Careers

Whether it’s ensuring safe drinking water, fixing leaks, improving environmental outcomes, or supporting customers during outages, our people contribute to the wellbeing of the entire New Plymouth District. Like leading New Zealand water providers, we offer a workplace where purpose, community impact, and professional development go hand in hand.

We are committed to building a team that reflects our community, supports each other, and takes pride in delivering essential services with professionalism and care.

Why join us

A career with us means joining an organisation that puts people first — both the customers we serve and the colleagues we work alongside. You’ll be part of a team delivering critical public services, supported by clear regulations, national standards, and sector‑wide initiatives aimed at improving water safety and environmental performance.

What we offer

• Meaningful work: Safe, reliable drinking water and well‑managed wastewater are essential for public health and the environment. Every role contributes to these outcomes.
• Public Good: Our work provides the critical infrastructure which underpins the quality of life of the people who live and work in our community.
• Commitment to customers: We serve a community that relies on us 24/7.
• A culture of guardianship: We view water as a taonga, reflecting national emphasis on caring for wai (water) found in drinking water quality guidance and sector values.

If you want to make a difference locally while building your skills, this is the place to be.

Roles and career pathways

We offer a wide range of roles to suit different skills and interests. This includes front‑line operations, technical roles, scientific positions, customer support, corporate services, and leadership pathways.

Examples of roles include:

• Water treatment operators — ensuring safe drinking water, guided by national Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules.
• Network technicians — maintaining pipes, pump stations, and infrastructure.
• Environmental scientists — monitoring water quality, supporting compliance with the Water Services Act.
• Customer specialists — providing information on outages, leaks, metering, and billing.
• Engineers and project managers — planning upgrades and network improvements.
• Digital and data analysts — supporting performance reporting, compliance analytics, and customer transparency.

We support career progression through training, certifications, and partnerships with national bodies such as Water New Zealand.

A supportive, inclusive workplace

We believe that different perspectives make us stronger. Our teams reflect the diversity of our district, and we work hard to ensure everyone feels safe, valued, and respected.

We support inclusion through:

• Fair and transparent recruitment
• Opportunities for women in operations, engineering, and leadership
• Cultural capability development, including te ao Māori engagement
• Supportive induction and mentoring programmes
• Accessible workplace adjustments
  
  

Training and professional development

The water sector is evolving quickly — driven by new regulatory settings, climate resilience needs, and national environmental performance standards for wastewater. Taumata Arowai’s role in monitoring drinking water and wastewater networks underscores the importance of continuous improvement and skilled people across the sector.

To help our people grow, we offer:

• On‑the‑job training and technical certifications
• Support for Drinking Water Operator and wastewater qualifications
• Leadership development programmes
• External courses and professional memberships
• Graduate, and early‑career opportunities
• Training on compliance, safety plans, and national water quality rules

This focus on development ensures staff have the tools and knowledge they need to succeed — while keeping our services safe, resilient, and future‑ready.