Ranger Local Bodies

• Help support a unique alpine community through the delivery of essential water and wastewater services.

• Work across drinking water and wastewater systems to deliver reliable, safe, and compliant services for the community

• Salary Range: $65,590 to $76,589 depending on skills and experience 

• Full-time, Permanent opportunity based in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park!

Our vision: Nature is thriving in Aotearoa | Te Oranga o te Ao Tūroa

Mō te tūranga | About the role

We’re looking for a practical, motivated Ranger to join our team in a hands-on technical role focused on operating and maintaining Aoraki village’s water infrastructure in a remote alpine environment.

You’ll play a key role in delivering essential services by combining field-based operational work with technical and compliance responsibilities.

Key responsibilities include:

• Operate and maintain drinking water, wastewater, and firefighting water systems

• Assisting with a range of local body and infrastructure services as required - including being on the weekend duty roster which is shared amongst the team

• Monitor treatment plant performance and network functionality

• Undertake routine inspections, sampling, testing, and maintenance

• Respond to faults, alarms, and operational issues

• Complete reporting, record keeping, and compliance documentation

• Support asset management and infrastructure improvement work

• Work safely in a dynamic alpine environment and participate in team response activities

Click here for the Role Description

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

We’re looking for someone practical, reliable, and motivated to learn. Experience in water treatment or infrastructure operations is highly desirable, but we’re open to developing the right candidate.

You may bring:

• Experience working with drinking water, wastewater, reticulation networks, or related infrastructure

• Mechanical, electrical, plumbing, trade, or operational maintenance experience

• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently

• Good computer and administrative skills, including reporting and monitoring

• A strong health and safety mindset

• The ability to work positively within a small team and remote environment

Desirable

• Level 4 or Level 5 qualifications in water or wastewater treatment

• Experience working within compliance or regulated operational environments

• Understanding of New Zealand drinking water or wastewater standards

Mō te tīma | About the team

As a Local Body team member working in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, you will be part of a small team who maintain infrastructure and provide services to the remote alpine village. These services include building maintenance, potable water, wastewater, roading and snow clearing, landscaping, rural fire, solid waste (rubbish), and flood protection.

Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park is part of the Te Waipounamu UNESCO World Heritage Area, covering approximately 70,000 hectares of alpine landscape including Aoraki/Mount Cook, Tasman Glacier, and Hooker Valley. The village is a small, remote community with around 300 residents in summer, located 70km from Twizel and 200km from Timaru.  

He aha ngā pāinga mōu? | What’s in it for you?

DOC places importance on developing a culture where everyone can participate, thrive, and grow.  We’re working towards being an organisation that is diverse, equitable and inclusive by default. 

• Unique opportunity to live and work in an iconic alpine environment

• Meaningful work supporting an essential community service

• Ongoing training and professional development

• Support to gain Level 4 or 5 water/wastewater qualifications

• Supportive, purpose-driven team culture

If you enjoy practical technical work, take pride in providing essential services, and want to work somewhere extraordinary, we’d love to hear from you.

You can learn more about what we offer here.

Tonoa inaiānei | Apply now

Apply online with a CV and cover letter that highlights your relevant skills, experience and motivation for joining Te Papa Atawhai. Please note, due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to accept direct or emailed applications and provide feedback to those not shortlisted.

If you require any accommodations or adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.

The salary range for this position is $65,590 to $76,589 with the starting salary of the successful applicant being based on their relevant skills and experience.

Eligibility to work in New Zealand is mandatory – this includes holding a valid work visa that covers the whole period of employment.

Rā whakakapi | Applications close at 11:59 pm on Monday 01 June 2026.

Me he pātai anō, whakapā mai | For further enquiries, please contact James McKibbin at jmckibbin@doc.govt.nz.