Environment & Sustainability Internships: Intern abroad in Auckland, New Zealand
Environmental & Sustainability internships provide learning experiences for students and recent graduates. Customized placements are possible with a range of companies and organizations, whose operations are undertaken through an environmental lens. If you’re passionate about developing a career where the value of environmental and sustainability policy is at the forefront, these internships will help build your resume with practical experience.
What to expect from your Environment & Sustainability internship:
- Gain experience learning about the environmental and/or sustainability priorities of an organization.
- Connect with experienced professionals to grow your network and confidence.
- Enjoy the world famous tourist adventures on offer in New Zealand.
Your internship abroad host organization:
- Conservation agencies
- Environmental NGOs
- Eco-tourism companies
- Private sector companies
Internship details
If you’re looking to build a career related to environment and sustainability, then choose an internship which can start you off in this direction! Environment & Sustainability internships in New Zealand provide scope to connect with diverse companies or non-profit organizations. Whether you’re keen on environmental policy and planning, education, entrepreneurial efforts, or working with conservation teams, there are broad opportunities to learn from.
This is an in-country internship, with accommodation included. Click here to view remote Environmental & Marine Sciences internships, which you can undertake from home.
New Zealand is widely considered as one of the most naturally beautiful countries in the world. Residents of the country are proud to enjoy access to its endless beaches, picturesque mountain ranges, and deep green bushlands. At the same time, travelers from around the world visit every year, to experience the top selection of eco and nature tourism attractions. Despite these advantages, like most countries, there are many environmental challenges to address. Whether focusing on coast and waterway conservation, sustainable growth, carbon emissions, better agricultural practices, or environmental education for youth, there is much to do and learn.
For internships in this field, a broad range of placements can be sourced. Note that the placements are not typically not related to science, research or data collection, but are usually more inclined to connect interns with opportunities where companies or non-profit organizations seek to progress environmentally sustainable initiatives. Tasks can often be administrative or more office-bound. If you want a “hands on” science/research/fieldwork kind of internship experience instead, please let us know and we can discuss alternative internship destinations, where this can be better accommodated.
Interns should expect that their current level of experience will be taken into consideration, along with their study field, areas of interest, and availability according to chosen internship dates. If you have specific skills or would like to focus your internship on a particular area, please include details in your application. All interns wishing to fulfill academic requirements during this internship experience must ensure that their needs are informed in advance. Preferences are always subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed.
Note that, subject to availability, some internship placements within this field may be based on Waiheke Island, rather than in Auckland city. Waiheke Island is the second-largest island, located in the Hauraki Gulf of New Zealand. It is known for its warm climate, scenic beaches, art galleries, and numerous wineries. Scheduled ferry services regularly sail to and from Waiheke, as passenger services operate from Downtown Auckland to Waiheke’s Matiatia wharf. Trips take approximately 40 minutes.
In all cases, interns should expect that the first week of your experience will focus on settling in and gaining some introductory knowledge, as you will not “hit the ground running”. Rather, you should start with learning about the placement to gain an understanding of what you can build upon, develop, learn, and contribute. Ensure that you ask questions and provide feedback during the introductory period, so that your supervisor understands how you’re progressing. This will help them to better understand important details, such as how quickly you learn, what you find challenging, what you find interesting, etc.
Typical Schedule
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Approximately Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm.
What are the career benefits of interning abroad as a Environment & Sustainability Intern?
Environment & Sustainability interns learn from a qualified and experienced supervisor, and can be involved in:
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Contribute to day-to-day operations within company or NGO administrative and management teams.
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Assist with community engagement sessions concerning environmental issues.
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Develop content for potential media strategies, campaigns, events, or workshops (etc).
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Liaise with team members or other departments to collaborate with multifaceted projects and priorities.
Professional development opportunities:
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Learn about diverse conservation priorities and the initiatives or policies that address them.
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Connect with industry professionals who can provide career insights and mentorship.
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Improve your critical thinking, communication, research and analytical skills.
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Build your capacity to professionally contribute within a workplace environment.
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Gain practical skills and boost your employability, with guidance from Intern Abroad HQ’s Experiential Learning Curriculum to support your learning and cultural intelligence.
Are you eligible for this internship?
Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.
Not sure which program to join?
New Zealand photo gallery
Academic credit available for all internships
Get course credit from your college or university while completing your internship abroad or a remote internship program. It's a great way to meet your academic requirements and gain valuable experience at the same time.
