Volunteer events

Volunteering is a great way to help look after the environment you enjoy.

Volunteer in a park

Learn more about your community, be active in the outdoors and meet new people. There are many events throughout the year. Activities vary but may involve general clean-ups, planting, weeding and mulching.

Some of our planting events are family-friendly and eligible for Children's University (CU) credits.

Find an event for you, your family and friends to join. Please read the volunteer guidelines, then contact the listed organiser.

Community volunteer days

Event Date Contact Children's University credits
Dry Bush autumn maintenance Saturday 2 March Fiona.Fenton@ccc.govt.nz   
Eastside Bush autumn maintenance and BBQ Saturday 9 March Fiona.Fenton@ccc.govt.nz   
Amelia Rogers Reserve maintenance with CVNZ(external link)

Thursday 14 March
Saturday 23 March
Thursday 28 March

christchurch@cvnz.org.nz Yes

Restore planting - Pūharakekenui Styx River, Brooklands(external link)

Saturday 13 April courtney@thestyx.nz Yes

Waikakariki Horseshoe Lake planting with CVNZ

Saturday 27 April
Saturday 18 May

christchurch@cvnz.org.nz Yes
Eco-Action Nursery Trust Chimera / Atlantis Cres planting(external link) Sunday 19 May
Sunday 23 June
ecoactionnt@gmail.com Yes
Barnett Park winter planting Saturday 25 May Fiona.Fenton@ccc.govt.nz  No
Halswell Quarry planting day Saturday 25 May Nigel.Morritt@ccc.govt.nz Yes
Belair Close Corsair Stream planting days Saturday 25 May
Sunday 9 June
RRZRangers@ccc.govt.nz Yes
Bowenvale Reserve winter planting Saturday 8 June Fiona.Fenton@ccc.govt.nz  No
Halswell Quarry planting day Saturday 8 June Nigel.Morritt@ccc.govt.nz Yes
AOFP Brooker Ave forest planting Sunday 9 June
Sunday 14 July
info@aofp.co.nz Yes
Dry Bush winter planting Saturday 15 June  Fiona.Fenton@ccc.govt.nz  No
Halswell Quarry planting day Saturday 22 June Nigel.Morritt@ccc.govt.nz Yes
5000 Trees Deville Place whanau planting day  Friday 19 July RRZRangers@ccc.govt.nz Yes
Halswell Quarry planting day - in association with Trees for Canterbury(external link) Saturday 20 July Nigel.Morritt@ccc.govt.nz Yes
Eco-Action Nursery Trust QEII planting(external link) Sunday 4 August
Sunday 8 September
ecoactionnt@gmail.com Yes
Barnett Park spring maintenance Saturday 28 September Fiona.Fenton@ccc.govt.nz   
Bowenvale Reserve spring maintenance Saturday 5 October Fiona.Fenton@ccc.govt.nz   
Dry Bush spring maintenance Saturday 12 October Fiona.Fenton@ccc.govt.nz   

Regular working bees

Event Next event date Ranger contact
Akaroa Cemetery Once a fortnight heidi.wilton@ccc.govt.nz, 027 547 2933
Ashgrove Reserve(external link)   heidi.wilton@ccc.govt.nz, 027 547 2933
Barnett Park(external link) Every Sunday from 1pm to 3pm rosemary@spiritednz.com
Bottle Lake and Spencer Park  To suit Park Rangers 03 941 8999
Brooker Reserve(external link)

Second Sunday of the month

  • Summer 9am to 11am
  • Winter 10am to midday
avonotakaroforestpark@gmail.com
Charlesworth Reserve (Ferrymead)

Every Sunday:

  • During daylight savings, 3pm to 5pm
  • Rest of year, 2pm to 4pm
Andrew Crossland, 027 434 1155
Coronation Reserve Every Friday from 9am to 10.30am heidi.wilton@ccc.govt.nz, 027 547 2933
CVNZ(external link) Every Wednesday from 9.30am to 12.30pm Donna Lusby, dlusby@cvnz.org.nz
Diamond Harbour Last Sunday of the month through to August from 10am to 1pm heidi.wilton@ccc.govt.nz027 547 2933
Donkey Track First Sunday of the month from 10am to midday

Te Ringatina Group via Heidi Wilton 027 547 2933

Drayton Reserve

Middle Sunday and last Saturday of the month

  • Winter 2pm to 4pm
  • Summer 9am to 11am
Karen Smith, 027 886 5988
Duncan Park Every Friday through to August at midday heidi.wilton@ccc.govt.nz, 027 547 2933
Ernle Clark(external link) Last Saturday of the month from 3pm to 4pm heidi.wilton@ccc.govt.nz, 027 547 2933
Farnley Reserve  Every third Sunday from 9am to 10.30am friendsoffarnley@gmail.com
Laura Kent  First Saturday of every month from 9am to 11am Karen Smith, 027 886 5988
McCormacks Bay Third Sunday of the month from 2pm to 4pm Holly Whitaker, 027 240 6276
Papanui Bush Second Tuesday of the month from 8.30am to 12.30pm Denis McMurtrie, 021 125 1920 
South New Brighton Domain Third Saturday of every month from 2pm to 4pm Pieter Borcherds, 027 611 8655
Styx bird monitoring First Saturday of the month antony.shadbolt@ccc.govt.nz
Styx water quality monitoring Third Saturday of the month styxwq@gmail.com
Thistledown Reserve Last Saturday of the month at 10am Karen Smith, 027 886 5988
Travis Wetland Third Saturday of the month from 9am to 12.30pm John Skilton, 027 4968 935

More opportunities

Event Details

Volunteer track projects

Get involved with the development and maintenance of walking and biking tracks with the Port Hills recreation team. 

Contact Rodney.Chambers@ccc.govt.nz or Nick.Singleton@ccc.govt.nz

Drayton Reserve Volunteer(external link)
(external link)
Regular working bees, sign up for their newsletters to find out when the next one is.
Styx Field Volunteers(external link)(external link) Gain field skills, learn about conservation and help restore native forests to the Pūharakekenu-Styx.

Avon Ōtākaro Forest Park(external link)

We run regular working bees maintaining our 10 sites in the OARC. Follow us on Facebook for event details.(external link)
Eco Canterbury Calendar The Eco Canterbury Calendar lists environment-themed events in the region.
Forest and Bird Youth Christchurch(external link) Forest and Bird Youth Christchurch is an environmental advocacy group for 14 to 25-year-olds.

If you're interested in conservation projects, campaigns and volunteering, contact Alex, Christy or Amelia at forestandbirdyouthchch@gmail.com.
Community gardens(external link) If you're keen to learn more about gardening or want to share your expertise, a community garden might be right for you.
Graffiti removal Get involved with graffiti removal around Christchurch.
Volcan(external link)
(external link)
Volunteer Canterbury offers a wide range of projects for individuals and groups.
Conservation Volunteers New Zealand(external link) Conservation projects.
iNaturalist(external link) Join the online community and record your nature observations on iNaturalist.

You can also explore observations made around New Zealand, and learn more about our native species.

Map of volunteering locations

Help our rangers out. If you see an issue in a park, report it via Snap Send Solve.

Volunteering events