New Zealand Certificate in Animal Management - Zookeeping

Student feeding a Golden Lion Tamarin

The New Zealand Certificate in Animal Management (Captive Wild Animals) is a Unitec programme that teaches skills and knowledge needed to enter the zookeeping profession, and provide positive animal welfare to the animals in our care.

This course runs from Feb-Nov via distance learning. Over this time students need to complete 280 hours of work experience across all taxa, and attend 3 compulsory block courses throughout the year at the Unitec campus in Auckland. 

Wellington Zoo accepts up to 5 students per year and the required hours are completed 1 day per week over 35 weeks of the course duration.

Entry into this Unitec programme requires you to have a confirmed zoo placement.

If you are interested in a placement at Wellington Zoo, please fill in the application form below and email it along with your CV and Cover Letter to workex.enquiries@wellingtonzoo.com

Student assisting with a Giraffe training session