoor operations
  • A practical mindset with good problem‑solving skills
  • Strong communication skills and a commitment to teamwork
  • A genuine love of nature and the outdoors

Bonus Skills & Experience (Desirable)

  • Pest control, weed control, track maintenance or conservation field skills
  • Experience with LUVs, quad bikes, 4WD vehicles
  • Chainsaw and power‑tool experience
  • Growsafe certification and herbicide handling experience
  • Infrastructure, carpentry, or practical maintenance skills
  • Applied health & safety knowledge in outdoor environments
  • Understanding and commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi
  • Current full driver license and first aid certificate

Personal Attributes

We are a close-knit team with a shared mission. The ideal ranger will be:

  • Hard‑working and accountable
  • Practical and resourceful
  • Friendly, open, and a great communicator
  • Self‑motivated and proactive
  • Flexible and adaptable to changing conditions

Why Join Us?

Orokonui Ecosanctuary is a nationally significant conservation project supported by a thriving community of staff, volunteers, and supporters. As part of our team, you’ll help safeguard taonga species including kākā, tīeke, takahē, tuatara, kiwi, geckos, and skinks—while working in one of the most spectacular natural environments in the region.

How to Apply

Please see the position description https://orokonui.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Orokonui-Ecosanctuary-Ranger-Job-Description-.pdf for a full list of responsibilities. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every single requirement.

Send your CV and cover letter to:
 Elton Smith, Operations Manager
 📧 elton@orokonui.nz

Applications close: Friday 13 February at 5pm

For a confidential conversation or more information, get in touch via email.

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Orokonui

New Zealand String Quartet returns to Orokonui

After sold out shows in 2024 and 2025 we are excited to announce that the New Zealand String quartet are returning to Orokonui as part of their 2026 season.


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Orokonui

Holiday Open Hours

Explore Orokonui this holiday season. We will be open our regular open days apart from Christmas day. This means you can visit us on Boxing Day, New Year’s Day, and and Day After New Year’s.

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Orokonui

Locals Welcome Weekend

Orokonui Locals Welcome Weekend

Local conservation relies on local community so join us at Orokonui this weekend for another Locals Welcome Weekend.

Visit Orokonui over Labour weekend 25th-27th October to celebrate the role that locals play in helping wildlife thrive at Orokonui and across Dunedin.

Otago locals will get discounted entry over the weekend $10 for adults and $5 for kids. There will also be a bunch of talks and activities in the visitor centre and sanctuary to keep the whole whānau entertained.

Bring the kids along from 10am-2pm to make some free wildlife themed craft masks to bring out their wild side.

Head out into the sanctuary to learn more about our wildlife with free talks. Saturday, Sunday, & Monday.

11am – Takahē talk at the takahē pond
12pm – Kākā talk at the platform feeder

Explore the sanctuary from 9:30am-4:30pm and enjoy specials from the cafe 10am-3pm.

See you there!

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Orokonui

Join our team – Café Allrounder

The Horopito cafe is looking for at least two people to become part of our Orokonui team.  

The cafe is an important part of the manaaki that we show to visitors, serving them delicious food and drink while looking out at the best views in Ōtepoti Dunedin 🌿

Horopito café sits at within the Orokonui visitor centre at the top of the Orokonui valley. It looks out across the 307 hectares of the Orokonui Ecosanctuary where thanks to its 9km predator resistant fence native wildlife thrives.  This includes many species uncommon or absent from the surrounding landscape such as takahē, kākā, tuatara, kiwi, and Tīeke (SI saddleback). The sanctuary is an important place for visitors of all ages to experience nature including thousands of school children who visit each year, and international visitors who travel from around the world.

Horopito Café provides a thoughtful dining experience for visitors to the ecosanctuary, and caters for business meetings, weddings, retreats, and all other functions held on site. Our team strives to lead by example: in our everyday operations, we minimise packaging, compost organic waste, use UV treated rainwater, recycle wastewater, and have solar heated hot water. We are committed to sourcing and serving local produce reflective of regenerative practice, and we are committed to creating opportunities for collaboration and innovation with the wider community. By constantly questioning how we can do better, we hope to inspire others to do better too! 

