Summer Student - Freshwater (Fixed Term)

Hawke's Bay Regional Council; Napier; On-site; NZD 32,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid internship

Job summary

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council in Napier offers a paid Summer Student - Freshwater placement within the Freshwater and Marine Science team, running November 2026 to February 2027. This fixed term internship provides full-time work while you study and supports career development.

You will assist with freshwater, wetlands and habitat assessments, collect and analyse field data, and help with water quality monitoring and fish surveys.

Qualifications

• We are looking for students who are completing or studying towards a qualification related to freshwater science or environmental work.
• Strong organisational and analytical skills with the ability to work independently or in a team.
• Proficiency in MS Word and Excel; familiarity with GIS tools is useful but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Freshwater and Marine Science team on freshwater, wetland and habitat assessments across the region.
• Collect, record and analyse field and environmental data for habitat and ecological studies.
• Support water quality monitoring programmes, fish surveys and related investigations.
• Help review historical records to identify wetland loss and map barriers to fish passage.
• Contribute to delivering freshwater and coastal ecosystem projects.

Skills

Organised

Initiative

Teamwork

Interpersonal skills

MS Word

MS Excel

GIS

Education

Formal qualification in relevant field

Tools

GIS software

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

Summer Student - Freshwater (Fixed Term)

Hawke's Bay Regional Council – Napier City, North Island

Our vision is a healthy environment and a resilient and prosperous community.

About The opportunity | Ko te āheinga:

This summer, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council is offering a paid Internship Programme to students who are studying towards a formal qualification that directly relates to the work we do here. There is a Summer Student placement within the Fresh Water and Marine Science team which will run between November 2026 to approximately February 2027 (don’t worry, we can work the dates around your exams). This Fixed Term placement will provide you with interesting, paid, full-time work as well as career development while you study. This opportunity to work and learn in the field is hugely valuable to your growth as a student.

The Summer Student - Freshwater will assist the Freshwater and Marine Science team with a range of freshwater, wetland, and habitat assessment projects across the region. You will be involved in assessing culverts and other instream structures to identify and map barriers to fish passage, undertaking inanga spawning habitat assessments and saltwater wedge surveys in tidal waterways, field-truthing land-use capability assessments, and reviewing historical records to identify and quantify wetland loss.

The role will involve collecting, recording, and analysing field and environmental data, contributing to habitat and ecological assessments, and supporting the delivery of freshwater and coastal ecosystem projects. You may also assist with water quality and ecology monitoring programmes, fish surveys, fish passage remediation projects, and other special investigations undertaken by the team.

About you | E pā ana ki a koe:

We are looking for enthusiastic students who are well‑organised, show high levels of initiative and have the ability to work independently or with a team when required. Confidence working in and around waterways is essential, along with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to initiate and build meaningful connections within the community.

Strong analytical and technical skills are required, along with problem‑solving abilities and proficiency in MS Word and Excel. Some experience using GIS, spatial data or field data‑collection applications would be useful but is not essential, as training can be provided. An interest in freshwater ecology, wetlands or environmental monitoring would be an advantage.

Requirements for the programme:

You will have completed or be studying towards a formal qualification in a relevant field.

Confident working in and around waterways and undertaking days of solo driving and fieldwork.

A valid driver’s licence is essential and competency driving a 4WD vehicle would be advantageous.

Ability to undertake the inherent requirements of the role, including any physical tasks associated with the position.

You will need to have current working rights in New Zealand to be considered for this placement.

You will also need to be based in the Hawke’s Bay for the summer period while undertaking the programme so please bear this in mind when applying.

The hourly rate for our students is$27.00, plus 8% pay as you go for your annual leave entitlement.

As an equal opportunity employer, we are dedicated to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment. We recognise that collaborative and innovative organisations depend on having a workforce made up from a diverse range of perspectives and experiences. We're all about excellence, and we encourage open communication – if you need any specific support, just let us know! Our main goal is to empower each person to share their unique talents to contribute to the outcomes for our community. This commitment ensures that our workplace is a dynamic and progressive space where everyone can flourish.

HBRC is responsible for Civil Defence emergencies and as such, all staff may be called upon to support the response.

At Hawke’s Bay Regional Council our purpose is to work with our community to protect and manage the region’s precious taonga of rivers, lakes, soils, air, coast and biodiversity for health, wellbeing and connectivity. Our organisation is diverse, and our work is varied. Our structure comprises of six key business units; Corporate Services, Integrated Catchment Management, Asset Management, Māori Partnerships, Policy & Regulation, and the Executive Advisory Group which also consists of the Civil Defence and Emergency Management.

We focus on prioritising:

Kia koi, kia toitū hoki te whakamahinga o te whenua|Climate-smart and sustainable land use.