People Business Partner (12 Months Fixed Term)

Meridian Energy; Wellington; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary package

Enhanced leave

KiwiSaver contributions

Wellbeing programme

Power discounts

WFH stipend

Learning & development

Job summary

Meridian Energy is seeking a People Business Partner for a 12-month fixed term in Wellington. You’ll partner with leaders, navigating employment relations, change and recruitment while supporting remuneration and engagement processes.

This is a diverse, hands-on role grounded in practical HR solutions and te ao Māori considerations. You’ll bring broad HR experience, strong NZ employment law knowledge, and the credibility to coach leaders through change and workforce design.

Qualifications

• Broad HR experience across employment relations, change, engagement and recruitment.
• Strong knowledge of New Zealand employment law.
• Confidence coaching and influencing people leaders.

Responsibilities

• Coach and support leaders across a range of people matters.
• Navigate employment relations, organisational change and performance.
• End-to-end recruitment, role design, workforce planning and capability.
• Oversee key people processes including remuneration and engagement.
• Lead people projects and continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Employment relations

Change management

Recruitment

Performance coaching

NZ employment law

Job description

People Business Partner (12 Months Fixed Term)

• Full-time

From the tail of the fish to the tail of the waka, shines the sun

Thiswhakataukīspeaks to our journey across Aotearoa, one waka, one purpose, powered by the natural forces that sustain us. Meridian is Aotearoa’s largest renewable electricity producer, generating energy from the winds ofTāwhirimātea, the waters of Tangaroa, and the warmth of Tama-nui-te-rā.

Together, our two brands,MeridianandPowershopretail electricity to more than 400,000 homes, businesses and farms across New Zealand.Nowthat’sapretty impressivecombo!

Are you a good human who loves helping other good humans thrive? We’re looking for a People Business Partner who enjoys getting alongside leaders, building trusted relationships and providing practical advice and coaching that makes a real difference.

It’s a broad and varied role where you’ll get involved in:

Coaching and supporting leaders across a range of people matters

Employment relations, organisational change and performance

End to end Recruitment, role design, workforce planning and capability

Key People processes including remuneration and engagement

People projects and continuous improvement initiatives

Embracing Māori learning and practices and helping create opportunities for te ao Māori to be part of how we work every day

Helping leaders confidently navigate our people policies, processes and tools.

This is a 12-month fixed term opportunity to cover a parental leave, based in Wellington.

You’ll be an experienced People/HR practitioner, with sound judgement and a practical, people-focused approach, and the confidence to navigate a wide range of people matters.

You’ll bring:

Broad HR experience, ideally across employment relations, change, engagement and recruitment

Strong knowledge of New Zealand employment law

Confidence coaching and influencing people leaders

Strong commercial awareness and the ability to understand what the business needs

Great communication and relationship-building skills

A practical, curious approach and an eye for how things could be done better

A genuine openness and commitment to growing your understanding of te ao Māori and encouraging others to do the same

The ability to juggle changing priorities and work comfortably with ambiguity.

We value work/life balance, so our WFH and flexible work options (where possible) make things easier for you and your whānau. We also offer:

An attractive and competitive salary package

Enhanced leave provisions: three company paid days (over the holiday period)

Enhanced KiwiSaver contributions

Award winning wellbeing programme that provides support whenever and wherever you need it

Employee discounts off your power with Meridian, every bit counts

a one-off $400 payment to support your work from home set-up (if needed)

Excellent learning and development opportunities, we want you to be the best version of yourself and will help you get there!

We see energy as mauri the life force that connects people and place. Joining Meridian means contributing to kaitiakitanga, caring for the environment and future generations while empowering communities to flourish.

We’re a team that believes in being in the waka together supporting each other, celebrating our wins, and learning from our challenges. You’ll be encouraged to show tū maia, to be bold, curious, and authentic in your mahi, and to practice rangatiratanga by leading with integrity and purpose, no matter your role.

At Meridian, we embrace diversity and inclusion and ensure that everyone feels like they belong, are welcomed, feel valued, and feel comfortable to bring their whole selves to work. We want all our people to be the best that they can be, so we make sure that there’s room for everyone to be exactly who they are, and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences, including individuals with disabilities, diverse health needs, and those who identify as neurodiverse, because we believe our differences make us stronger. We believe that fun is good for you, and we make sure that our office vibe reflects that. We support each other and celebrate our successes.

Advertising closes on 6 November 2026 (please note this is subject to change).