Alongside tours, shop, admissions and events the café also plays a crucial role in creating revenue that supports the conservation and wildlife advocacy work of the sanctuary.

As visitor numbers continue to grow we are looking for at least two people to join our teams in the following roles.

Café assistant

Primary role:  Our perfect fit will have existing experience working in a fast-paced cafe environment – a skilled barista, able to deliver consistently high-quality beverages, at speed, over our busy summer season. This is a part-time permanent role, which includes weekend work: two shifts are available, Friday and Saturday. Additional hours, to service the delivery of events outside of normal opening hours, and to cover shifts for other team members on leave, will also be available.

Adaptable team member, comfortable in both Front of House and Back of House, working as part of a fast-paced team. Duties include barista service, cash handling, customer service, food preparation (including some baking – training provided), clearing tables, washing dishes, and cleaning. 

Hours: Horopito Café is open from 9:30am to 3pm, five days per week, Thursday to Monday (closed Tuesday and Wednesday). Rostered shifts are between 5 – 7 hours, worked between the hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm.

See full role description here

Senior Café all rounder

Our perfect fit will have existing experience working in a fast-paced cafe environment, with strong barista skills, experience in the preparation and service of simple cafe-style food (preferably with sound backing skills), and the ability to help lead a small team.

This is a part-time permanent role, which includes weekend work: three shifts are available, on Monday, Thursday and Sunday. Additional hours, to service the delivery of events outside of normal opening hours, and to cover shifts for other team members on leave, will also be available.

Description of Duties:

  • Leading beverage service, delivering consistently high-quality beverages at speed; taking responsibility for the coffee machine and equipment, and notifying the Café Manger of any issues or needs.
  • Delivering consistently high-quality dining experiences: preparing simple café-style food, for both café and all in-house functions and events; leading the team during service.
  • Assisting the Chef – Café Manager and Second In Charge with some management tasks, sharing weekend rostering, leading the kitchen in their absence, and maintaining a positive and supportive workplace culture.
  • Complying with all food safety policies and procedures, to ensure that the kitchen’s A-grade status is maintained.

Hours :

Horopito Café is open from 9:30am to 3pm, five days per week, Thursday to Monday (closed Tuesday and Wednesday). Rostered shifts are between 5 – 7 hours, worked between the hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm.

See full role description here

For more information and to apply:

Email cafe manager Louise Havill louise@orokonui.nz We will assess all applications as they are received so don’t hesitate to apply.

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Orokonui Uncategorized

Tracking change with pictures

Orokonui is a long term project. With a 1,000 year plan ahead of you it can be easy to forget where you have been. Luckily there are photographs, these records of our past allow us to see just how much this place has changed in a relatively short period of time.

A group stands in front of the visitor’s centre site in 2007
The same view capture in 2024

The visitor’s centre was built in 2010, one clear marker of it’s position is the large tī kōuka/cabbage tree out the front. This tī kōuka also marked the entry to the Swain farmhouse, the image below from the 1920’s shows two tī kōuka either side of the door. We don’t know which one of these trees is the one now in front of the visitor’s centre, only that one of them survived to welcome visitors to the sanctuary more than 100 years on. It was the Swain’s who also farmed this land wth cows. The historic stone byre who’s foundations are still present near the visitor’s centre was where milk was collected before being taken by horse and cart to the roadside for collection. 

The Swain homestead circa 1920. Note the tī kōuka/cabbage trees out the front

When built, one key features of the visitor centre is the wetland area in front of the deck. Not only an important part of the view, these ponds help process water from the building and carpark, ensuring it is in the best quality possible before continuing down the Orokonui stream. 

The change in this area is phenomenal, each year a great display of toetoe and harakeke occurs. Many birds now use this area, including kakaruai/robins and titipounamu/rifleman which have been seen hopping through the bushes. Keep an eye out on a warm day because this area has also become popular with tussock skinks. Most recently this area has become home to a moa, or at least a carved wooded sculpture, providing guests with an opportunity to consider those birds lost before being wowed by those that remain. 

