Investigator

• 2 x permanent positions available in Manukau and Dunedin
• Requires travel around regions, to support operations and to attend training.
• Use your expertise - ideal for those with regulatory compliance and investigations experience
• Connect with communities - leverage your interpersonal skills to engage with people from all walks of life
• Grow your career - enjoy ongoing development opportunities
• Salary range: $75,114-$88,266 + KiwiSaver + Wellness Benefits

Be part of a high profile Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment initiative to improve the New Zealand Tenancy System to ensure healthier, safer homes for all those renting in New Zealand.

As a regulator of the Residential Tenancies Act we work to provide better rentals for tenants and landlords –check us out here: https://www.tenancy.govt.nz: 

As there is a lot of Mahi to be done, we will need your help, to ensure landlords better understand their roles and obligations. 

As an Investigator, you will bring your business understanding and investigative experience to work in partnership with the wider team.  You will hold a regulatory position responsible for promoting compliance and investigating non-compliance, as well as designing and recommending a course of action that will ensure compliance with New Zealand tenancy laws.  

In addition you are responsible for ensuring quality and consistency of investigation and practices in relation to the contribution to the teams work, consistent with the Ministry’s policy framework.

You’ll enjoy working with a wide range of people, from all walks of life, requiring a high level of professionalism, communication skills and tenacity. You will be joining a new team of highly skilled professionals keen to make a difference to New Zealanders who rent their homes.

You must have good interpersonal and stakeholder partnership building skills collaborating with iwi, hapu, non-profit and government sector agencies. Have a good knowledge of the residential rental market in New Zealand.

Skills and Experience Required
 

In addition, to having the legal right to live and work in New Zealand and a full New Zealand Class one driver’s license, successful candidates should demonstrate:

• Experience and knowledge of regulatory and compliance environments
• Sound compliance skills including gathering, researching, analysing and evaluating information and working knowledge of the enforcement process
• Experience in planning and undertaking Investigation and enforcement processes including report writing
• Knowledge and understanding of government and constitutional environment 
• Sound investigative skills including gathering, researching, analysing and evaluating information and working knowledge of the prosecution process in addition
• Experience in planning operations, including applying risk assessment methodology
• Experience in applying tactical communication skills in confrontational situations and the ability to work with a range of people across different cultures and backgrounds.
• Experience in making enforcement decisions and utilizing a range of enforcement tools to successfully resolve identified breaches of the legislation.

MBIE's goal is to create a resilient and high-performing economy that delivers real and ongoing quality of life for all New Zealanders.

We do this by working with others to create an environment that supports businesses to be more productive and internationally competitive, enables all New Zealanders to participate in the economy through improved job opportunities and by working to ensure quality housing is more affordable.

People are at the heart of our mahi, our way of working is guided by our values which shape our behaviours.

• Mahi Tahi – Better Together
• Māia – Bold and brave
• Pae Kahurangi – Build our Future
• Pono Me Te Tika – Own It

Our aspirations are echoed in our Māori identity – Hīkina Whakatutuki – which broadly means ‘lifting to make successful'.

MBIE recognises the partnership founded under Te Tiriti o Waitangi between Māori and the Crown and is committed to giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We will do this through enduring, meaningful and effective partnerships with iwi, Māori, other Māori groups/organisations and the Crown, as this is critical to enable economic and social development, both for Māori and for wider Aotearoa New Zealand. We are committed to continuing to partner with iwi in order to find new sustainable solutions to address long standing systemic and cross-cutting issues facing Māori and wider Aotearoa New Zealand and we are also committed to identifying opportunities for iwi to lead and creating an enabling environment for iwi to leverage these opportunities.

E mōhio ana a Hīkina Whakatutuki i puea ake te kōtuinga I waenganui i a ngāi Māori me te Karauna i Te Tiriti o Waitangi, ā, kei te whai ia ki te whakaū ake i Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Mā te whai kiko o ngā kōtuinga ahungaroa o ngāi wi, o ngāi Māori, me ētahi atu rōpū Māori ki te Karauna, katutuki tēnei. He āhuatanga nui tēnei e āhei ai ngā mahi whanaketanga ā-ohanga, ā-pāpori hoki ki a ngāi Māori me Aotearoa whānui. E whai tonu ana mātou ki te kōtui atu ki ngā iwi mō te rapu huarahi hou ki te whakaara i ngā kaupapakua roa nei e tāmi ana i a ngāi Māori me Aotearoa whānui, ā, e whai ana hoki ki te tautohu i ngā āheinga kōkiritanga mā ngā iwi, me te tautoko i ngā iwi kia whai mana ake ai ēnei āheinga.

Click here to view a position description. 

When you are ready to apply please send a CV and cover letter telling us why you're the perfect fit for this role.

All applications must be submitted via our online process.

We can't wait to hear from you!

Email Sarah Hutcheson at sarah.hutcheson@mbie.govt.nz quoting ref MBIE/18066 if you have any further questions.

Applications close on Friday 5 September 2025.