Tauira Mahi Conservation Training provides both online and in-person, field-based training options.
Our Bay Conservation Cadets – Tauira Mahi programme ended in April 2025. We have been working hard on this revised model.
From late March 2026 we are piloting this new learning management system, starting with some of our 1 or 2 day field-based units. Our aim is to have our online units and more field-based units available from July 2026.
Looking at nature education for your school? Book into our nature education programme!
What can schools expect?
Our programme provides fully facilitated hands-on experiential conservation education. Students will discover how incredibly unique New Zealand is, gain an insight into many of the conservation challenges in New Zealand, and learn a set of practical conservation skills. Activities and learnings include bird banding and ID, reptile and insect monitoring, rongoa, biosecurity challenges including issues like kauri dieback, and of course the huge challenge of pest management.
We are currently operating at three sites during Term 1 and Term 4 – Aongatete Forest Project and Oteora in the Kaimai Mamaku Conservation Park, and Otanewainuku Forest between Te Puke and Oropi.
If you are keen to find out more about this programme please contact our Education and Engagement Manager Janie Stevenson –
[email protected]
If you would like to contribute a koha to our education programme and would like to support our conservation work, please click on the button below.
EDUCATION
RESOURCES
Useful links to great nature and environmental education resources:
- DOC – Conservation education resources.
- Bay of Plenty Regional Council teacher resources
- Ministry for the Environment – Environmental education resources for teachers.
- WWF – Resources for Teachers.
- Wild Eyes – Nature Missions for Kiwi Kids!
- Learn more about Mautauranga Maori and Science
- Get to know native bird songs and calls
- Young Ocean Explorers
- Teacher Vision – A range of teaching resources including lots on wildlife.
- Project Jonah World of Whales Kit – Educational resource kit to help teach kids about whales and their environment.
COOL
APPS
Useful apps to help you identify NZ native plants and animals when out and about:
- iNaturalist – helps you identify the plants and animals around you
- Tree ID App
- NZ Flora Finder – Plant ID
- Merlin Bird ID – Free, instant bird ID
- Birds of NZ
- SeaSpotter – Marine mammal citizen science ID app
USEFUL
LINKS
Useful links on community conservation opportunities:
- DOC – Information on how to get involved in conservation
- DOC Volunteer Days in Tauranga
- DOC Volunteer Days in Rotorua
- DOC Volunteer Days in Whakatāne
- DOC – Conservation status of plants and animals– Animal and plant conservation and the pests and threats that threaten them
- Bay of Plenty conservation groups
- Envirohub
- Bay of Plenty Regional Council – Our Region and Environment
- NZ Landcare Trust
- QEII National Trust
- Predator Free NZ