Marine Internship 2026/27

Spend your summer in the water, working with people and making a difference for our moana.

We’re offering a Marine Internship this year — and it could be you.

Mountains to Sea Wellington is looking for a passionate, confident and outdoorsy Marine Intern to join our team and help deliver two of our most popular programmes: Experiencing Marine Reserves (EMR) and Love Rimurimu.

This is a hands-on opportunity to get stuck into marine conservation, education and community engagement across the Wellington region. You’ll spend time in the water, work alongside an experienced team, meet awesome people and build practical skills that can help launch a career in the conservation sector.

If you love the ocean, enjoy working with people and want to spend your summer doing something that matters — we’d love to hear from you.

What you’ll be part of

Experiencing Marine Reserves (EMR) is our term-long marine education programme, taking students from the classroom to the pool and, ultimately, into the ocean to explore their local marine environment.

Over summer, we also run Community Snorkel events, giving people from across the region the chance to experience their local marine environment for themselves.

You’ll work alongside our Coordinators to help make these programmes and events happen — from getting gear ready and supporting volunteers, to being in the water with students and communities.

You’ll also have opportunities to contribute to Love Rimurimu, restoration projects, community science and other mahi as part of our small, energetic team.

What you’ll do

No two days will look exactly the same. You could be:

• Helping deliver marine education programmes to schools and communities.
• Supporting snorkel days and community events.
• Getting in the water and helping students and participants have safe, positive marine experiences.
• Supporting student and community-led environmental action projects.
• Helping coordinate and look after volunteers.
• Preparing, maintaining and transporting marine equipment, vehicles and trailers.
• Helping develop educational and interpretive resources.
• Capturing stories, photos and content for our social media.
• Taking part in planning and team meetings.
• Supporting community science and restoration activities.
• Learning how to safely operate in a range of marine and outdoor environments.

You’ll receive on-the-job training and support from our experienced team, with plenty of opportunities to develop your practical skills and confidence.

We’re looking for someone who…

You don’t need to tick every box, but you’ll ideally have:

• Confidence and experience in the ocean, including snorkelling and/or diving. This is essential.
• A genuine love of nature, the outdoors and te taiao — and the enthusiasm to share that with others.
• A good level of fitness and resilience. We work outside in all sorts of conditions — hot, cold, wet and windy!
• Marine science knowledge or experience, either through study or hands-on experience.
• Experience working with young people is a bonus.
• The ability to connect with and work positively with a wide range of people.
• A commitment to working in a way that reflects the principles of te Tiriti o Waitangi.
• An understanding of the local environmental, social and cultural context.
• A willingness to get stuck in, solve problems and tackle a varied workload.
• A full driver's licence, or the ability to reliably get to programme sites or meet-up points.
• Great communication, organisation and teamwork skills.

Skills in photography, social media, fundraising, websites or communications would also be a bonus.

What you’ll get out of it

This isn’t just a summer job. It’s an opportunity to build real experience in the marine conservation sector.

You’ll gain:

• Practical experience delivering marine conservation and education programmes.
• Increased in-water experience and confidence.
• Experience working safely in the marine environment, including weather awareness and rescue skills.
• Experience working with schools, communities and volunteers.
• An understanding of how environmental programmes are planned and delivered.
• A network of conservation contacts across Aotearoa.
• Potential pathways into future employment and conservation careers.
• The opportunity to become a fully endorsed EMR Coordinator, opening the door to EMR work elsewhere in Aotearoa.
• Potential support for further training, such as first aid certification.
• Access to the intern allowance and staff benefits available at Mountains to Sea Wellington.
• And, importantly… lots of time in the sea!

When and where?

This internship is ideally suited to 3–4 days per week across the school year and summer programme period.

October– mid December 2026
Mid January–April 2027

Exact working days will vary depending on school bookings and programme needs. Some weekend work will be required for Community Snorkel events.

You’ll be based across the greater Wellington region, so being able to travel to programme sites or meet-up points is important.

About Mountains to Sea Wellington

We’re a passionate, practical and purpose-driven team working to connect people to te taiao.

We deliver environmental education, community programmes, events, restoration and community science across Te Upoko o te Ika a Māui and Wairarapa.

Our keystone programmes — Experiencing Marine Reserves, Whitebait Connection and Love Rimurimu — are all about connecting people with the environment and helping communities care for the places they live.

We’re a small team, which means interns don’t just sit on the sidelines. You’ll be part of the mahi, part of the team and part of making things happen.

Ready to dive in?

There’s only one Marine Internship available this year.

If this sounds like the kind of summer you’d love to spend — in the water, outdoors, working with people and helping create a healthier future for our moana — we want to hear from you.

How to apply

Please email one PDF to roni.mohan@mtsw.org.nz with:

Subject: Marine Internship 26/27
File name: firstname_lastnameMI.pdf

Please include:

1. Cover letter — tell us about yourself, your background and your experience in the marine environment.
2. CV/resume — outlining your relevant skills and experience.
3. Two relevant referees.

Applications close: Monday 21 September 2026 at 5pm.

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