Protect kōkako. Restore the forest. Be part of something special.

Are you keen to get out into the bush—or support conservation from behind the scenes? The Rotoehu Ecological Trust is powered by passionate volunteers helping us protect one of Aotearoa’s largest kōkako populations.

Whether you love the outdoors or prefer contributing from your desk, there’s a place for you here.

🧭 What’s Involved

Here are some of the ways you can help:

In the Forest

• Track maintenance – Clearing, marking, and maintaining bait lines
• Bait station work – Refilling or clearing bait stations as part of our pest control operations
• Ecological monitoring – Helping set out or retrieve acoustic recorders and monitoring devices and interpreting the results
• Species observations – Recording birds, plants, and wildlife via iNaturalist

Behind the Scenes

• Fundraising and grant writing – Help us apply for funding or organise community fundraisers
• Administration – Assist with scheduling, emails, volunteer coordination, or reporting
• Communications – Contribute to our social media, website, photography, or newsletters
• Governance – Join our trust board or working groups if you have relevant experience

No matter your skills or availability, we’d love to hear from you.

🧰 What We Provide

• PPE and tools for fieldwork
• Snacks and drinks on workdays (including Kokako Organic Coffee!)
• Support, training, and all the background info you need
• A friendly team of passionate volunteers and experts
• Flexibility – join us regularly or just when you can

🎒 What You’ll Need

• For fieldwork: Sturdy footwear, weather-appropriate clothing, water, a backpack, and enthusiasm
• For admin/support roles: A bit of time, a steady internet connection, and a passion for conservation

📅 When & Where

• Bush workdays usually happen monthly March through November in Rotoehu Forest
• Admin and support roles can be done remotely and flexibly
• Special projects and events pop up throughout the year

We’ll keep you in the loop via email, Facebook, and our newsletter.

💬 Ready to Get Involved?

Fill out the form below letting us know your interests and availability—we’ll find a role that suits you.

🐦 Why It Matters

With your help, we’ve grown our kōkako population by 366%-and we’re not stopping there. Our volunteers make it possible to protect over 1,600 hectares of forest, home to kōkako, titipounamu, toutouwai, pekapeka, and more.

Together, we’re bringing the forest back to life.