18-PRO-0096 Go west... Western sector regional parks Waitākere Ranges Regional Park (Arataki, Huia, Cascade Kauri and Piha depots) • Muriwai Regional Park • Te Rau Puriri Regional Park Western parks at a glance... Being a student ranger in the west Most Aucklanders know the Waitākere Ranges, but not everyone Our students will take part in a five-day induction and will be knows that more than 16,500 hectares of the ranges is regional mentored by a ranger ‘buddy’ from the depot or location where they parkland with 240km of walking and tramping tracks. From the are based. Students will be assigned to Arataki but will be working gateway to the ranges, the Arataki Visitor Centre, over 155,000 across the western regional parks. One student will also be assigned people each year learn about the history of the ranges and get to the Arataki Visitor Centre but will also work in the field with other valuable advice on how to explore the parkland. students. The park has four lodges and four bookable baches, a scientific reserve You will meet the sector student liaison rangers and interact with at Whatipū, historic buildings, monuments and sites, including the duty rangers on a daily basis for work programmes and essential tasks. site of New Zealand’s worst maritime disaster in 1869 when 189 people perished in the wreck of the Orpheus. Tasks will range from visitor patrols, managing volunteer groups, nursery work, track maintenance, weed and pest control to farm work, Around 10,000 school kids take part in education programmes at amenity garden maintenance, sign and barrier maintenance, fencing Arataki each year. From ‘Bob’s Bush Camp’ to space age planet-saving repairs, wildlife monitoring, compliance, by-law enforcement and shenanigans, this is a learning experience with a real difference! seed collection. The Arataki nursery supplies native plants for revegetation and Students are required to have their own transport and will be planting programmes across the regional parks network, and it too reimbursed for mileage if required to use their own vehicle during offers an education component. work time, however this does not include travel to and from their Species restoration is carried out in partnership with the Waitākere place of work. branch of forest & bird in the ark in the park mainland island project. Check out the summer student fact sheet for more information about This unfenced and intensively pest-controlled area at Cascade Kauri tasks and equipment used. is a flagship volunteer programme and a unique insight into the area’s biodiversity. Park staff also work closely with other conservation and Accommodation community improvement initiatives, with local communities within If required, accommodation is available for western students at our and around the Waitākere Ranges. Arataki house, on Scenic Drive across the road from the Arataki Visitor Centre. The sector student coordinators can arrange this. Auckland is renowned for its wild west coast beaches and their black sands. Whatipū, Karekare, Anawhata, Piha and Muriwai are popular Roster throughout the summer and ranger patrols are very important. Students are expected to work every weekend and public holidays. Rostered days off will be Tuesdays and Wednesdays although these Over one million people visit Muriwai Regional Park each year. days could be changed to cover operational necessities. Over the Balancing visitor numbers with the impact of coastal erosion, Christmas and New Year period they will work alongside the duty delicate dune habitats, a popular gannet colony and increasing ranger, other times they will work together as a team on project ‘work recreation demands is a challenge for the Muriwai team. The beach gang days’, spend time based in their allocated depots and may assist itself is unique in that it allows vehicle access, this adds many more the duty ranger when required. When students work on a public issues that rangers must address. Partnerships exist with the Police, holiday they will receive ‘time and a half’ payment and a day in lieu. Hancocks Forests, MAF, Muriwai Surf Club, DOC, community and Iwi. Te Rau Puriri is the west’s newest regional park and although not officially open, is still accessible to the public and used by various groups like horse-riders, scout/venturer groups, tramping clubs etc. Find out more: phone 09 354 8700 or visit careers.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/studentranger.