Maara Kai Intern - Manurewa High School

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

Note – to apply for this role, follow the link to Manurewa High School Website, not the “apply now” button.

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. 

Te Maara Kai o Wirihana:  Our mission 

We are a 6500sqm Urban Farm supported by the staff and students Manurewa High School.   Our mission is to grow whanau hauora and connection to the whenua by learning to regenerate our environment through growing healthy kai and native trees. 

We have close to 400 fruit trees planted with vegetables and native plants. Together we aim to increase food security and regenerate our environment for the benefit of all who call Manurewa home. 

He kōrero mōu: About you 

Do you enjoy working with plants and people?  

The ideal candidates: 

• Have a passion for growing plants and working with community 

• Are sociable, and comfortable engaging with a wide range of people
• Have strong communication skills with the ability to give clear instructions, whilst working with high school students
  

• Work well as part of a team, but can also take initiative and complete tasks independently 

• Bring a positive attitude, pride in your mahi, and a commitment to growing your skills
• Are 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 deliver 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 on job 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. 

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

  
Me Tono Ināianei!: 
Apply Now! https://www.manurewa.school.nz/vacancy-list/ 

Applications close:  Sunday 26th July midnight 

Note – applications are not being received through Auckland Council website. Apply using link above.

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 – ryan.king@manurewa.school.nz  

Auckland Council is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) and we are committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of application to assist you through the recruitment process.