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.
| Event | Date | Contact | Children's University credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banks Ave planting with AV0N(external link) | 10am to midday Sunday 30 August | kiaora@avonotakaronetwork.org | Yes |
| Welcome Week planting at Avon Park(external link) | 10am to 1pm, Saturday 5 September | sarah.mankelow@ccc.govt.nz | Yes |
| Barnett Park spring plant care day | 1pm to 3pm, Saturday 26 September | fiona.fenton@ccc.govt.nz | Yes |
| Dry Bush spring plant care day | 1pm to 3pm, Saturday 3 October | fiona.fenton@ccc.govt.nz | Yes, but the site is steep and may not be suitable for children. |
| Dry Bush spring plant care day | 1pm to 3pm, Saturday 10 October | fiona.fenton@ccc.govt.nz | Yes, but the site is steep and may not be suitable for children. |
| Eastside Bush spring plant care day | 1pm to 3pm, Saturday 17 October | fiona.fenton@ccc.govt.nz | Yes, but the site is steep and may not be suitable for children. |
| Event | Next event date | Ranger contact |
|---|---|---|
| Akaroa Cemetery(external link) | Once a fortnight | Linda Sunderland: lindajohnnz@gmail.com |
| Addington Park(external link) | First Saturday of the month, 10am to 11am | Friends of Addington Park Facebook(external link) |
| Bottle Lake and Spencer Park | To suit | Park Rangers: 03 941 8999 |
| Brooker Reserve(external link) |
Second Sunday of the month:
|
avonotakaroforestpark@gmail.com |
| Charlesworth Reserve(external link) (Ferrymead) |
Every Sunday:
|
info@estuary.org.nz |
|
Corfe Reserve, Ilam |
During daylight savings hours – every Wednesday 6pm to 7pm Winter working bees – last Sunday of the month 10am to 11am |
Community Ranger: annaliese.caukwellmills@ccc.govt.nz who can put you in touch with the volunteers. |
| Coronation Reserve(external link) | Every Friday from 9am to 10.30am | Andrew Craig: andrew@acla.co.nz |
| Crosbie Park, Avonhead |
Once a month on a Tuesday from 9.30am to 10.30am |
Community Ranger: annaliese.caukwellmills@ccc.govt.nz |
| CVNZ(external link) | Every Wednesday from 9.30am to 12.30pm | Donna Lusby: dlusby@cvnz.org.nz |
| Diamond Harbour(external link) | Last Sunday of the month through to August, from 10am to 1pm | To be confirmed |
| Donkey Track(external link) | First Sunday of the month from 10am to midday |
Te Ringatini Group via Rowena Potter or James Beck: |
| Drayton Reserve |
Every Wednesday and Saturday:
|
Dave Bryce: ecosolutions@xtra.co.nz Email Dave to sign up for the Drayton Reserve newsletter for the most up-to-date information |
| Duncan Park(external link) | Every Friday through to August at midday |
John Marsh: jmarshtree@gmail.com |
| Ernle Clark(external link) | Last Saturday of the month from 3pm to 4pm | Alice Shanks: alice@caverock.net.nz |
|
Essex Reserve and Olliviers Reserve, Phillipstown. |
Once a month on a weekday for two hours. Park alternates each month. |
Community Ranger: annaliese.caukwellmills@ccc.govt.nz |
| Farnley Reserve | Every third Sunday from 9am to 10.30am | friendsoffarnley@gmail.com |
| Laura Kent (external link) | First Saturday of every month from 9am to 11am | Dugald Wilson: dugaldwil@gmail.com(external link) |
| McCormacks Bay(external link) | Third Sunday of the month from 2pm to 4pm | info@estuary.org.nz |
|
Macfarlane Park, Mairehau |
Community garden meets Thursday 9.30am to 11.30am (Summer hours) |
Shirley Community Trust(external link) 03 981 5521 |
|
Nepal Reserve |
First Sunday of the month (public holidays can change this), 10.30am to midday |
|
|
Packe Reserve Community Garden, Edgeware |
Mondays and Thursdays from 3pm to 5pm |
Packe Street Park and Community Garden | Christchurch | Facebook(external link) |
| Papanui Bush |
Second Tuesday of the month from 8.30am to 12.30pm Additional dates for 2025:
|
For general and Tuesday working bee enquiries: For Saturday working bee enquiries: Kathy Anderson kcne.anderson@gmail.com |
|
Rāwhiti Domain, New Brighton |
Every Wednesday from 12.30pm to 3pm |
|
| Scarborough Beach Esplanade | Every second Thursday from 9.30am to 11am |
Contact Elisabeth Tanner for the next date: elisabeth.tanner@ccc.govt.nz |
| 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: antony.shadbolt@ccc.govt.nz |
| Styx water quality monitoring | Third Saturday of the month | styxwq@gmail.com |
| Gentle gardening @ Swanns Road Wildlife Garden(external link) | Every Friday from 9am to 10am | sarah.mankelow@ccc.govt.nz |
| Thistledown Reserve(external link) | Last Saturday of the month at 10am | info@estuary.org.nz |
| Travis Wetland | Third Saturday of the month from 9am to 12.30pm | John Skilton: 027 4968 935 |
| 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) | Regular working bees, sign up for their newsletters to find out when the next one is |
| Styx Field Volunteers(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) | 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 |
|
Wainoni Park, Aranui. |
Get involved in a monthly rubbish clean-up in Wainoni Park. 2026 dates TBC. Contact community ranger Annaliese.CaukwellMills@ccc.govt.nz for more information |
|
Get involved in helping two long-standing volunteers plant and maintain plants along Kennaway Reserve |
|
|
Lewisham Reserve, St. Albans
|
If you’re local to the area, get involved in working bees with self-directed volunteers. Ranger can put you in touch with the volunteers. Contact community ranger Annaliese.CaukwellMills@ccc.govt.nz |
|
Get involved helping a small group of volunteers look after a fruit orchard, book cubby and native plants to enhance biodiversity. |
|
| Science Alive Reserve, Sydenham. |
Caring for and planting in planter boxes with Vaka Tautua organisation. Contact: enquiries@vakatautua.co.nz |
Map of volunteering locations
Help our rangers out. If you see an issue in a park, report it via Snap Send Solve.
