Diver/Aquarist - Fixed Term

Napier City Council; Napier; On-site; NZD 66,000 - 74,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Assistance Program (OCP)

Quarterly values awards + Social club

Free flu vaccinations (annual)

Ka Awatea Cultural Wānanga + NCC KapaH

Te Reo Māori language classes

Job summary

Napier City Council and the National Aquarium of New Zealand in Napier are offering a 12-month Diver/Aquarist role. You will care for aquatic animals, participate in diving operations, maintain life support systems, and deliver talks and behind‑the‑scenes experiences for visitors.

Based at Napier’s Marine Parade, you’ll join a safety‑minded team with strong emphasis on welfare and conservation. Expect 40 hours per week on a rostered schedule, with a salary package of $66,223–$74,014 including

Qualifications

• Strong passion for animal welfare and conservation, delivering high standards of care.
• Hands‑on experience in animal husbandry and enjoyment of practical, physically active work.
• Diving qualifications (minimum PADI Rescue Diver or equivalent) with medical clearance.
• Confident in communicating with visitors, schools, and diverse audiences.
• Reliable, detail‑focused, able to work calmly within a team in safety‑critical environments.

Responsibilities

• Support daily care, health and wellbeing of aquatic animals through feeding, enrichment, monitoring, and record-keeping.
• Participate in safe, professional occupational diving operations for underwater husbandry, cleaning, and exhibit maintenance.
• Assist with operation and maintenance of aquaria, exhibits, and life support systems, including water quality testing.
• Deliver engaging visitor experiences through talks, encounters, presentations, and behind‑the‑scenes tours.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives and a positive, safety‑focused team culture.

Skills

Animal welfare

Hands‑on husbandry

Diving qualifications

Visitor engagement

Teamwork in safety‑critical env

Job description

Bring your passion for marine life to one of Aotearoa’s most iconic visitor attractions. As a Diver/Aquarist at the National Aquarium of New Zealand for 12 months, you’ll play a hands‑on role in the care, health, and wellbeing of our animals, supporting daily husbandry, diving operations, exhibit presentation, and life support systems. From underwater cleaning and maintenance to enrichment, feeding, and animal health support, your work will directly contribute to exceptional animal welfare outcomes.

You’ll also help bring the Aquarium to life for our visitors - delivering engaging talks, encounters, and behind‑the‑scenes experiences that inspire curiosity and conservation. Working as part of a collaborative and safety‑focused team, you’ll take pride in high standards, continuous learning, and contributing to a positive, professional environment across a seven‑day operation.

Te Āheinga - The Opportunity

• Support the daily care, health, and wellbeing of aquatic animals through feeding, enrichment, monitoring, and record-keeping
• Participate in safe, professional occupational diving operations for underwater husbandry, cleaning, and exhibit maintenance
• Assist with the operation and maintenance of aquaria, exhibits, and life support systems, including water quality testing
• Deliver engaging visitor experiences through talks, encounters, presentations, and behind‑the‑scenes tours
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, training programmes, and a positive, safety‑focused team culture

He kōrero mōhou - About You

• A strong passion for animal welfare, conservation, and delivering high standards of care
• Hands‑on experience in animal husbandry, with an enjoyment of practical, physically active work
• Relevant diving qualifications (minimum PADI Rescue Diver or equivalent), with the ability to meet occupational diving and medical clearance requirements
• Confidence communicating with visitors, schools, and diverse audiences in an engaging and professional manner
• Reliable, detail‑focused, and able to work calmly and effectively within a team, including in safety‑critical environments

Ngā painga mōhou - What we Offer

• Employee Assistance Program (OCP)
• Quarterly values awards + Social club
• Free flu vaccinations (annual)
• Ka Awatea Cultural Wānanga + NCC Kapa Haka
• Te Reo Māori language classes

This is a 12-month fixed term opportunity working 40 hours per week on a rostered basis. You will be based at the National Aquarium of New Zealand on Napier’s Marine Parade.

The annual salary package for this role is $66,223 - $74,014 (including KiwiSaver), with the final offer depending on your skills and experience.

We will be interviewing applications as we receive them and may close the role when we have found the right person.

He kōrero mō Te Kaunihera o Ahuriri - About NCC

At Napier City Council, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer that values diversity. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and work to make our hiring process fair and accessible. If you need any support or adjustments during your application or interview, let us know—we’re happy to help! Our success is grounded in strong partnerships with Mana Whenua and Iwi, supported by our Māori Partnerships team, Te Waka Rangapū, which builds cultural capability through education and training. Before you join, you’ll need to complete pre‑employment checks (including criminal background checks, with some roles requiring health screening and drug & alcohol testing). As an NCC employee, you may also be called on to support Civil Defence emergencies when our community needs us most.