Taiao Apprentice – Restoration, Horticulture and Biosecurity

Porirua City is a great place to live, work and raise a family, with significant growth and opportunities. We’re upgrading our infrastructure, connecting our city and managing how we grow. We’re developing and creating a resilient, liveable city for our future generations and need skilled people like you to help make it all happen.

About the role

This is more than a job — it’s a four-year paid apprenticeship where you’ll learn hands-on skills, work alongside experienced professionals, and help create healthier ecosystems for future generations.

As a Taiao Apprentice, you’ll rotate across a variety of parks teams, building practical skills in:

• ecosystem restoration and revegetation
• nursery operations and plant propagation
• garden maintenance and horticulture
• pest plant and animal control
• biosecurity and conservation operations
• weed management and habitat protection
• using tools, machinery and field technology safely
• working with community groups and environmental partners
• You’ll also contribute to important environmental outcomes that support Porirua’s biodiversity, harbour health and climate goals.

About you

You don’t need to know everything already — if you bring enthusiasm, commitment and a willingness to learn, we’d love to hear from you.

Candidates must be available to start before July 1^st to meet the enrolling requirements.

We’re looking for someone who:

• has a genuine passion for nature and the environment
• enjoys practical, hands-on outdoor work in all weather
• is motivated to learn and complete study requirements
• works well in a team and communicates positively
• is reliable, proactive and safety focused
• is able to meet the pre-enrolling requirements at Western Institute of Technology and Taranaki, and can travel to Taranaki as needed.
• has good basic digital and literacy skills
• is physically fit and comfortable working outdoors
• respects te ao Māori, tikanga and the Treaty of Waitangi
• holds a current NZ restricted or full driver licence

It’d be great if you also have someexperience in horticulture, landscaping, conservation, farming or environmental work, or knowledge of native plants or pest species.

What you need to do now

If you’re ready to grow your skills, protect our environment and be part of something meaningful, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact Natasha Graham on 022 430 5608 for more information.

Porirua City embraces and values diversity and inclusion. We actively encourage applications by people from all backgrounds and are a member of Diversity Works. If you have any support or access requirements during our recruitment process, please let us know when you apply, and we’ll do our best to get you sorted.

You will need to apply via our careers centre: www.poriruacity.govt.nz/careers.

To find out more about working for Porirua City Watch this video

Applications close on Sunday 31 May 2026.

We expect this role to be popular, so if application numbers are high, we may bring the closing date forward.

Position description Apply now

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