Nursery Support

Mōkai te ngākau. He whenua he oranga. E ū ai ki te pae roa

The land sustains and nurtures as we reach to the horizon

Tūaropaki Trust (http://www.tuaropaki.com) is an Ahu Whenua Trust under the auspices of Te Ture Whenua Māori. There are more than 2,700 Owners, a mix of individuals, Whānau Trusts and Kaitiaki Trusts, all descended from the original Owners. The Trust is a kaitiaki for ancestral taonga and manages complex business interests in the food and energy sectors, with assets valued at approximately $1 billion.

Ngā mātāpono | Our values

• Whakapono – Inner belief in the Tūaropaki vision
• Kia Ū – Commitment, diligence
• Kia Manawanui – Courage, adaptability, strategic foresight and humility

Te tūranga | Your Role

We are looking for a practical and reliable person to join our Native Nursery team on a fixed- term basis from 29 June to 29 August 2026.

The Native Nursery plays a direct role in Tūaropaki’s commitment to restoring and caring for the whenua — this is meaningful, hands-on work with real purpose. You will support the day-to-day running of the nursery, including plant care, propagation, preparing plant orders, stock checks, weeding, re-potting and general maintenance. Working alongside the wider nursery team, you’ll help keep daily tasks moving, maintain tidy and safe work areas, and follow Health and Safety procedures.

This is a hands-on outdoor role. You will need to be comfortable lifting and moving plants, standing for long periods, and working in changing weather conditions.

The role is Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 4:00pm and is based in Mōkai, Taupo.

Key Responsibilities:

• Prepare plant orders, move and organise plants, and support delivery as required
• Collect and process seeds and cuttings, assist with propagation, pricking out seedlings and re-potting
• Complete plant and seed stock checks, and support replacement planting on site
• Keep work areas tidy through weeding, mowing, weed eating, water blasting and cleaning
• Support basic maintenance and assist with spraying where appropriately trained or supervised
• Work safely, use PPE and equipment correctly, and raise any hazards or concerns

What You’ll Bring:

• Basic native plant knowledge, and experience or interest in nursery work, gardening, planting or outdoor maintenance
• Good physical fitness and ability to work outdoors in changing conditions
• Attention to detail, clear communication and a practical approach to problem-solving
• Reliability, a positive team attitude and willingness to pitch in where needed
• Ability to follow instructions, work safely and look out for others
• GrowSafe and/or First Aid Certificate preferred but not required

Why Tūaropaki?

You’ll be part of a small, hands-on team doing meaningful work — caring for native plants and contributing to the long-term restoration of Tūaropaki’s whenua.

We warmly encourage Tūaropaki uri with an interest in native plants, outdoor mahi and caring for the whenua to apply.

If you’re reliable, physically fit, enjoy working outdoors and being part of a team, we’d love to hear from you.

 

Applications close 14 June, 5.00 pm.