Project Island Song Volunteer Hub

Background

Project Island Song will have a stand at the Paihia Village Green with interactive games, colouring and activities set up to help the public get to know more about the pest free Islands of Ipipiri and how they can support this taonga (treasure) here in the Bay of Islands. 

We’ll also have a Trap Building station (koha) set up where visitors can put together a flat pack rat trap, decorate it and then take it home to help support the birdsong in their backyard. Limited kits, so it’ll be first come first served! 

We’re looking for a few volunteers to help at our stand on the day. You’ll be helping visitors participate in interactive activities on the site and communicate key messages about Project Island Song and what we do.

Role description

Alongside some of the Project Island Song team we’re looking for a few volunteers to help out at and engage with visitors at the event. You will need to be enthusiastic and happy to talk with people interested in Project Island Song and take payments for memberships and donations. There will be resources to assist with this and the team there to help out too.

The role will involve:

• Advocacy – engaging visitors about Project Island Song
• Education – raising awareness around what the project is, why biosecurity and reintroductions are so important, and how people can get involved with the project
• Having a presence – having volunteers helps raise awareness of the project, shows that we care enough to have people there to talk about the project, and encourages others to value the project and care about the islands like we do. 
• Sharing your experience – sharing your knowledge and experience of being a Project Island Song volunteer and visiting the islands of Ipipiri with others.
• Having a good volunteer experience! – Hopefully enjoying meeting new people, fellow volunteers and learning more about Project Island Song

Key messages:

• The islands of Ipipiri are a wildlife sanctuary where protected species have been reintroduced to thrive on a pest-free islands.
• There are several species of rare native birds, lizards and plants living on these islands. 
• Project Island Song is a partnership between the hapu at Rawhiti, DOC and the Guardians of the Bay of Islands volunteer group. Their aim is the ecological restoration of the seven islands of Ipipiri, Eastern Bay of Islands.
• The islands were once over-run with rats. Project Island Song eradicated all pest mammals from Urupukapuka and the other six islands, and they have been pest-free since 2009.
• Biosecurity is the ongoing work to ensure the islands stay pest-free. Pests are species of plants, animals or insects that threaten the native ecosystem. Here, the major threats are rats (they can swim and hitch rides on boats and in bags), Argentine ants (may easily be transported in camping gear), plague skinks, and weeds. 

Outcomes:

• Visitors will have more about Project Island Song, biosecurity and NZ wildlife than they did before.
• Visitors will have had a positive experience interacting with our volunteers.
• Visitors will want to find out more about Project Island Song and contribute to the project.
• Volunteers will have a positive experience 

Date

• Wednesday 15 January 2025
• Event runs 10am - 2pm, sign up for Shift 1: 10am - 12pm / Shift 2: 12pm - 2.30pm