Maara Kai Intern – Manurewa High School

Applications close: 1 week from now - 26/07/2026.

Maara Kai Intern – Manurewa High School

  • 9 month paid internship
  • Opportunity to work between Te Maara Kai o Wirihana and Auckland Botanic Gardens
  • Seedling production, planting, community engagement and more

This is a 9-month paid fixed-term contract, from September 2026 – May 2027, Tuesday – Friday, 28 hours per week, 9am-4pm
 

He angitūtanga: The opportunity
 
Ready to kickstart your journey in growing kai, working with people, and caring for the whenua?

Manurewa High School in partnership with Auckland Council has an exciting paid internship opportunity available for two rangatahi to work and learn at Te Maara Kai o Wirihana and the Auckland Botanic Gardens, located in Manurewa.


He kōrero mōu: About you

Do you enjoy working with plants and people?

The ideal candidate:

  • Will have a passion for growing plants and working with community
  • Is sociable, and comfortable engaging with a wide range of people
  • Has strong communication skills with the ability to give clear instructions, whilst working with high school students
  • Works well as part of a team, but can also take initiative and complete tasks independently
  • Brings a positive attitude, pride in your mahi, and a commitment to growing your skills
  • Is comfortable working outside in all weather conditions


Job Description

Our internship is three days at Manurewa High School (Wed-Fri) and one day at the Auckland Botanic Garden (Tue).

At Manurewa High School you will be assisting Project Leads of Te Maara Kai o Wirihana with operation of the maara and delivery of educational programmes with high school, alt ed and primary school students.

This work will include but is not limited to the following:

Seedling production, planting, bed preparation, plant care i.e. irrigation/ feeding, greenhouse management, harvest, pack and delivery, equipment organisation and maintenance, community events, farm and business planning including retail and wholesale ordering, engaging with students, teachers and offsite visitors.

At Auckland Botanic Gardens you will be working alongside passionate professional garden experts, learning practical horticulture and garden maintenance skills in a high-profile public garden. You will learn about what a botanic garden does, and what it takes to maintain a garden to high horticultural excellence and how we engage and inspire over 1.1 million visitors per year to make a difference to how they view and respect the natural world.

This work will include but is not limited to the following:

Manual weed control, mulching, planting, irrigation, pruning, plant health monitoring, lawn and pathway maintenance, seasonal nursery tasks, and general garden upkeep. There may also be opportunities to assist with Botanic Gardens events and asset maintenance.

Please do not hesitate to apply for this incredible opportunity for Manurewa.

If you need help preparing a CV, the librarians at Manurewa Library can support you. To book an appointment with them, either follow this link or visit the library.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an open day on Friday 7th August from 9:30am where you can get a hands-on experience in the maara.

If you have questions or need help with this application form, please reach out to Ryan – Business Academy Manurewa High School – [email protected] 

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