View of the ponds from the ramp just after construction in 2010
The same view showing huge plant growth in 2024

Planting for the rare plants garden began in 2010. This has become a great asset to the sanctuary with many examples of plants rare or uncommon in the surrounding landscape. Inside the sanctuary with no grazing pressure from goats, deer, rabbits or possums plant growth has been at its most extreme. Many of the plants in the garden have taken very well to their environment, and the display of flowers such as the daisy Celmisia hookeri at the right time of year is truly remarkable. If you haven’t spent time slowly wondering this area you should. As well as the large flashy and unusual. There is also a suite of smaller equally as incredible plants amongst this collection. 

The rare plants garden not long after establishment in 2010
The rare plants garden in 2024

Looking from the other end of the garden you can get a sense of how much this part of the sanctuary has grown. So much in some places that tracking tunnels that were once out in the open have been swamped by native plants. Where gorse once dominated a future forest has pushed up to take its place. 

Interestedly where once planting was a focus, control of this vegetation is now a major task for our team. To ensure we can carry out our conservation activities we must keep clear our 60+km of monitoring tracks and to avoid incursions or fence damage we must keep trees off both sides of the fence.

View towards Mihiwaka showing grass
and gorse in 2010
Mihiwaka is now only barely visible above the growing vegetation in 2024

Most excitingly in terms of plant growth we are now also seeing a proliferation of young podocarps like tōtara, miro, and rimu emerging. These are the future of our forest, and their return to this landscape is a big part of the sanctuaries 1000 year vision. We may not be around to see them get big, but we can we can be happy that we got to experience and enjoy Orokonui, and that others will as well for generations to come. 

The best way to ensure we can continue our work for another set of progress pics is by donating, becoming a member, or setting up a bequest. To donate, or read more about donating head here.

This story was first featured in the September edition of Birdcall our online newsletter. Sign up to it on our homepage to stay up to date!

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Orokonui Wildlife

2024 Sanctuaries Conference at Orokonui

Orokonui Ecosanctuary – Te Korowai o Mihiwaka is excited to be hosting the 2024 Sanctuaries of New Zealand (SONZI) conference in August 2024. This annual meeting is a great opportunity for conservationists around the motu to come together to discuss shared wins, challenges, and aspirations.

The meeting will be held over three days from 13th-15th August 2024, with the venue being the Orokonui visitor’s centre.

Tuesday 13th August: Science Day – A curated collection of talks of sanctuary relevant conservation science.

Wednesday 14th August: SONZI Day – Presentations and discussions on governance, finance, relationships, and sanctuaries. As well as soapbox sessions from those working in the sanctuary space.

Thursday 15th August: SONZI AGM & Field trips – Fields trips at Orokonui to support a range of interests and fitness.

The programme and other details including a link to register can be found here

To register use this link

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Uncategorized

#KākāCam now live

Ever thought your favourite reality TV show could do with more screeching and flapping? We are super excited to announce #KākāCam is now live!

Port Otago and Orokonui Ecosanctuary are this week launching Kākā Cam, a 24/7 camera situated deep in the sanctuary and focused on a busy feeding station.

A kākā gets up close and personal to check out the new camera.

The camera is a sister to Valley Cam, which is attached to the ecosanctuary’s visitor centre and overlooks the Orokonui Valley towards the mountain Māpounui.

Setting up this camera wasn’t without its challenges though. This launch itself was delayed by the kākā deciding the camera and transmitter were new toys put out just for them. Unfortunately, the same beak that makes them so great at ripping up trees seems to be also useful and camera dismantlement.

The feeding station is one of five within the 307-hectare fenced ecosanctuary and is designed especially so kākā and nectar-feeding birds can access it, but blackbirds and sparrows cannot. The stations contain a special parrot pellet, replenished daily, and act as a hub of social activity.

Acting Port Otago Chief Executive Grant Bicknell* says it’s great to see the second camera up and running. “We had a clear goal to deploy livestreaming technology that could take the Orokonui experience out into the wider community. It’s been worth the wait, to ensure the streaming is reliable and bulletproof – or, in this case, kākā proof. We predict Kākā Cam will become a popular source of entertainment for adults and children, alike. The bird song alone is worth a listen.”

GPD Productions Director George Dawes has led the work. “Bringing the Kākā Cam to life has been a fantastic project, and after a few teething problems, or maybe pecking problems, we’re ready to go live. It’s great to help showcase Orokonui’s work and make it available to a wider audience.” 

