Quarantine Officer

Quarantine Officer

Role type: Permanent full-time

Location: Wellington

Starting Salary: Border Clearance Services: $68,755


About the Role - Korero mo te Turanga

Our Quarantine Officers are highly trained, every-day New Zealanders doing an extraordinary job for their country. We work to ensure that cargo and passengers entering New Zealand are free of biosecurity risk. Officers work on a rotational roster that offers them a breadth of work as they lead New Zealand's biosecurity system at the front line - international airports, ports, mail centres, and cargo facilities.

We are recruiting now for our next cohort of Quarantine Officers to start 22 September 2025.

You will love the job with:

a programme that mixes both classroom theory and on-the-job training.
clear career progression path from Officer to Senior to Chief for those prepared to put in extra effort with development and leadership opportunities to reach these goals.
a high-performing team that is passionate about their job and compelled to protect New Zealand and living MPI's values.
a great salary with benefits and allowances as you progress.
the chance to join to diverse and supportive team of officers across New Zealand.
About You - Mou

You are a passionate, self-motivated person who enjoys a range of tasks, worksites and varied work. Ideally, you will have experience or a qualification in agriculture, horticulture, forestry, botany or environmental science.

You will also:

be required to complete shift work across 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
be fit and healthy as you will be standing for periods of time.
enjoy a variety of work indoors and out.
have strong communication skills (oral and written) and the ability to create strong relationships.
have high computer literacy
hold a full NZ drivers licence
pass an Ishihara Eye Test
Be a New Zealand Citizen or New Zealand Permanent Resident - you will need to upload a copy of your visa during the application process.
We offer a breadth of development and learning opportunities and will welcome an application if you think you could make a great fit.

About the Team - Mo to matou Ropu

The Border Clearance Services Team within the Biosecurity New Zealand branch helps protect New Zealand's natural environment, primary industries and people against exotic pests and diseases. It is accountable for ensuring the delivery of sustainable and effective frontline biosecurity clearance services at the border for imported goods, craft, mail, passengers, crew and transitional facilities.


About MPI - Mo te Manatu Ahu Matua

We're a large organisation with massive scope from the frontline to policy development and beyond.


Benefits of working at MPI - Nga hua o te mahi i te Manatu Ahu Matua

Annual Wellness payment.
Bi-annual paid eye test and contribution to the costs of corrective lenses/frames.
Reduced premiums for Group Healthcare Schemes.
Security checks - Nga Taki Whakahaumaru

Low level Security Clearance

most preferably a New Zealand citizen, who has resided continuously in New Zealand for at least the last five (5) years, OR
is a citizen of, and/or has resided continuously in one or more of the following countries for the last five (5) years: either Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom (UK) or the United States of America (USA); and has a background history that is verifiable and can be assessed as appropriate by the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) towards a recommendation of suitability for a security clearance at this level.
click here to find out more about the national security vetting process and access the eligibility self-check tool.
If you do not meet these minimum criteria, we will not be able to accept your application.


Drug and Alcohol Screening - Whakamatau Whakapoauau me te Waipiro

Please note, given this position is safety sensitive the preferred applicant/s for the position will be required to undergo a drug and alcohol pre-employment screening test. Further information on this process can be found on our careers site, here.

Are you ready to make a difference? - Kua rite koe mo tenei mahi whaitake?
We are committed to being a good partner under Te Tiriti o Waitangi which includes working closely with iwi, hapu, whanau and hapori.

We aspire to reflect the diverse communities we serve, so we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, and identities. As an organisation, we are committed to making Manatu Ahu Matua Ministry for Primary Industries a great place to work for all.

In your cover letter we'd like to know about you, your values, your interest and motivations for this role; the abilities, strengths, personal attributes and diverse perspectives you will bring to the role and this organisation, which may have also been gained outside of the workforce.

To view the position description and/or apply online, please click "APPLY FOR THIS JOB" or visit the MPI Careers Site. To apply, you must hold the right to work in New Zealand or be eligible to obtain it - click here to find out more about work visa eligibility and options.


Applications close at midnight on Sunday 10 August 2025.

If you have any questions about the role, please email Melissa.Heaney@mpi.govt.nz

**If successful in this application process, you must be able to attend a full day assessment centre on Thursday 14 August 2025 in Wellington. If offered the position; you must be able to start on Monday 22 September 2025.

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