Kitchen Assistant

Heritage Lifecare; Stratford; On-site; NZD 30,000 - 39,000; Part time

Job summary

Annie Brydon Lifecare in Hawera, Taranaki, is seeking a casual Kitchen Assistant to join our friendly team. You will help prepare hearty, nutritious meals for residents and ensure any dietary requirements are met, with a positive, can-do attitude and a keen eye for quality.

AM shifts, a supportive work environment, and the chance to develop catering skills within Heritage Lifecare’s growing network awaits someone who enjoys helping others and takes pride in food service.

Qualifications

• Proven catering/food service experience, ideally in a commercial kitchen.
• Passion for good food and high-quality dining experiences.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and time management skills.
• Genuine care for others with strong customer service and positive attitude.
• Experience delivering meals to a high-quality standard.

Responsibilities

• Assist in preparing hearty, nutritious meals for residents.
• Ensure dietary requirements are met and documented.
• Provide reliable, friendly service and support kitchen operations.

Skills

Catering experience

Food service

Communication skills

Customer service

Quality standards

Job description

• Casual
• Application Closes 25 Sep 2026
• Taranaki - Stratford
• Cook

Join our team at Annie Brydon Lifecare to make a positive impact on the lives of our residents by providing exceptional care in a warm and caring environment.

Annie Brydon Lifecare is a 68-bed Care Home and Hospital with a 48-unit Village, located in the Taranaki town of Hawera. The region has stunning scenery, picturesque parks, beaches, coastal walkways, and the majestic Mount Taranaki - making it a great place to work, live and raise a family. Have a wonderful pace of life, with few traffic woes, affordable housing, and many great amenities - including cafes and schools.

About Us

Heritage Lifecare is one of the leading and largest aged care providers in New Zealand, and the largest dementia provider. We are a fast growing, dynamic organisation with 42 care homes and 20 villages from Whangarei to Invercargill, with an abundance of opportunity. We pride ourselves on being a caring community and have a supporting and nurturing culture; we are whānau.

About Our Role

• Annie Brydon Lifecare, located in the Taranaki town of Hawera
• Casual (as and when required, not on a regular basis)
• AM shifts

We have a fantastic opportunity for a Kitchen Assistant, with a passion for working in a culinary environment, to make a meaningful difference to the lives of our residents. You will have a positive can-do attitude, have the belief that good food is important to well-being, and be great at working with people. As a Kitchen Assistant at Annie Brydon Lifecare, you will be responsible for helping to provide hearty nutritious meals for our residents, ensuring any individual food requirements are met. You will need to be reliable and eager to lend a hand.

Your Skills And Experience

• Proven experience in catering and food service, ideally working in a commercia kitchen (however on the job training will be given).
• A passion for creating good food and providing an exceptional dining experience.
• Good communication, interpersonal, and time management skills.
• A genuine love for helping people, with excellent customer service skills, and a friendly and positive attitude.
• Experience delivering to a quality standard.

What's In It For You

• Work for one of the most progressive aged care companies in New Zealand.
• Competitive pay scale based on skills & experience.
• Opportunities for professional development and advancement.
• Supportive and collaborative work environment.
• Make a meaningful difference in the lives of our residents.

Heritage Lifecare fosters an environment that celebrates diversity and inclusion. We uphold the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and interviews may take place prior to the close date.

Applicants must have the legal right to work in New Zealand. Therefore, we may be unable to support a visa application for this role.

• kitchen-assistant-position-description-(2).pdf