Maintenance Technician

DairyNZ Limited; Hamilton; On-site; NZD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

DairyNZ Limited is seeking a practical Maintenance Technician to keep our research farms in Hamilton area operating safely, efficiently and reliably. The role involves maintaining infrastructure, machinery and equipment across Lye and Scott farms, with hands-on tasks from repairing water systems to welding gates and coordinating contractors.

Reporting to the Research Delivery Manager, you’ll perform preventative and reactive maintenance, train team members, and support scientists to ensure

Qualifications

• Hands-on maintenance experience in farming or mechanical environments.
• Strong mechanical troubleshooting skills and safety focus.
• Experience with planned maintenance schedules and farm machinery.
• Welding and fabrication experience is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Maintain infrastructure, machinery and equipment for research farms.
• Perform preventative, planned and reactive maintenance to minimise downtime.
• Repair water systems, tractors and farm vehicles; weld and fabricate as needed.
• Coordinate contractors and support scientists and farm teams.
• Maintain a safe, organised workshop and promote health and safety.

Skills

Practical maintenance

Mechanical aptitude

Tractor & farm machinery

Welding & fabrication

Planned maintenance

Health and safety

Organisational skills

Collaborative

Education

Trade qualifications

Job description

• Job ID: 165080
• Department: Farm Solution & Engagement
• Location: Lye and Scott farms
• Posted: September 6, 2026

Hamilton (Newstead – DairyNZ Farms Lye and Scott)

Deliver a positive future for New Zealand dairy farming

At DairyNZ, we're working alongside farmers to create a positive future for New Zealand dairy farming. Our research farms are where science meets practical farming, enabling us to test new ideas, develop innovative solutions and deliver real-world outcomes for farmers across New Zealand.

We're looking for a practical, hands-on Maintenance Technician to help keep our research farms operating safely, efficiently and reliably.

This is a varied role where no two days are the same. One day you could be repairing a water system, servicing a tractor or welding a gate. The next, you'll be preparing research infrastructure for an upcoming trial, coordinating contractors to ensure work is delivered to DairyNZ standards, or working alongside, scientists and farm teams to ensure our facilities are ready to support world-class research.

About the opportunity

Reporting to the Research Delivery Manager with a dotted line to the Facilities and Procurement Manager, you'll play a key role in maintaining the infrastructure, machinery and equipment that underpin DairyNZ's research and farm operations.

Working closely with farm teams, scientists, technicians and our Facilities Manager, you'll deliver preventative, planned and reactive maintenance that helps minimise downtime and ensures our research farms remain safe, reliable and fit for purpose.

Your work will include:

• Maintain accurate records, support the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and train team members in the safe and appropriate use of machinery and equipment.
• Maintaining fences, yards, raceways and water systems.
• Maintenance checks on tractors, farm vehicles and equipment.
• Diagnosing and undertaking straightforward mechanical repairs.
• Welding, fabrication and general farm maintenance.
• Preparing research infrastructure and equipment for trials.
• Supporting scientists and farm teams to ensure research activities run smoothly.
• Coordinating specialist contractors where required.
• Maintaining a safe, organised workshop and promoting strong health and safety practices.
• Identifying practical improvements that enhance reliability and efficiency.

About you

You'll be someone who enjoys solving problems, takes pride in quality workmanship and likes seeing the results of your work every day.

You'll bring:

• Practical maintenance experience in a farming, agricultural or mechanical environment.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting skills.
• Experience with planned maintenance schedules.
• Experience operating and maintaining tractors and farm machinery.
• Experience with welding, fabrication and general farm repairs.
• A proactive approach to preventative maintenance.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to prioritise competing work.
• A collaborative approach and the ability to build positive working relationships.
• A strong commitment to health and safety.

Trade qualifications, electrical or water reticulation experience, or previous experience working on dairy farms would be advantageous, but they're not essential.

On-farm accommodation is not provided with this role. However, the farm is conveniently located just minutes from Hamilton, offering easy access to a wide range of housing, schools, shops and amenities.

Why DairyNZ?

At DairyNZ you'll have the opportunity to use your practical skills in a role that has real impact. Every repair, improvement and maintenance task you complete helps support research that improves the productivity, sustainability and profitability of New Zealand dairy farming.

• A diverse and rewarding role with plenty of variety.
• The opportunity to work alongside leading scientists and farm professionals.
• A supportive, collaborative team environment.
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities.
• Competitive salary and benefits.
• The chance to contribute to meaningful research that benefits New Zealand dairy farmers.

If you're a practical, solutions-focused person who enjoys hands-on work and wants to be part of improving the future of New Zealand dairy farming, we'd love to hear from you.

Check out the full position description here to read more detail. Applications close 21September 2026, at 11:55pm.