Thank you to fellow Orokonui sponsor Unifone, which generously increased the bandwidth capacity to the ecosanctuary at no extra cost, enabling the livestream to be possible.

Check out the Kākā Cam here, and share it with your friends and whānau.

Categories
Orokonui Wildlife

Help Count Kākā this Feb

Hundreds of hours of staff and volunteer time go towards caring for kākā at Orokonui. From keeping the sanctuary mammalian predator free, checking nest boxes, filling and cleaning feeders, banding and surveying, and educating people. It’s suffice to say these charismatic taoka keep us busy. But is all this mahi working? Are kākā numbers on the increase? We need your help to learn more about the population.

For the week of the 26th February to 3rd March we are asking anyone and everyone around Ōtepoti/Dunedin to report all kākā they see, every day this week to the kākā database. Whether you see it in your backyard, the sanctuary, or local park we want to know when, where and the bands(if possible) of every kākā spotted.

Why is this so important?

South island kākā are classed as threatened – nationally vulnerable. Meaning they are vulnerable to further decline if nothing is done. A small population of kākā were established at Orokonui, starting in 2008. Before this kākā were lost from this area for around 150 years. While this population is thought to be growing, surveying kākā can be tricky as they are highly mobile. By getting everyone involved for a week we will get a better understanding of how many kākā are in the population, and how far from the sanctuary they are being sighted. This information will help us at Orokonui manage their population better, but will also help guide predator control and habitat enhancement efforts outside the sanctuary.

What to do if you see or hear a kākā

Whenever you see or hear a kākā during the count you can report it straight away to the kākā database here. Or write down the details somewhere and report it later. Photos and videos can be really useful if you have a camera nearby. They can be especially useful for helping to read leg bands.

If you have any trouble reporting kākā, or identifying individuals send through any photos or videos to kaka@orokonui.nz

How do I know if it’s a kākā?

Most of the time kākā are quite obvious but their can be times where they can be a bit more tricky. The easiest time to confuse kākā for other birds is in flight. You can see in the image below the characteristic red can be hard to make out against the light from above. Kākā have shorter wings and flap more than a kāhu/harrier, their wings don’t come to a sharp point like a kārearea/falcon, and their undersides do not appear pale like a kererū.

South island kākā from below. Oscar Thomas.

Another give away of a kākā in any situation are their calls, they are vocal and social birds. So listening out for their calls can be a great way to tell where they are, especially at dawn and dusk when they tend to be most vocal. You can listen to a variety of calls on the birds NZ website

If you want to confirm what you heard, or saw are kākā you can always send a photo, video, or audio recording through to kaka@orokonui.nz

How to read leg bands?

To help us gain more knowledge and manage this population, most of the kākā are banded. Each banded kākā will have a series of bands that create a unique colour combination for that individual. To read the leg bands start on the left leg (from the kākā’s perspective) and read top to bottom, then the same on the right leg. Reading leg bands can be tricky but provides great information

I saw a kākā with no leg bands!

There are always a few kākā in the population without leg bands. They may not have been banded as chicks in the sanctuary because the nest was inaccessible, or they may have been born in a nest outside the sanctuary. Recording unbanded kākā is just as important as recording banded ones, just select the unbanded category when reporting the sighting.

I am not in Dunedin but I saw a kākā

Awesome! It is always special to see a kākā wherever you are in Aotearoa/NZ. However, this project is focused on the kākā found around Dunedin. You can still help scientists in other parts of the country by making an observation of your kākā sighting using iNaturalist or eBird.

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Orokonui

Orokonui #ValleyCam now live

Wherever you are in the world you can now see whats happening in the Orokonui valley using our new live #ValleyCam. This feed looks across the Orokonui valley towards one our our mauka/mountains Māpounui.

This live camera looks across the Orokonui valley to Māpounui, from it we will be able to watch birds fly, plants flower, and the valley change with the seasons.

Kā mihi a huge thanks to Port Otago for sponsoring, setting up, and providing technical support for this camera. A massive mihi to Unifone NZ as well for providing our connection free to allow us to stream the Orokonui valley to the world.