Trainee rangers from Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) have joined flood recovery efforts across the Tasman region, helping restore key conservation sites impacted by the extreme weather events in late June and July.
Each year, new students begin the NZ Certificate in Conservation programme by visiting partner sites and building relationships with the organisations they’ll work with throughout their studies. But this year, the focus shifted from introductions to action.
“We work closely with industry and have some amazing relationships that have been going for years, if not since the inception of the Trainee Ranger programme,” says NMIT tutor Fay McKenzie.
“These relationships are invaluable to us. When we realised they had been hit by the flooding, we changed our plans to include helping as much as we could. This is the nature of working in these environments.”
At Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park, students helped clear debris from “Cruise Control”, a popular beginners trail. “I love working with the trainee rangers because they are always an enthusiastic bunch and do top quality work,” said park manager Ross Maley. “It was a happy day when Fay rang to see if I needed any help in the park as the effects of the flood were quite overwhelming.”
Later, students joined Department of Conservation (DOC) Motueka staff at the Abel Tasman National Park to assist with urgent track maintenance.
NMIT is fortunate to have a longstanding memorandum of understanding (MOU) with DOC.
This longstanding collaboration gives students access to experienced DOC staff, expert instruction, and real-world fieldwork, preparing them for careers in conservation and recreation management. “When the trainee rangers offered to turn up with 40 students to help clear the track, we jumped at the chance,” said Phillip Brooks, DOC Motueka Historic and Visitors Senior Ranger.
The students cleared debris, filled boggy areas, stabilised slips, and repaired drainage critical work before more heavy rain set in. “What we achieved with that number of hands is amazing – and to a high standard. With more heavy rain forecast for the following week we are so grateful we could get those jobs done. We would never have got it done on our own.”
The following week saw students supporting Friends of Otuwhero and DOC at a fragile wetland reserve near Marahau. Floodwaters had buried native plantings and caused riverbank breaches. A large area of recently planted trees had been swamped by sandy and silty wash from the river and had settled over the top of many of these wetland plants. Otuwhero Wetland Trust chair, Helen Lindsay joined the Trainee Rangers and showed the students how to carefully remove material from delicate trees.
“There was a great deal of learning regarding what had happened here and why, and how restoration work can take many forms and shapes,” said Helen. “It was a daunting scene, but the students were very enthusiastic about getting stuck into some mahi, and within hours had made a significant difference.”
While the flood clean-up offered an unexpected start to the academic year, Fay said the experience reinforced the programme’s core values.
“The work our staff and students have done wasn’t just to help with clean-up efforts; it was to offer support to our existing partners who do so much for us as part of our normal course.”
The NMIT trainee ranger programme is built on applied, hands-on training that prepares students for a career in conservation.
Through active engagement with community and government partners, students gain the skills, experience, and mindset needed to care for Aotearoa’s environment, especially when challenges arise.
