Prosecutor - Christchurch

NZ Police; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 93,000 - 116,000; Full time

Job summary

New Zealand Police is recruiting a Prosecutor for the Christchurch region to join the Police Prosecution Service. You will engage in courtroom advocacy, handle file analysis, submissions, and liaise with investigators and defence counsel. This role offers autonomous decision-making and meaningful community impact.

We value your ability to communicate clearly, think critically under pressure, and uphold high professional standards while contributing to a diverse team across the country.

Qualifications

• Must hold a LLB degree and be eligible for a practicing certificate.
• Must reside in the Christchurch region, within commutable distance of Christchurch Central Police Station.
• Willingness to travel nationally as required.

Responsibilities

• Communicate effectively with our people, partners and community.
• Exercise critical thinking to make sound decisions under pressure in a face-to-face setting.
• Analyse complex information accurately within prosecution and court processes.
• Be individually responsible and accountable for your performance and development.
• Demonstrate understanding of a Prosecutor's role and contribute to Police outcomes.
• Lead yourself and seek opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and experience.

Education

LLB degree

Job description

About the role

New Zealand Police are offering an exciting opportunity to join the Police Prosecution Service (PPS) as a Prosecutor in Christchurch. With PPS you will gain a sound knowledge of prosecution processes including advocacy, knowledge of the Law and court practices. You will move into an area of fast paced and interesting criminal courtroom advocacy where you will grow and gain a large amount of experience in a short period of time. You will have the opportunity and autonomy to make decisions in the knowledge that you are making a difference in the community in which you live. You will be part of a diverse group of Constabulary prosecutors, Police Employee lawyers, support, and managerial staff. Here you will find that camaraderie and peer support are second to none and the feeling of belonging to a close-knit team is a real and tangible experience. You will experience on your feet prosecuting in courts ranging from first appearance through to Judge alone trials and sentencings hearings. In addition, you will be involved in various out-of-court case management processes, such as file analysis, writing submissions, and liaising with police investigators and defence counsel. Your knowledge and understanding of key New Zealand statutes and legislation, combined with your desire and motivation to present well-constructed and compelling prosecution cases, will enable you to undertake a vital role in the Criminal Justice Sector and in the operationalisation of New Zealand Police's strategy.

Key Accountabilities

• Communication - Having the skills to effectively communicate with our people, partners and community.
• Decision Making - Having the critical thinking and problem-solving skills to make sound decisions and responses under pressure in a face-to-face setting.
• Law and Policy - Having a sound understanding of prosecution and court processes, and the ability to analyse complex information accurately.
• Individually Responsible and Accountable - Being accountable for your performance and taking responsibility for your contribution and development.
• Clear - Show an understanding of a Prosecutor's purpose within Police and the outcomes we are striving to deliver.
• Enabling through self-leadership - Ability to seek opportunities to develop your own skills, knowledge and experience.

What you'll bring

Whilst we are looking for skills, knowledge and experience relevant to the role, we also place high importance on your state of mind, the alignment of your values with ours, your ability to contribute to and build high performing teams, and the way that you lead yourself or others.

Special requirements

• You must hold a LLB degree, have the ability to obtain a practicing certificate and provide evidence of your qualification and eligibility.
• If you are a former sworn employee who can demonstrate the skills, knowledge, and experience, including providing relevant examples, you may apply as a non-sworn employee.
• The successful candidate must reside in the Christchurch region, within reasonable commutable distance of Christchurch Central Police Station.
• The successful candidate will be required to travel nationally as required.

This role is Individual Contributor/Emerging Leader level. You can refer to Indicators of Success for further information on the requirements.

To view the position description for this role please copy and paste this link into a new browser: External - Prosecutor - Position Description

Mo tātou | About us

New Zealand Police is the lead agency responsible for preventing crime and enhancing community safety. It works in partnership with individuals, communities, businesses, and other public sector agencies towards the vision of making New Zealand the safest country. Police is the government's largest front-line response agency with around 15,000 staff in large and small communities all over New Zealand and in liaison and policing development roles overseas.

Your development is highly valued at New Zealand Police. Our employees enjoy significant investment in their development not only at an individual level, but also at the team and community practice level. We work hard to match you with work that will both play to your strengths and challenge you in new ways.

The work you'll be engaged in is real, tangible work that directly benefits our frontline and communities. Taken all together, this means we can offer you career path opportunities to progress in your chosen profession and become a more well-rounded, experienced leader, with opportunities across the range of work we support.

Utu ā-tau | Salary

This position is covered by a collective agreement and will commence between $92,762 - $116,129 dependent on skills and experience relevant to the role. Previous litigation experience will be taken into account regarding remuneration and Prosecutor Grade. If you are an internal applicant, you must apply internally through the police system. You must provide an alternative contact email address and state your future commitments should you be successful in the next stage of the recruitment process.

Please note: Deadline for applications is 5:00 pm on Monday 19 October 2026. Applications may be reviewed prior to the close date as well as contact made with candidates.