Become a Bat Practitioner
With Restore NZ’s Bat Training
Your Trainer
Introducing: Jono More
Jono is one of New Zealand’s most experienced bat ecologists, with decades of field expertise across diverse habitats. As a Department of Conservation–certified trainer, he is authorised to train bat workers in every recognised bat competency.
Known for his practical, hands-on teaching style, Jono makes complex survey methods and assessment techniques accessible and field-ready. Whether you’re an arborist, ecologist, or contractor, his training ensures you leave confident, competent, and DOC-recognised.
Training Packages
High-Risk Felling Training
(DOC Competency 3.3, ideal for arborists)
Learn the essential skills for safely assessing and felling roost trees where bats may be present.
-
This training is for arborists working in areas where bats may be present. You’ll gain the recognised skills and sign-off needed to assess jobs and safely fell potential roost trees, ensuring best-practice outcomes for bats and compliance with DOC protocols.
With this qualification you can reduce liability on high-risk contracts and charge clients for the added value of having a bat-certified arborist on site.
-
An in-person, hands-on training with a DOC-certified bat trainer.
Skills in risk assessing roost, and what to do if bats are found during felling.
You’ll learn the essentials of pre-veterinary emergency care for bats.
Two years’ access to Restore NZ’s Bat Training Hub ($360 value) with operating procedures, ongoing support, training resources and much more.
An online test to check you listened during your training.
Certificate of completion, endorsed by a DOC-certified trainer - required for competency sign-off.
-
$650 per person.
Training is arranged on a case-by-case basis and can be tailored to your needs.
ABM Survey Design Training
(DOC Competency 3.1 + 3.3, ideal for ecologists and arborists)
Learn the essential skills for designing surveys and analysing bat data to nationally accepted DOC standards.
-
This training is for ecologists who need to design and run bat surveys to DOC standards, and arborists looking to use Automatic Bat Monitors (ABM’s) to assess for bat presence before felling. You’ll gain the skills and trainer endorsement required to deploy ABMs correctly, analyse recordings with confidence, and evaluate roost features in the field.
With this qualification you can deliver robust survey designs, reduce risk of challenge to your work, and give clients confidence that assessments will stand up to DOC and council scrutiny.
-
In-person training tailored to survey design and analysis.
Hands-on experience deploying ABMs and evaluating roost features.
Learn the essentials of pre-veterinary emergency care for bats.
Certificate of completion (valid 2 years).
Endorsement from a DOC-certified trainer to help you gain DOC competencies 3.1 and 3.3 .
Two years’ access to Restore NZ’s Bat Training Hub ($360 value) with report template, case studies, example surveys, ongoing support, training resources and much more.
-
$1,200 per person.
Training is arranged on a case-by-case basis and can be tailored to your needs.
Need Something More?
Not every project fits into a standard package. With 25 + recognised BAT competencies, many require highly specific skills; from trapping and handling, through to radio-tracking and biopsies.
Custom Training Packages
We’ll work with you to design a tailored training pathway around the competencies you (or your team) need.
(DOC Competency 1.1 - 2.5)
-
Mist-netting and harp trapping (field capture methods)
Handling, measuring, banding, and marking bats
Radio-transmitter attachment and tracking
Specialised roost monitoring methods
Supervising complex works under high-risk conditions
and so much more.
-
Training is designed around your role and your projects — not a generic curriculum
Courses are cost-effective the more people that attend (bring your team, split the cost)
Delivered on-site or at agreed training locations around NZ
Always led by a DOC-certified trainer with sign-off authority
-
Training is scoped on a case-by-case basis, depending on the competencies required, location, and group size.
Complex competencies (e.g. handling, banding, radio-tracking) often come with very limited training opportunities and are best run with small groups, since participants need significant bat handling time (e.g. ~50 individual bats per person) to achieve sign-off.