This is part of the Government’s $1.3 billion Jobs for Nature programme to help revitalise communities through nature-based employment and stimulate the economy post COVID-19. We are working with other government agencies to deliver this work.
Our work programme
Our Treaty partner is at the heart of our partnership approach to Jobs for Nature programme.
We will create jobs on private land and public conservation land, in predator control, restoring wetlands, regenerative planting and improving tracks, huts and other recreational assets.
The programme includes:
Kaimahi for Nature
$200 million to work with councils, iwi and local businesses throughout the country to provide nature based jobs both on and off public land, through a regional alliance model. This funding will be targeted towards helping businesses maintain their workforce and do conservation work as they move towards economic recovery.
Restoring Nature
$154.3 million for ecosystem restoration on public land and private land. DOC will work with the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust, NZ Landcare Trust, regional councils, Treaty partners and landholder groups to create jobs in revegetation, pest and weed control, and riparian planting.
Protecting Nature
$147.5 million for jobs in pest control and eradication, including advancing Predator Free New Zealand and working with iwi to prevent the collapse of North Island forests.
Funding allocation
Much of this funding is already allocated to specific projects and organisations, while other funding is more flexible. We are developing a process for how businesses and organisations can input their proposals for this funding.
More information will be available soon. In the meantime, enquiries can be sent to jobsfornature@doc.govt.nz
Work has begun
We have already shown we can provide jobs in nature for people impacted by COVID-19.
For example, DOC received $3.9 million in March 2020 as part of a redeployment package for forestry workers. We have delivered job opportunities for approximately 340 people employed across about 60 projects with that funding.
There is also substantial new funding for Ministry for the Environment to clean up rivers and restore wetlands, and to Land Information NZ to ramp up pest and weed control on Crown land, in rivers and lakes.
The Ministry for Primary Industries gets an additional $100 million over four years for wilding conifer control and $27 million in new funding for wallaby control and to support landowners in protecting biodiversity, freshwater and improving land use practice.
More information about the Government’s $1.3m Jobs for Nature programme.
Connecting with job opportunities
We are working to identify projects that will produce great outcomes for job creation and conservation. We are also using criteria to match jobs and projects to regions that are most impacted by COVID-19 and the downturn in international visitors.
Most of the jobs are being designed to be temporary, with a higher number of people cycling or rotating through them until their previous employment/business recovers.
You’ll need to either have specialised skills such as project management or more general skills such as pest control, planting and weeding. In some cases we are offering training to help upskill potential workers.
Most of the jobs will be advertised through our partners who are leading these initiatives. You can also check the career pages of your local and regional council, iwi, Landcare Trust and QEII National Trust.
We will have more information on which projects have been approved soon. The intention is to track the projects regionally and so we expect to have further information once the systems are up and running and projects have been identified.
In the meantime, if you’re looking for work or need help with your costs until you find a job, Work and Income may be able to help.
