About the programme
The Master of Parks Management is an NZQF level 9 programme at Lincoln University in New Zealand that trains qualified parks management professionals through 180 credits of study. Depending on the start point, it takes 12 to 18 months of full-time study.
Parks management is closely tied to natural resource management, indigenous planning and development, and outdoor recreation management. The programme is interdisciplinary, placing parks in social, cultural, environmental and business contexts, and students choose their own focus — for example environmental management, tourism and recreation, or climate change.
Students learn to critically assess resource management approaches in the parks sector, understand how parks, policy and resource management connect, including indigenous perspectives, and appraise the legal, political, institutional, economic and socio-cultural settings of parks. The programme covers the ecological principles of ecosystem management and how to apply business, organisational and environmental management practice to parks.
The curriculum includes four compulsory courses (80 credits) — environmental policy or planning law, Māori resource management or indigenous planning, natural resource recreation and tourism, and conservation biology or wildlife management; at least two courses from List A (GIS, impact assessment, tourism, events, climate change and more); at least two from List B covering business, marketing and research methods; and one elective. Teaching is on the Lincoln University campus with some online options.
The programme suits people aiming for mid-to-senior roles in parks management and conservation.
Entry requirements
- A New Zealand level 7 bachelor's degree or recognised equivalent with at least a B average in 300-level and final-year courses
- Applicants whose first language is not English must meet the university's English language requirements
What you study
- ERST 630 — Environmental Policy and Planning or LWST 602 — Advanced Resource Management & Planning Law (compulsory choice)
- MAST 603 — Mana Kaitiaki (Māori Resource Management) or MAST 606 — Indigenous Planning and Development (compulsory choice)
- RECN 626 — Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism — compulsory
- ECOL 609 — Conservation Biology or ECOL 612 — Wildlife Management (compulsory choice)
- ERST 606 — Advanced GIS; ERST 621 — Principles of Environmental Impact Assessment (List A)
- TOUR 603 — Tourism Management; TOUR 611 — Food, Wine and Agritourism: Principles and Practice (List A)
- ENSC 601 — Advanced Climate Change and Land Use (List A)
- BMGT 618 — Advanced Business Strategy or BMGT 686 — Managing Programmes of Change (List B)
- MKTG 672 — Marketing Strategy and other marketing options (List B)
- One master's-level elective (20 credits)
Careers after graduation
- International parks and conservation agencies
- Central and local government
- Iwi authorities and other Māori organisations
- Conservation trusts
- Community and private organisations
Post-study work visa
Up to 3 years
Depends on the qualification, the length of study and other Immigration New Zealand requirements.
This description is based on the official programme page, checked on 09/09/2026. Ask an NIU adviser about fees and intake dates — the programme page on the Lincoln University website