New Zealand Certificate in Animal Management - Zookeeping

• How to maintain the safety and welfare of yourself and animals in a wild animal in human care environment, including feeding, safety and hygiene practices, housing and containment of animals, natural behaviours, enrichment, and life histories
• How to recognise and respond to health issues and emergencies involving wild animals within a zoo environment. 
• The role of zoos and other wild animal facilities. You’ll delve into the history of these facilities and how they’ve changed over the years, and explore zoos’ local and global impact on conservation. 

Highlights

• Only zookeeper qualification in NZ. All main zoos in Aotearoa New Zealand recognise this programme as the entry-level qualification to work as a zookeeper in this industry. 
• A mixture of on and off-campus learning. You’ll be required to attend three compulsory block courses (5-6 days) at our Mt Albert campus, where you’ll gain applied knowledge and skills to help you through your work experience. It’s also a chance to meet students from other zoos around the country and attend field trips to Auckland Zoo. 
• Lots of work experience. You’ll complete 280 hours at an approved zoological facility where you can apply the knowledge and skills you’ve learned to the practical management of a wide range of species. 

Blended learning

This study option is full-time (off-campus and online), and you'll be required to attend three compulsory block courses at our Mt Albert campus.
To study from a distance, you need to be self-motivated, committed, and have excellent time management skills. You must attend all block courses, exams, practical assessments and work experience, and complete your self-directed study (research, reading and revision) and assessment writing.
You'll also need consistent access to a computer with a reliable internet connection and appropriate office software, e.g. Microsoft Office, which we'll provide once you‘re enrolled.

Finding the right work placement

• At least 40 hours must be with invertebrates, fish, amphibians or reptiles
• At least 40 hours must be with birds
• At least 80 hours must be with mammals, with a minimum of 16 hours with at least one dangerous animal

Interested in working at Auckland Zoo?

Unitec arranges Auckland Zoo placements as part of your application. If you plan on applying for a placement at Auckland Zoo, follow the instructions below (please don’t contact them directly).

Additional Information

Approved zoo facilities

Please note: if you choose to work at a zoo facility marked with an asterisk (*), you’ll need to approach multiple facilities to ensure you meet the work placement requirements for this programme. See 'Additional Information',

Also, note that the cut-off date for the work placement application must be submitted to Unitec for a place in Auckland Zoo before 1st October.

Auckland

Auckland Zoo – please do not contact directly, but add the required information in your application. See 'Additional Information'

Butterfly Creek* – Jess Ayres (email or +64 9 275 8880)

Wellington

Wellington Zoo – Work Experience team (email or +64 4 381 6755)

Christchurch

Orana Wildlife Park – Catherine Roughton (email or +64 3 359 7109 ext 810)

Willowbank Wildlife Reserve* – Kirsty Willis (email or +64 3 359 6226)

Hamilton

Hamilton Zoo – Mark Turner (email or +64 22 568 3485)

Nelson

Natureland* – Alix Rimmer (email)

New Plymouth

Brooklands Zoo* – Eve New and Maxine Jenkins (email or +64 6 759 6060)

Where to next?

If you’re interested in continuing your studies, this programme will give you the academic admission requirements for the Bachelor of Applied Science majoring in Animal Management and Welfare or Biodiversity Management.