Land Caretaker Position Available – a wonderful opportunity!
Do you like the idea of living at the beautiful and peaceful Wangapeka – serving retreats and caring for the land; having access to retreat teachings and being part of a broad caring community; sharing in the Dharma and comradery?
Do you like solving practical problems? Do you have practical skills in landcare, building, gardening, and general maintenance?
Are you motivated to contribute something wholesome and beneficial to the world?
Would you appreciate the opportunity to deepen the spiritual aspirations you have in your own life, while supporting the aspirations of others?
If this sounds like you, we would love to hear from you!
The Wangapeka Study and Retreat Centre has been a dedicated place of spiritual enquiry for 50 years. It has continued to operate due to the generosity, energy, and commitment of countless hearts and hands over all these years.
Our current Land Caretaker Ethan will be moving on from his role soon. We are now looking for a new Land Caretaker, ideally a motivated practitioner, to offer their skills and service for the ongoing functioning of the Wangapeka.
The Position
The perfect Land Caretaker would be a mature, practical, fit and capable person, ideally with some meditation background, who would welcome the opportunity for service in this beautiful and peaceful place.
A love of the outdoors, excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and willingness to pitch in and do whatever needs to be done to keep the Centre running smoothly are all important qualities. Flexibility, openness, resourcefulness, ability to work both independently and as part of a team are very important.
Key tasks include the management of our grounds, tracks, buildings, firewood and water supplies, and helping to ensure that all visitors and volunteers to the centre remain safe while on the property. The Land Caretaker is supported by the Maintenance Sub-Committee, the Board of Trustees, the Centre Caretaker, and volunteers. Experience with chainsaws and driving a small tractor is also an advantage but the centre can provide training in these areas as necessary.
Caretakers are an integral part of the functioning and culture of the Wangapeka, and play an important role as representatives of the values and aspirations of the Centre. The role is varied and interesting, with the opportunity to bring your unique skills and gifts to the centre and community.
With new community-led evolutions of how the centre operates underway, including a movement towards an onsite community/ collective of caretakers, it is a wonderful time to join us and contribute to this evolution.
The position is offered for an initial period of 6 months, with the option to extend.
There is also scope for the partner or friend of someone applying for Land Caretaker to come on board as a long-term volunteer, with free food and accommodation, to assist with the day-to-day operation of the Centre and hosting retreats. We are open to creative possibilities that would suit both the Centre and interested applicants.
The board is open to receiving applications from:
- Individuals who apply for this role, or
- 2 people applying together – wanting to job share & volunteer on the land.
It is important that applicants have some understanding of the principle of service as a path of unfolding, or have a genuine interest in exploring this. Being a key support for people engaged in spiritual enquiry should be the primary motivation for taking on this role.
Full training and support are provided, and you have the opportunity to participate in all courses and retreats that run at the Centre, should you wish.
We are looking for someone to start training as early as September.
If you tick some of these boxes, want to try something new and can devote 6 months (or more) to supporting the centre please get in touch with the Wangapeka Board Coordinator Louise Petzold coordinator@wangapeka.org for a full job description plus details on contract terms and conditions.
Enquire now about Land Caretaker Position
