We want people to have a strong start in our Public Service, from their first day.
The Public Service has roles in every sector within New Zealand, and in every community.
If you are starting in the Public Service, part-time, full time, permanently or casually you can expect us to:
- value your experiences, ideas and unique spirit of service
- celebrate the diversity of our workforces and include your thinking to help us to make a meaningful difference to Aotearoa New Zealand
- expose you to a range of opportunities which can inform your future choices of employment or specialisation
- support you to be connected through experiences across sectors, professions and agencies.
He āhuatanga hei tīmatanga mōu i runga i tō ara mahi ratonga tūmatanui | Opportunities to kick-start your Public Service career
Public Service Induction
Having a strong start as a public servant from your first day is important. Our Public Service induction module is designed to help you to understand the wider Public Service and how we work together to make the greatest positive difference to Aotearoa New Zealand.
Te Puna Huihuinga Kaimahi | Employee Led Networks
Employee Led Networks are voluntary groups of like-minded people from Public Sector agencies around New Zealand that come together with common interests. They help you connect, share ideas and provide support to help you reach your potential.
With a range of objectives, the networks help to foster communities and a culture of inclusion, acceptance and mutual respect. Networks play an important part in bringing our workforce together in a more joined-up way.
Westpac New Zealand Spirit of Service Scholarship
Each year, Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission, in tandem with Westpac New Zealand, offers the opportunity for an early-in-career, high-potential future Public Service leader to gain an internationally recognised Master of Public Policy (MPP) from Oxford University’s Blavatnik School of Government (BSG).
Applications for the scholarship are accepted from Public Service employees who are sponsored by their home agency. Each December we announce the scholarships that are available for the following year, with applications expected in January.
Ngā kaupapa tauira | Internships
Below we’ve provided links to the summer internships that are available across our Public Service, with a range of different areas of focus, intake timeframes and application processes. Internships can provide successful applicants with:
- exposure to a range of options to inform future choices about your employment or specialisation within our Public Service
- the ability to work across sectors, professions and agencies
- exposure to a range of diverse role models.
Internships for anyone who identifies with Māori and Pasifika
- Tupu Tai – Pasifika Public Sector Summer Internship Programme coordinated by MBIE to provide opportunities for Pacific students to work in public policy across our Public Service
- Manatū Aorere – New Zealand Foreign Affairs and Trade offers internships for tauira Māori
Internships for anyone looking for experience within a specific department
- Hīkina Whakatutuki – Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment for summer policy internships
- Te Papa Atawhai – Department of Conservation
- Te Tai Ōhanga – The Treasury to hone your research and analytical skills
Internships for anyone looking to develop their professional capabilities
- Legal Profession for Public Service legal internships (the Government Legal Network is hosted by the Crown Law Office)
- Health and Safety for Public Service health and safety internships (hosted by the Ministry for Primary Industries)
- Analytics and Research students with a strong interest in government research and evaluation who have a passion for data and analytics
Ngā kaupapa tāura | Graduate Programmes
If you have a tertiary qualification, we offer a variety of programmes to help kick-start your career in our Public Service. Below we provide Agency links to programmes which may provide:
- early in career exposure to a range of professions, functions and areas within an agency like HR, Policy, Finance, Commerce, etc.
- access to staff networks and senior officials
- formal training as well as on-the-job learning opportunities designed to challenge and stretch you
- a supportive development programme to provide you with feedback and guidance to help you progress
- a competitive salary
- promotional opportunities.
Policy graduate programmes
- Hīkina Whakatutuki – Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment for a career in policy
- Ministry of Housing and Urban Development for a career in policy
- Manatū Aorere – New Zealand Foreign Affairs and Trade for a career in foreign policy
- Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora – Ministry of Social Development for a career in social policy
- Te Tai Ōhanga – The Treasury for graduate analysts, within three streams: capital and commercial; macroeconomist; and Policy, Performance and Advisory (summer and winter cohorts)
IT graduate programmes
- Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora – Ministry of Social Development for an IT career.
Other graduate programmes
- Digital - Kaupapa Paetahi Matihiko Pūmanawa – GovtTechTalent for graduates wanting to work in the digital space.
- Finance - Te Tari Taiwhenua – Department of Internal Affairs for graduates seeking finance careers (Public Sector Finance Graduate Programme)
- Legal profession - Te Tari Ture o te Karauna – Crown Law Office for law graduate opportunities through the Government Legal Network
- Procurement - Hīkina Whakatutuki – Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment for procurement graduates
- Manatū Ahu Matua – Ministry for Primary Industries offers a graduate programme for work in areas such as biosecurity, forestry, fisheries, food, response, regulation, policy. MPI also run a programme targeted at those who have connections with Māori and Pacific communities.
He akoranga kaiārahi | Learning to be a leader
To improve outcomes for New Zealanders we need strong agency and system leaders who can work together. The Leadership Development Centre supports Public Service leaders to grow and build their careers.
Māori emerging leaders development programme
A Te Ao Māori-based leaders programme for Māori early in their Public Service career, delivered in partnership with Māori leaders, is part of our strategy for strengthening the Māori Crown relationship and enabling better outcomes for Māori.
The 12-month programme places agency nominated, early-in-career Māori public servants from across our Public Service into a co-mentor relationship with Public Service Chief Executives or senior leaders.
More details on this programme will be released soon.
Ngā mematanga rōpū ngaio | Professional memberships
Institute of Public Administration New Zealand
If you are new to our Public Service join IPANZ - a New Professionals membership might be for you. Most government agencies are corporate IPANZ members, or you can also become an individual member. Members can access:
- professional development and social events in Wellington and Auckland
- networking opportunities across Public Sector and related agencies
- career development including mentoring.
For inquiries email at leadershipandtalent@publicservice.govt.nz