Learn about course creditProgram fees
Applying for our Environment & Sustainability Internship is completely free! The support package covers the assistance we provide in finding your internship and arranging your living accommodations in your host country, ensuring you thrive during your program.
Please note that a deposit of US$499 is required to confirm your place. The remaining balance (minus your initial US$499 deposit) is due at least 60 days before your internship start date.
Duration |
Program Fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| 12 weeks | $4,834 Equivalent to $57 /day |
| 16 weeks | $5,904 Equivalent to $52 /day |
| 20 weeks | $6,864 Equivalent to $49 /day |
| 24 weeks | $7,824 Equivalent to $46 /day |
- Airport pick-up
- Accommodation
- 24/7 in-country support
- Program orientation
- Dedicated support before, during, and after your internship
- In-country guidance for social and tourist activities
- Sourcing and securing your internship placement
- Personalization of your internship plan
- Coaching from your supervisor
- Documented portfolio of your experiential learnings
- Academic credit facilitation
- International reference letter
- Certificate of Internship Completion
- All meals
- All in-country transportation
- Transfer back to the airport at the end of your internship program
- Visa (if required), flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check
- Personal spending money for snacks, drinks, public transport, laundry, and leisure activities during your free time.
Activities and tourism
During the internship program, weekends are available for free time and leisure activities. As New Zealand’s main hub, there is no shortage of attractions and natural landmarks to check out in Auckland, as well as ongoing arts, sporting, cultural and entertainment events. The Auckland Civic Theatre and Auckland Town Hall often host events and performances to enjoy and the Aotea Square is typically home to various festivals. Auckland’s main venues for sporting events and concerts include Eden Park, Mt Smart Stadium, and the Spark Arena. For museum and art enthusiasts, don’t miss Auckland War Memorial Museum, MOTAT, Auckland Art Gallery, and New Zealand Maritime Museum. The Rainbow’s End amusement park is a fun weekend activity but thrillseekers shouldn’t look past New Zealand’s natural attractions and adventure tourism activities for the best way to really get out and experience the country!
Our local team in New Zealand are available to advise you on some of the greatest things to see and do, so that you can really make the most of your time - especially if you want to connect with others to make new friends and explore the region socially. Whether connecting for dinners, joining social events, planning weekend excursions such as hikes, winery tours, surfing trips, white water rafting, black water rafting, hot pools, or… let’s face it… a visit to Hobbiton, our team are available to ensure you make incredible memories that will last a lifetime.
Once you have confirmed your internship in New Zealand and are in the planning stages of your trip, you’ll be welcome to reach out to our Auckland based team for support, if you want advance information about planning your free time (especially if you want to plan activities and travel either before or after your internship duration). Otherwise, you can expect to learn more about the free-time opportunities during your internship orientation in-country. The team will always remain available throughout your internship as well, should you wish to sign up for activities as you go!
Arrival and Orientation
Internships in Auckland begin every Monday. Exceptions may be made to this when start dates are shifted to avoid public holiday disruptions or closed when the program has already reached capacity. Interns may choose to spend a minimum of 12 weeks, up to a maximum of 24 weeks.
Airport pick up and accommodation are included in the Program Fee. Interns are required to arrive no later than the Sunday before their Monday start date, as all orientations are held on Mondays. The port of entry is the Auckland Airport (AKL). Upon arrival, interns will be met, greeted, and transferred to the accommodation.
If you are planning to spend time independently in Auckland prior to your internship and will not require an international airport pick up, we can arrange an alternative pick up from another convenient location within the city.
The last night of the accommodation is calculated according to your arrival date. For example, if you arrive on the Sunday night before your Monday start date, then you would depart on the Sunday of your last week. If you arrive a day earlier, on the Saturday instead, then you will check out from the accommodation on the Saturday of your last week. Extra nights of accommodation can be arranged in advance, if requested and are subject to availability.
Orientations are mandatory and currently held remotely. You will receive an invite for this. During your orientation, you’ll have the chance to meet the local staff and other interns (that are starting on the same date as you), discuss program expectations, responsibilities, and requirements. The orientation covers essential details about your host country, safety, accommodation guidelines, cultural customs and differences, weekend excursions, etc.
Please note that all participants are advised not to book flights until they have first registered to confirm their internship placement.
Check what's required to visit New Zealand
Check out the widget below to learn about the visa requirements for the Environment & Sustainability internship in New Zealand, based on your country of residence.
