Vehicle Safety Officer

New Zealand Police is working with the community to make New Zealanders be safe and feel safe. With over 13,000 staff, we provide policing services 24 hours a day, every day. We operate by land, sea and air, manage over 860,000 emergency calls a year and are always actively preventing crime and crashes.

We’re working towards specific goals and targets that highlight our intent to work collaboratively with iwi and communities, other government sectors and business partners to deliver ‘Our Business’ and achieve long-term change.

Vehicle Safety Officer – Commercial Safety Team, Bay of Plenty

• Based at Taupo

• Band F

• Police Employee 

• Permanent

• Nationally Advertised Vacancy

• JR 5223460

E tῡ ki te kei o te waka, kia pakia koe e ngā ngaru o te wā. 

Stand at the stern of the canoe and feel the spray of the future biting at your face  

Mō te tūnga | About the role 

Are you an 'A' grade qualified heavy Automotive Engineer, do you want to become part of a team that has a passion for heavy motor vehicle safety, do you want to make a difference and are you self-motivated?  If the answer is yes, then this role could be for you.

The NZ Police Commercial Vehicle Safety Team (formally the Commercial Vehicle Investigation Unit) is looking for a suitably qualified applicant to train and become one of the team's Vehicle Safety Officers (VSO).

CVST is a national prevention focused service unit within the Police.  Staff are based throughout the country in 4 operational regions. This VSO position is based within the Bay Of Plenty District at Taupo.

The VSO role primarily involves inspecting commercial vehicles for compliance with Land Transport rules and regulations including full mechanical inspections, driver/operator compliance checks, weighbridge and roadside enforcement duties and providing expert advice to team members and management.

Key Accountabilities: 

• Service Delivery: Contribute to the maintenance of an effective commercial vehicle investigation and inspection service within legal and contractual obligations and national strategies, policies and guidelines.
• Customer Service: Assist in meeting the team focus on the proper handling and response to requests, providing a service which is delivered promptly, impartially and safely.
• Teamwork: Cooperates and works with other members of the CVST team in order to achieve goals.

He aha taau e kawe mai | What you’ll bring 

Whilst we are looking for skills, knowledge and experience relevant to the role, we also place high importance on your state of mind, the alignment of your values with ours, your ability to contribute to and build high performing teams, and the way that you lead yourself or others.

• An ability to relate to and communicate with people from all parts of the transport sector.
• A passion for all New Zealanders to "be safe, feel safe".
• Knowledge of heavy/light vehicle inspection, CoF/WoF
• Knowledge of the legislative requirements for vehicle standards
• An understanding of the requirements for heavy vehicle braking
• A practical experience in the use of Microsoft applications including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint with good numeracy and literacy skills.

 Whakaritenga motuhake | Special requirements 

Special Requirements:

• Must hold New Zealand Certificate in Heavy Automotive Engineering (Level 4) or equivalent.
• New Zealand Class 2 full drivers’ licence or in position to obtain
• Must have Heavy Diesel Vehicle Experience
• General health which will allow for the performance of all duties and functions of the position (for constabulary employees a current PCT is an indicator of general health)

• This position is based at Taupo. The successful applicant will be required to commence and finish duty at the Taupo Commercial Vehicle Safety Centre or Taupo Police Station. No vehicle is assigned to this position.

This role is set at Individual Contributor level, this means your key purpose is “to deliver or enable others to deliver Our Business”. 

To view the position description for this role please copy and paste this link into a new browser: 

https://www.police.govt.nz/sites/default/files/pd/04-2025/vehicle_safety_officer_3.pdf

Mo tātou | About us 

New Zealand Police is the lead agency responsible for preventing crime and enhancing community safety. It works in partnership with individuals, communities, businesses, and other public sector agencies towards the vision of making New Zealand the safest country. Police is the government’s largest front-line response agency with around 15,000 staff in large and small communities all over New Zealand and in liaison and policing development roles overseas.  

Your development is highly valued at NZ Police. Our employees enjoy significant investment in their development not only at an individual level, but also at the team and community practice level. We work hard to match you with work that will both play to your strengths and challenge you in new ways.  

The work you’ll be engaged in is real, tangible work that directly benefits our frontline and communities. Taken all together, this means we can offer you career path opportunities to progress in your chosen profession and become a more well-rounded, experienced leader, with opportunities across the range of work we support.  

To view more detailed information about our recruitment process along with further details about requirements please click below link: 

Applicant Information Pack (External)  

Tono ināianei | Apply now 

If this position sounds like you, click apply now and submit a tailored CV. You will be required to submit an application form. Before confirmation of hire, pre-employment checks will be undertaken which include reference, drug and alcohol testing  and police vetting prior to any written offer being made.   

For further information on the application process, please copy and paste this URL: https://www.police.govt.nz/careers  

All applications must be submitted online and will not be accepted directly via email. All applicants must have the right to work in New Zealand.   

Utu ā-tau | Salary 

This position is covered by a collective agreement and salary will commence between $80,295 and $83,973 dependent on skills and experience relevant to the role.   

Please note: Deadline for applications is 5:00 pm on Wednesday, 14th May . Applications may be reviewed prior to the close date as well as contact made with candidates.  

If you have any questions about this vacancy, please contact sally.french@police.govt.nz