Summer Student - Water Quality and Ecology (Fixed Term)

Hawke's Bay Regional Council; Napier; On-site; NZD 31,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid internship

NZD 27/hour

Job summary

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council in Napier, North Island invites applications for a paid Summer Student – Water Quality and Ecology. The fixed-term internship runs from November 2026 to mid‑March/April 2027, with full-time hours and dates arranged around exams.

You will assist with recreational water quality monitoring, coastal ecology, and ecosystem health assessments at representative sites. You should be well-organised, able to work independently or in a team, and have an interest in water

Qualifications

• 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.
• Current working rights in New Zealand to be considered for the placements.
• Based in Hawke’s Bay for the summer period during the programme.

Responsibilities

• Assist Water Quality and Ecology team with monitoring programmes.
• Undertake water quality sampling and ecology observations at lakes, rivers and estuaries.
• Measure key water quality parameters and contribute to State of Environment assessments.
• Support special investigations and data management as required.

Skills

Well-organised

Initiative

Independent & team work

Interpersonal skills

Analytical & technical skills

Problem solving

MS Word

Excel

Database management systems

Interest in water quality & ecology

Education

Formal qualification in a relevant field

Tools

MS Word

Excel

Database management systems

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 - Water Quality and Ecology (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 are three Summer Student placements within the Water Quality and Ecology team, which will run from November 2026 to approximately mid-March/April 2027 (don’t worry, we can work the dates around your exams). These Fixed Term placements 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 – Water Quality and Ecology will assist the Water Quality and Ecology team with the Recreational Water Quality and Ecosystem Health monitoring programmes. You will be involved in undertaking water quality sampling, monitoring coastal and estuarine ecology, measuring the state and trends of key water quality parameters in our lakes, rivers and estuaries, and undertaking ecosystem health assessments at representative sites to provide a measure of ‘ecological integrity’ and the ability of ecosystems to support and maintain structure and function over time in the face of external stress. You will also assist with special investigations and State of Environment programmes, if and when required.

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, Excel, and other database or information management systems. An interest in water quality and ecology is 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 these placements.
• 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.