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NEWS

We’re Hiring: Conservation Field Worker Biodiversity

06 August 2026

Help protect and restore native biodiversity at Living Springs. Living Springs is seeking an enthusiastic and practical Conservation Field Worker – Biodiversity to join our team on a 40-week fixed-term contract. Set in the spectacular landscape of Whakaraupō / Lyttelton Harbour, Living Springs manages more than 400 hectares of native forest, wetlands and farmland. Our…

Reading the Stream: How eDNA Testing Helps Us Understand Our Ecosystem

09 March 2026

Recently, our environmental team were out in the stream collecting water samples. At first glance, it may have looked like a simple bucket-and-bottle exercise. But what we were collecting holds an extraordinary amount of information about life in our waterways. This is called eDNA testing. What is eDNA? eDNA stands for environmental DNA. All living…

Butterfly Sanctuary Beginnings

19 February 2026

It all started with a dream: how amazing would it be to create a space where children and adults could come and experience the native Boulder Copper and Winter Copper butterflies? Bianca, our butterfly guru, joined us early on to help turn this idea into reality. She met with us at Living Springs to select…

Vacancy: Conservation Field Worker- Pest Control Coordinator

21 October 2025

Hours: Part-time – 24 hours/week, $30/hr Status: Term Contract – 1 year January 26 – December 26 INTRODUCTION Living Springs is a unique retreat and conference centre nestled at the southern end of the Port Hills in Whakaraupō / Lyttelton Harbour. Renowned for its commitment to environmental stewardship, Living Springs is dedicated to preserving and enhancing…

Living Springs Embarks on Eco Sanctuary Feasibility Study

10 September 2025

Living Springs is stepping into an exciting new chapter, exploring the creation of an eco sanctuary on its 400 hectare property on Banks Peninsula. A feasibility study has been commissioned and will be led by Jim Lynch, founder of Zealandia in Wellington. Zealandia is celebrated as the world’s first fully fenced urban ecosanctuary, pioneering a…

The Gift of the YHA

20 August 2025

Continuing a Shared Legacy at Living Springs For more than eighty years, the Youth Hostels Association (YHA) has been part of New Zealand’s story, a place where young travellers and families could find affordable, safe, and welcoming accommodation. But YHA was never just about a bed for the night. It was about opening doors to…

Job vacancy: Property and Asset Manager

08 August 2025

Location: Living Springs, Allandale Reports to: CEO Hours: Full time INTRODUCTION Living Springs is a unique retreat and conference centre nestled at the southern end of the Port Hills in Whakaraupō / Lyttelton Harbour. Renowned for its commitment to environmental stewardship, Living Springs is dedicated to preserving and enhancing the natural beauty of its surroundings.…

Job vacancy: Conservation Field Worker- Tracks Specialist

31 July 2025

Location: Living Springs, Allandale Reports to: Conservation Officer/Team Leader Hours: Part-time – 24 hours/week, $30/hr Status: Term Contract – 27 weeks, October- March   INTRODUCTION Living Springs is a unique retreat and conference centre nestled at the southern end of the Port Hills in Whakaraupō / Lyttelton Harbour. Renowned for its commitment to environmental stewardship,…

Reflections from the Future Camp Managers Tour

29 May 2025

At Living Springs, we are proud to be a place where people grow through fun, challenge, nature, and connection. Whether it’s a school group discovering our ngahere (native bush) for the first time, a teenager stepping up as a leader or a child experiencing their first night away from home, every camp experience here is…

Strengthening Biodiversity at Living Springs with Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust

20 March 2025

We are excited to be part of the Farm Biodiversity whānau with the Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust (BPCT), marking another step forward in our ongoing commitment to conservation. As a 420ha working farm and outdoor education centre, we have spent over a decade restoring native habitat, managing predator control, and fostering environmental education. Thousands of students, volunteers,…

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