Investigator

MBIEPROD; Wellington; On-site; NZD 86,000 - 102,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

KiwiSaver

Wellness initiatives

Career development opportunities

Job summary

New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is seeking two experienced Investigators to join the Immigration Compliance and Investigations team in Manukau on permanent full-time roles. Salary range offered is NZD 85,537 to 101,911 per year, plus KiwiSaver and wellness benefits.

Applicants must be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents. These roles involve investigating serious Immigration Act offending, supporting regulatory outcomes, and contributing to

Qualifications

• Proven criminal investigation experience, including planning and leading complex investigations.
• Experience preparing and managing prosecution files to a high evidential standard.
• Strong court presentation skills, including giving evidence professionally and objectively.
• Experience managing witnesses and preparing exhibits for court proceedings.
• Demonstrated knowledge and application of contemporary investigative techniques, including digital and computer-based investigation methods.
• Strong analytical, communication, and report-writing skills.
• Ability to apply relevant New Zealand legislation to criminal investigations and prosecutions, including: Immigration Act, Crimes Act, Criminal Procedure Act, Evidence Act, New Zealand Bill of Rights Act.

Responsibilities

• Investigate serious Immigration Act offending and immigration-related non-compliance.
• Lead investigations using intelligence-led approaches and deliver evidence-based enforcement outcomes.
• Contribute to regulatory compliance objectives within MBIE.
• Work as part of the Investigation Team in Manukau.
• Support prosecutors with evidence and exhibits.

Skills

Criminal investigations

Prosecution file management

Court testimony

Witness management

Digital investigations

Analytical reporting

NZ law & acts

Job description

• Investigate serious Immigration Act offending, including complex criminal investigations, immigration-related non-compliance, and migrant exploitation.
• Two permanent positions available based in Manukau.
• Salary range: $85,537 - $101,911 plus KiwiSaver and wellness benefits.

Immigration Compliance and Investigations has two permanent opportunities for experienced Investigators to join our Investigation Team in Manukau.

This is an exciting opportunity to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment during a period of growth and transformation. You will play a key role in protecting the integrity of New Zealand's immigration system by investigating serious Immigration Act offending and supporting regulatory compliance outcomes.

As part of a highly capable team, you will contribute to intelligence-led investigations, apply sound investigative practices, and help deliver evidence-based enforcement outcomes.

The team sits within Te Whakatairanga Service Delivery for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and are tasked with preventing and responding to immigration related offending and non-compliance.

What We Offer

• A welcoming and supportive team environment.
• Exposure to a diverse range of immigration investigations, including migrant exploitation and organised immigration offending.
• Opportunities to further develop your investigative and regulatory expertise.
• The chance to make a meaningful contribution to New Zealand's immigration system.
• Career development opportunities within MBIE's wider regulatory and enforcement community.
• Access to MBIE's employee benefits, including KiwiSaver and wellness initiatives.

To be considered for this role, you must be a New Zealand citizen or hold New Zealand permanent residency.

Ngą pukenga me ąŋ wheako e hiahiatia ana - Skills and Experience Required

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Proven criminal investigation experience, including planning and leading complex investigations.
• Experience preparing and managing prosecution files to a high evidential standard.
• Strong court presentation skills, including giving evidence professionally and objectively.
• Experience managing witnesses and preparing exhibits for court proceedings.
• Demonstrated knowledge and application of contemporary investigative techniques, including digital and computer-based investigation methods.
• Strong analytical, communication, and report-writing skills.
• Able to apply relevant New Zealand legislation to criminal investigations and prosecutions, including:
  • Immigration Act
  • Crimes Act
  • Criminal Procedure Act
  • Evidence Act
  • New Zealand Bill of Rights Act

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.

• Mąia– Bold and brave
• Pae Kahurangi – Build our Future

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

MBIE recognises the partnership founded under TeTiritio Waitangi between Māori and the Crown and is committed to giving effect to TeTiritio 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.

Applications close on Wednesday 11 November 2026.