Animal Welfare Inspector

Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI); Christchurch; On-site; NZD 76,000 - 106,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is seeking a Senior/Animal Welfare Inspector in Christchurch to lead animal welfare and NAIT investigations, balancing field and office tasks while engaging farmers, industry partners and regulators to uphold NZ’s primary sector integrity.

You'll hold statutory appointments, progress prosecutions where required, and work with national teams to respond to incidents, travel across Canterbury and beyond to ensure consistent, compliant outcomes.

Qualifications

• Experience in compliance and investigation processes.
• Experience managing relationships with internal and external partners.
• Ability to plan, manage, and prioritise multiple investigations.
• Experience conducting prosecutions, presenting evidence in court, and applying investigative and enforcement powers.
• Experience with animal husbandry, production systems, and primary sector operations.
• Knowledge of primary industry organisations, NAIT agencies, and animal welfare networks.
• Experience with biosecurity systems.
• Firearms licence or the ability to obtain one preferable; training will be provided.

Responsibilities

• Primarily hold statutory appointments as an Animal Welfare Inspector and NAIT Officer.
• Hold other appointments as required (e.g., Animal Products Act, Biosecurity Act).
• Ensure breaches of the Animal Welfare and NAIT Acts are identified, assessed, and progressed using appropriate intervention tools. Lead, plan, and progress investigations, including prosecution files.
• Participate in readiness and response activities using the Coordinated Incident Management System (CIMS).
• Support regional and national animal welfare emergency management coordination.
• Build and sustain strong working relationships with internal and external partners, including SPCA, NZ Police, OSPRI, emergency management agencies, and sector stakeholders.
• Regularly update reports and investigation files in MPI's data systems.
• Regional and national travel as required.

Skills

Compliance & investigations

Stakeholder management

Investigation planning

Prosecution experience

Animal husbandry knowledge

Biosecurity systems

Firearms licence (preferable)

Job description

Job Description

Senior/Animal Welfare Inspector

Role type: Permanent, Full Time

Location: Christchurch (role sits within a national directorate; travel required)

Salary Band & Range: Compliance Services $75,736 – $106,491 depending on skills and experience

About the Role - Kōrero mō te Tūranga

The Compliance & Response (C&R) Directorate within Agriculture & Investment Services (AIS) plays a critical role in ensuring optimal compliance across MPI's systems.

You will lead and undertake animal welfare and National Animal Identification & Tracing (NAIT) investigations that may involve political, organisational, or export‑related risk.

Each day brings variety as you split your time between the field and office, engaging with farmers, industry partners, co‑regulators, and internal teams to uphold the integrity of New Zealand's primary sector.

In this role you will:

• Primarily hold statutory appointments as an Animal Welfare Inspector and NAIT Officer.
• Hold other appointments as required (e.g., Animal Products Act, Biosecurity Act).
• Ensure breaches of the Animal Welfare and NAIT Acts are identified, assessed, and progressed using appropriate intervention tools. Lead, plan, and progress investigations, including prosecution files.
• Participate in readiness and response activities using the Coordinated Incident Management System (CIMS).
• Support regional and national animal welfare emergency management coordination.
• Build and sustain strong working relationships with internal and external partners, including SPCA, NZ Police, OSPRI, emergency management agencies, and sector stakeholders.
• Regularly update reports and investigation files in MPI's data systems.
• Regional and national travel as required.

About You - Mōu

To be successful in this role you will bring:

• Experience in compliance and investigation processes.
• Experience managing relationships both internally and externally.
• Ability to plan, manage, and prioritise multiple investigations.
• Experience conducting prosecutions, presenting evidence in court, and applying investigative and enforcement powers.
• Experience with animal husbandry, production systems, and primary sector operations.
• Knowledge of primary industry organisations, NAIT agencies, and animal welfare networks.
• Experience with biosecurity systems.
• Firearms licence or the ability to obtain one is preferable; training will be provided in using and storing firearms/captive bolt.

You do not need to meet all of the role requirements to apply. We offer a breadth of development and learning opportunities and will welcome an application if you think you could make a great fit.

About the Team - Mō tō mātou Rōpū

The Animal Welfare and NAIT Compliance group sits within Agriculture & Investment Services and works across New Zealand to deliver effective compliance and enforcement outcomes. The Christchurch team covers the large geographical area of Canterbury and works closely with other Animal Welfare Inspectors, NAIT Officers, analysts and coordinators to respond to complaints, investigate non‑compliance and promote good animal welfare practices. The team also builds strong relationships with co‑regulators and stakeholders, including the SPCA, OSPRI, New Zealand Police, local authorities, industry groups and other government agencies, sharing information and expertise to support consistent and effective outcomes.

About MPI - Mō Te Manatū Ahu Matua

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) partners with New Zealand's food and fibre sector to be the world's most trusted provider of high‑value food and fibre products.

Benefits - Ngā hua o te mahi i te Manatū Ahu Matua

• Additional MPI leave days
• Annual Wellness payment
• Bi-annual paid eye test and contribution to the costs of corrective lenses/frames

Security Checks - Ngā Taki Whakahaumaru

To be eligible you must:

• Ideally be a NZ citizen who has resided in NZ for the last five years, OR
• Have lived in Australia, Canada, NZ, UK, or USA continuously for the last five years; and
• Be able to obtain a Secret‑level security clearance.

If you cannot meet these criteria, we are unfortunately unable to accept your application.

Drug and Alcohol Screening - Whakamātau Whakapōauau me te Waipiro

Please note, given this position is safety sensitive the preferred candidates(s) for the position will be required to undergo a drug and alcohol pre‑employment screening test. Further information on this process can be found on our careers site, here.

Are you ready to make a difference? - Kua rite koe mō tēnei mahi whaitake?

We are committed to being a good partner under Te Tiriti o Waitangi which includes working closely with iwi, hapū, whānau and hāpori.

We aspire to reflect the diverse communities we serve, so we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, and identities. As an organisation, we are committed to making Manatū Ahu Matua Ministry for Primary Industries a great place to work for all.

In your cover letter we'd like to know about you, your values; your interest and motivations for this role; the abilities, strengths, personal attributes and diverse perspectives you will bring to the role and this organisation, which may have also been gained outside of the workforce.

Applications close at 11.59pm on Thursday 29 October.

If you have any questions about the role, please email [e-mail]