When you join the Public Service, you’ll become part of a community where every role is crucial. You’ll work together with local communities and colleagues to tackle complex issues that make a real difference for all people in New Zealand.

Clockwise, from top left: High Commissioner Georgina Roberts connects with an indigenous women’s community organisation in the Solomon Islands, Department of Internal Affairs contact centre, Ministry for the Environment staff visit and talk to farmers about Essential Freshwater, Ministry for Primary Industries - An Honourary Fishery Officer (HFO) inspects a set net.

Check out the current opportunities at jobs.govt.nz

On this page

If you are seeking a Public Service career

What it means to have a career in Aotearoa New Zealand’s Public Service

Internships

Graduate programmes

Professional memberships

Learning to be a leader

Information for HR practitioners

Mō te kimi aramahi Ratonga Tūmatanui If you are seeking a Public Service career

Te Ratonga Tūmatanui | the Public Service has a variety of roles right across Aotearoa New Zealand where you can fulfil your career aspirations and meaningfully express your Spirit of Service to the community. We are focused, committed and passionate about making a difference. We are unified by a common purpose and guided by core principles and values.

Principles and values

Te whai aramahi i roto i Ratonga Tūmatanui o Aotearoa What it means to have a career in Aotearoa New Zealand’s Public Service

  • 1. Working together for a common purpose

    As a public servant, you will join a vibrant community where every role is crucial. When facing our biggest challenges as a nation we work together and tackle some of the most complex issues using our collective strength to make a meaningful difference for all New Zealanders.

  • 2. We’re uniquely Aotearoa New Zealand

    The role of the Public Service includes supporting the Crown in its relationships with Māori under Te Tiriti o Waitangi | The Treaty of Waitangi. We’re committed to a Public Service that is highly responsive to Māori issues and proactively, confidently and competently engages with Māori. We develop the knowledge and skills necessary to deliver results for Māori, partnering with Māori to incorporate mātauranga perspectives into our work as a matter of course.  You will be part of the Public Service where everyone has an important contribution to make to improve our capability, support the Treaty relationship and, ultimately, ensure our policies and services are effective for Māori, whānau, hapū, iwi and for all of Aotearoa. 

  • 3. Diverse and inclusive

    We welcome and celebrate the richness diversity brings to our workplaces and mahi. Our strength lies in people like you as a representative of the diverse communities and citizens we serve. You are key to our success. We include different experiences, capabilities and knowledge to inform decision-making at all levels to help us tackle issues that impact you, your whānau, family, community and nation. Your ideas will be welcomed as together we meet the changing needs of Aotearoa and its people.

    Diversity and inclusion

  • 4. Your future, your way

    Working in the Public Service will give you opportunities, challenges and the ability to develop an exciting career. We are a unified Public Service which means you will collaborate and be supported to learn alongside others to strengthen the whole public service and work in an agile way to respond to shared challenges.

  • 5. Modern and flexible work arrangements

    We need a flexible workforce to deliver better outcomes for Aotearoa. You will have use of modern and accessible digital technology that supports the flexibility you need. Our flexible-by-default working arrangements and agile ways of working means that you will belong to a team that can work across different locations and different timetables.

  • 6. Part of a proud Public Service

    New Zealanders have high satisfaction with public services and continually trust in our public sector. We work hard every day to maintain the trust and confidence of the Public Service by acting with integrity and upholding the core principles and values in our work and how we behave. We’re a highly valued Public Service that works to make the greatest positive difference for New Zealanders.

Ngā kaupapa tauira Internships

Internships 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
  • some great work experience across sectors, professions, and agencies all dedicated to improving outcomes for New Zealanders
  • exposure to a range of diverse role models.

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. Here are some links to agency programmes that may provide:

  • early in career exposure to a range of professions, functions, and areas within an agency like HR (Human Resources), Policy, Finance, Commerce, and so on.
  • 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.

Ngā mematanga rōpū ngaio Professional memberships

  • Institute of Public Administration New Zealand (IPANZ)

    If you are new to our Public Service an IPANZ 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 the public sector and related agencies
    • career development including mentoring.

    New Professionals — IPANZ

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.

  • Leadership Development Centre

    The Leadership Development Centre supports Public Service leaders to grow and build their careers.

    Te Kaihautū | New People Leader Development — Leadership Development Centre

  • Te ara ki Matangireia

    Te ara ki Matangireia, previously known as the Emerging Leaders Programme, is a 10-month emerging leadership programme grounded in te ao Māori that supports early in career Māori with the skills and confidence to step into leadership and governance roles of the future.

    Find out more of the Leadership Development Centre’s website

    Te ara ki Matangireia

    Find more information about Public Service leadership.

    Leadership

He pāronga mō te kaimahi pūmanawa tangata Information for HR practitioners

  • Hiring people with disabilities

    If you are considering hiring people with disabilities for internships, this guide provides advice about recruitment, interviewing and induction that will help you ensure that becoming a summer intern is accessible for everyone. 

    Summer Internships — Ministry of Social Development  

     

  • Using the Leadership Success Profile

    The Leadership Success Profile establishes ‘what good looks like’ for leadership at all levels. Use the LSP when you’re recruiting to find people with leadership potential and the critical capabilities that will make a positive difference to performance. 

    Contact us for this information: leadershipandtalent@publicservice.govt.nz 

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. 

Employee-led Networks