Specialist Investigator

New Zealand Police; Wellington; On-site; NZD 96,000 - 102,000; Full time

Job summary

New Zealand Police seeks a Specialist Investigator within the Economic Crime Team to lead complex fraud and scam investigations from inception to prosecution. Based in Wellington or Auckland, you will apply intelligence-led methods, coordinate with victims, witnesses, and external partners, and help develop capabilities in a high‑performing unit.

This permanent, full-time role requires authorised officer status, robust analytical skills, and strong communications.

Qualifications

• Proven investigative experience (criminal or regulatory) with complex matters.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills for complex information.
• Ability to engage victims, witnesses and partners effectively.
• Knowledge of fraud, scams, money laundering, or related crime.

Responsibilities

• Conduct and contribute to fraud, scam and economic crime investigations with robustness.
• Identify trends and develop tools to disrupt offending.
• Build relationships with Crown Solicitors, financial institutions and agencies.
• Support prevention, offender targeting and public awareness initiatives.
• Contribute to team development and capability improvements.

Skills

Investigative experience

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder engagement

Communication skills

Fraud/economic crime knowledge

Team collaboration

Education

Degree in Criminology/Law

Job description

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New Zealand Police – Wellington, North Island

New Zealand Police is working with the community to make New Zealanders be safe and feel safe. With over 15,000 staff, we provide policing services 24 hours a day, every day. We operate by land, sea and air, manage over 860,000 emergency calls a year and are always actively preventing crime and crashes.

We're working towards specific goals and targets that highlight our intent to work collaboratively with iwi and communities, other government sectors and business partners to deliver ‘Our Business' and achieve long-term change.

Specialist Investigator (Authorised Officer) - Economic Crime Team

• Based in Wellington or Auckland


• Permanent, Full Time


• JR 6054157

Mō te tūnga | About the role

The Financial Crime Group (FCG) is seeking motivated Specialist Investigators to conduct complex, high-value investigations within the newly-formed Economic Crime Team (ECT). This team will focus on the targeting, investigation, and prosecution of complex and prolific fraud and scam offending. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the development of a new capability and have a direct impact on reducing social harm caused by fraud.

Fraud and scam activity is now one of the most prevalent crime types in New Zealand, affecting over half of adults each year. Addressing this harm at a national level represents a significant shift for Police, and this role sits at the forefront of that response, with both national and international reach and influence.

As a Specialist Investigator, you will undertake complex and large-scale investigations into serious fraud and scam offending, using intelligence-led and evidence-based approaches to identify offenders, disrupt criminal activity, and deliver successful prosecutions. Working as part of a high-performing, mixed-specialisation team, you will manage your investigations from inception through to resolution, applying sound investigative practices, engaging with victims and witnesses, and building strong relationships with internal and external partners.

You will contribute to successful outcomes through effective victim support, maintaining high standards for your own case management, and enhancing your expertise to support colleagues and stakeholders. You will work closely with the Supervisor and other team members to help build a professional, innovative, and high-performing investigative capability within the Economic Crime Team.

Please note: there are two (2) positions available in Wellington (Central, moving to CIC in 2027), and two (2) positions available in Auckland (Federal Street). Please ensure you note your preference of location on your application.

Key Accountabilities:

• Conduct and contribute to fraud, scam and other economic crime investigations, ensuring investigations are intelligence-led, victim-focused, evidentially robust, and aligned with legislative, policy and prosecutorial requirements.


• Identify and respond to emerging fraud and scam trends, applying investigative best practice and contributing to the development and implementation of new tools, techniques, processes and disruption strategies that enhance team effectiveness.


• Develop and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including Crown Solicitors, financial institutions, regulators, industry partners and domestic and international law enforcement agencies, to support prevention, disruption and enforcement outcomes.


• Support the prevention and disruption of economic crime through intelligence development, offender targeting, stakeholder engagement, public awareness initiatives and the identification of opportunities to reduce harm and victimisation.


• Contribute to the ongoing development of the Economic Crime Team and Financial Crime Group, supporting operational improvements, capability development, organisational priorities, and demonstrating behaviours consistent with the values and expectations of New Zealand Police.

He aha taau e kawe mai | What you'll bring

While experience conducting criminal investigations is highly desired, other skills and attributes demonstrating adaptability, tenacity and relationship management skills are equally critical.

The successful applicants will demonstrate:

• Proven investigative experience (criminal or regulatory), including the ability to plan and conduct complex investigations, manage risk, navigate ambiguity, and deliver high-quality prosecution or enforcement outcomes.


• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess complex information, identify investigative opportunities, develop intelligence, and support enforcement and disruption activity.


• Effective communication and relationship management skills, including the ability to engage with victims, stakeholders, prosecutors, industry partners, and law enforcement agencies to achieve positive outcomes.


• Knowledge of fraud, scams, organised crime, money laundering, and technology-enabled offending, or the ability to quickly develop expertise in these areas. Experience in fraud or financial crime investigations would be advantageous but is not essential.


• Four (4) roles are available - two (2) in Wellington and two (2) in Auckland. Please specify your preferred location in your application.


• While the Wellington-based roles are currently housed at Wellington Central Police Station, the team will move to new premises in Porirua by mid-2027.


• Authorised Officers are required to complete a Physical Competency Test (PCT) prior to an offer of employment being made.


• Applicants must have a full Class 1 drivers licence.

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

https://teams.sp.police.govt.nz/pac/od/pd/Documents/Investigations,%20Serious%20and%20Organised%20Crime/Specialist%20Investigator%20-%20ARU%20and%20VAT.pdf

Security Clearance Requirements

To be eligible for this role, you may be asked to obtain and maintain a SECRET national security clearance.

The minimum criteria for this level of national security clearance is:

NZ Citizen who has resided continuously in NZ for the last 10 years, or:

• A Permanent Resident who has resided continuously in NZ for the last 10 years, or


• A citizen of or has resided continuously in one or more of the following countries for the last 10 years: Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, or United States of America, and has a background that can be verified by the NZSIS.

Use this online tool to self-check your eligibility for a security clearance. Please note that this tool is not part of the formal security clearance process:

http://www.protectivesecurity.govt.nz/eligibility-tool

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 NZ 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.

This position is covered by a collective agreement and salary will commence between $96,008 and $101,632 dependent on skills and experience relevant to the role.

Please note: Deadline for applications is 5:00 pm on Monday 28th September 2026. Applications may be reviewed prior to the close date as well as contact made with candidates.

If you have any questions about this vacancy, please contact Talent Pathway Advisor ***********@police.govt.nz

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