Environment & Sustainability Internships in Auckland
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.
Internship Highlights:
- Gain hands-on experience learning about diverse environmental and sustainability priorities.
- Contribute to private or public sector conservation efforts in New Zealand, learning from experienced local professionals.
- Enjoy the world famous tourist adventures on offer in New Zealand.
Type of host organizations:
- 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 that aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty, 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. 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.
Internship placements related to Environment & Sustainability in New Zealand may also be involved with the incorporation of te ao Māori (the Māori world) into business and/or organizational practices. Incorporating Māori into environmental policy and initiatives adds value to Aotearoa New Zealand’s vision of a thriving environment, for every generation.
Note that, subject to availability, some internship placements within this field may be based on Waikeke 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. It is also here where a professional not-for-profit organization works on local projects to restore the environment, protect natural resources, and build sustainable resilience. 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 your spare time, you’ll be able to explore. New Zealand is renowned for adventure tourism and incredible environmental diversity, so come to New Zealand ready to enjoy natural landscapes - from glaciers and mountains, to stunning lakes, beaches, native bush and incredible geothermal attractions. From Auckland city, many regions are just a short flight away.
Typical Schedule
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Approximately Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm.
Career Benefits
Environment & Sustainability interns learn from a qualified and experienced supervisor, and can be involved in:
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Conduct field tasks to conserve natural environments (subject to availability and seasonality).
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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.
New Zealand photo gallery
Read reviews from our New Zealand Interns
”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.”
Read reviews from our New Zealand Interns
Academic credit available for all internships
Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing an internship abroad or remote internship program with Intern Abroad HQ.
Learn about course creditProgram fees
It’s free to apply for this internship. Once we have reviewed your suitability and accepted you onto this program, you’ll need to pay a deposit of US$449 to confirm your place. The remaining balance of your Program Fee (less your initial US$449 deposit payment) will be due no less than 60 days before your internship start date.
Duration |
Program Fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| 12 weeks | $4,459Equivalent to $53/day |
| 14 weeks | $4,899Equivalent to $49/day |
| 16 weeks | $5,449Equivalent to $48/day |
| 18 weeks | $5,889Equivalent to $46/day |
| 20 weeks | $6,329Equivalent to $45/day |
| 22 weeks | $6,769Equivalent to $43/day |
| 24 weeks | $7,209Equivalent to $42/day |
- Accommodation
- 24/7 in-country support
- Airport pick-up
- 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
- Meals
- Visa (if required), flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check
- Transfer back to the airport at the end of your internship program
- Optional extras, such as language lessons
- Souvenirs and leisure activities during your free time
- Personal spending money to cover basic expenses such as drinks, snacks, laundry, public transportation, and any meals not included in your Program Fee
- A deposit of $449 USD is required to secure your internship
- It is important to note that internships in Auckland do not include meals and interns should budget to cover this Independently. Kitchen facilities are provided in all accommodation for independent meal preparation. An accommodation security deposit of approx. NZ$700 must be paid in-country but this is fully refundable, subject to inspection of the accommodation upon departure and confirmation that there have been no damages.
- Balance of your Program Fee is due 60 days before your internship start date.
- All payments attract a 5% transaction fee to cover international banking fees and currency charges.
- Terms and Conditions apply.
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.
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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$600, 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.
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!
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!
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).