Accommodation and WiFi
All interns in Auckland, New Zealand, are accommodated in student apartments within or near the city. The central location of the accommodation is ideal for commuting to internship placements within the downtown area. These apartments are close to public transportation routes, as well as shops, restaurants, cafes, entertainment, and parks. Public buses also provide access to surrounding beaches and popular seaside suburbs, such as Takapuna and Mission Bay.
Apartments are small and basic, yet clean, comfortable, secure and adequately furnished. Interns can expect to have their own private room and bedding is provided. The apartment can be co-inhabited with up to 5 other international students / interns, so the kitchen and living room are shared spaces. (The typical apartment size is 3 bedrooms, with a maximum of one guest per room, but some apartments have capacity for 4-5 bedrooms). All roommates are expected to respect common areas, keeping them clean, tidy and comfortable for all guests. Laundry facilities are also available within the accommodation.
Please expect apartments to be mixed gender in the city centre. Single sex apartments are possible, but this needs to be specified in advance and is subject to availability. If you are interning alongside a friend, please let us know and we can aim to ensure you’re accommodated together (subject to availability).
WiFi is not included within all of the apartments (in some cases, it may be available for an additional fee, taken care of in-country). The internship orientation will provide a local sim card, which you can use to ensure you have data and connectivity on your own smartphone. Ensure that your phone is unlocked for international use prior to your arrival in New Zealand, so that you can use the sim card and stay online.
It is important to note that an accommodation bond may be requested from the accommodation provider. The cost of the bond may range between NZD$250 - NZD$700, so you must budget for this. However, this bond is fully refundable to you, upon your departure, provided that inspection has been completed to confirm that you have not caused damage to the property. Room changes are unavailable. No compensation or refund will be offered should an intern independently choose alternative lodging during their stay.
The accommodation pictured in the photo gallery of this webpage is provided as an example. Since we work with more than one apartment, the exact accommodation that you’re assigned may differ from the photos. Rooms sizes, along with storage space, varies. However, you may assume to receive a single-sized bedroom (as per the photos).
Meals
It is important to note that internships in Auckland do not include meals. However, the shared apartment (which is included in the Program Fee) provides kitchen facilities where interns are welcome to prepare their own meals and snacks. A recommended food budget of US$100 - US$150 should be sufficient for purchasing weekly groceries to prepare meals and packed lunches. You should budget more for meal purchases if you eat out frequently. There are some relatively affordable eateries, including Thai, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Italian options (and more). There is a booming food scene in the city and the Britomart waterfront precinct, comprised of heritage buildings, hosts an eclectic collection of bars, cafés and restaurants. Chat to your internship placement colleagues for the best local tips about where to go for great taste and value!
Essential country information
| Capital | Wellington |
| Population | 4.79 million |
| Languages | English, Māori, NZ Sign Language |
| Currency | New Zealand dollar ($ - NZD) |
| Time zone | UTC+12:00 |
Weather and climate:
New Zealand is considered to have a maritime or temperate oceanic climate, meaning that both the summers and winters are typically moderate. Rainfall, wind and cloud cover can occur year round and conditions vary from wetter on the west coast, to dryer in inland or eastern regions. In Auckland, where the internship program is based, the summers are comfortable (from late December through late March) and the winters are cold and wet. The average daily high temperature throughout the summer is between 15°C and 24°C (59°F and 75°F). In the winter, it’s between 8°C and 16°C (46°F and 60°F).
What recent Environment & Sustainability interns said about their experience
I love taking on challenges and this experience has really helped me grow my confidence and showed me that I can be independent and that I can push myself out of my comfort zone. It helped me realize what sort of career path I want to go down, as well as grew my inspiration for this type of work. I was lucky enough to work alongside some of the most amazing people who were so passionate about what they do - it was so inspiring! As well as this, I was able to be involved in numerous different projects which were all super interesting and it really opened my mind as to what sort of things I might want to get involved in as a career. I loved every second of it and I wouldn’t have changed one bit of it.
I learned a lot about the carbon offsetting industry, something I knew very little about before I started my internship. I was also able to work on several projects within the marketing team which was very insightful, as I had no marketing experience prior to the internship (nor was it something I had touched upon in any of my university studies). In general, I learned some of the basics of how a company operates, from sitting in on weekly team meetings and hearing updates from marketing, sales, finance, product, tech, and the leadership team. I came away from this internship having further refined my skills, while also learning new skills. My recommendation for future interns would be to make an effort to form friendships either with flatmates, colleagues or other interns. I would also recommend getting out of the city - although Auckland is a great city, there are some really cool places to visit further out (I particularly liked the Coromandel and the West Coast where you can go surfing).
To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.
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