We’re currently accepting applications to join our health and safety inspectorate
- Full time role
- Locations: Hamilton, Auckland, Napier, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, and Christchurch
- $83,406 starting salary for a trainee health and safety inspector
If you’re keen to become a WorkSafe inspector, there are a few things you need to do to ensure you’re a good fit for the role:
- Read the job ad on our Careers website(external link), including the attached job description and candidate information pack
- Read the information on this page
- Check that you can meet the key dates
Applications are open until 19 October 2025.
Tukua mai kia piri, tukua mai kia tata tukua mai kia Mahi Haumaru Aotearoa. Nō mātou te waimarie mōu kia whai i tēnei ara. Ko te aronga matua o Mahi Haumaru, kia haere ora atu te tangata ki te mahi, kia hoki hauroa mai ki te kāinga. Whakakotahi, Kōrero mai, Tiakina mai.
Our inspectors play a key role influencing work health and safety in Aotearoa. The Inspectorate’s goal is to prevent harm from work, promote a culture of safety, and hold organisations accountable for maintaining healthy and safe working environments.
Watch our health and safety inspector Kyle as he shares what his day can look like:
About the role
As an inspector, no two days will be the same! Inspectors complete a range of work/mahi. This could be a visit to a business; helping businesses, organisations and workers understand their obligations; writing up reports after doing an assessment on a worksite or investigating an incident.
The work is varied and interesting, but at times can be challenging due to the nature of the role as you may be exposed to traumatic events, files, photos and statements, or dealing with people who are impacted by having a worker, colleague or family member injured, or even killed.
Inspectors are expected to work full-time Monday to Friday during normal business hours. Once you’re experienced as a qualified inspector, you will also be on the national on-call roster. Inspectors on the roster may work outside of normal business hours and on weekends.
Our values
Our three values determine the way we behave and act as an organisation. They were developed collaboratively by our kaimahi across WorkSafe: each one sums up a different element of what we stand for, and how we’re expected to engage and kōrero with one another.
Whakakotahi
Kia whakakotahi, kia aronui tahi tātou
We’re united in a strong purpose
Tiakina mai
Kia tiakina i roto i ngā mahi katoa
We’re entrusted with a duty of care
Kōrero mai
Kia whakapāpā tahi tātou
We engage meaningfully
What we’re looking for from you
You will love building rapport with stakeholders and have a natural ability to communicate with people from diverse backgrounds. The conversations aren’t always easy, but you will remain calm under pressure and be able to appreciate the viewpoints and perspectives of others.
You’ll be great at assessing the information and risks to identify the best outcome. In doing so, you will work towards achieving a common goal of ensuring that all New Zealanders that go to work come home healthy and safe.
A background in health and safety or industry experience in construction, agriculture, forestry, mining, and/or manufacturing would be highly advantageous to working for WorkSafe, but it is not essential. WorkSafe provides our inspectorate kaimahi with the full training and development that’s required while on the job.
Please ensure that you review and meet the requirements listed on the position description and candidate information pack before applying(external link)
Onboarding and development
Starting as a trainee health and safety inspector you’ll progress through in-house training, gain on the job experience and coaching until you obtain a Certificate of Appointment giving you powers as an inspector. As your career as an inspector continues, you will build your skills and knowledge and progress through an Inspector Pathway.
How we recruit
To ensure we recruit the right people with the right skills at the right time, we follow a structured recruitment process. Intake recruitment is held up to three times a year in various locations across the motu, depending on organisational needs.
With our recruitment timeline, stages need to keep progressing to move smoothly for all candidates to ensure you receive outcomes on dates advised. It is important to complete tasks in in the timeframe provided to not delay the process.
Current recruitment
Applications are open for the health and safety inspector Te Tira Hou/cohort 30. This intake is focused on recruiting for roles based in the following regions working across all priority sectors forestry, construction, manufacturing and agriculture (with travel across the region required):
- Hamilton
- Auckland
- Napier
- New Plymouth
- Palmerston North
- Christchurch
Key dates for this intake
- Kōrero ā-ipurangi/two-way kōrero (video/phone interviews) between 24 October to 6 November 2025
- Whakamātau ā-ipurangi/online testing completed by candidates between 7 to 9 November 2025
- Wānanga ā-ipurangi/online information session on 11 November 2025
- He arotake ngātahi/in-person kōrero in to be held 24 to 27 November 2025
- Whāinga wheako/ride along (in-person): 1 to 2 December 2025
- He taunaki whanonga/pre-employment checks between 1 to 2 December 2025
- Nau mai ki Mahi Haumaru/offers made the week of 5 December 2025
- He timatanga hou/start date on 26 January 2026
- Training begins on 9 February 2026
If you’re unable to meet these key dates, attend the group interview date specified or meet the employment start date, unfortunately we won’t be able to progress with your application. However, you are welcome to apply again in the future.
If you’re feeling unwell for the in-person kōrero or ride-along, let us know as soon as possible at newinspector@worksafe.govt.nz. We will try to accommodate your application.
How to apply
Visit the job ad at our Careers website to apply:
Want to know more?
Contact our recruitment team by emailing newinspector@worksafe.govt.nz if you want to discuss the role or recruitment process – a member of our recruitment team will get back to you as quickly as they can.
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