Trainee Track Worker

KiwiRail Freight; Palmerston North; On-site; NZD 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading transport operator in New Zealand is hiring a Trainee Track Worker. This full-time role involves maintaining and repairing train tracks, ensuring safety and efficiency. Training is provided for new hires. Candidates should ideally have experience in construction or heavy labouring, good communication skills, and a willingness to work shifts in all weather. Competitive benefits and growth opportunities offered.

Benefits

Discounted staff travel

Medical cost support

Discounted health insurance

Retailer discounts

Professional growth opportunities

Qualifications

• Ideally, experience in construction or heavy labouring environment.
• Strong results-driven mindset and adherence to safety guidelines.
• Good verbal and written communication skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Maintain, repair, and renew infrastructure assets including train tracks.
• Work in a team environment focused on safety and efficiency.
• Participate in on-job training to improve skills and competency.

Skills

Experience in construction industry or heavy labouring

Ability to follow safety guidelines

Verbal and written communication

Tools

Light mechanical hand tools

Job description

Join one of New Zealand’s Leading Transport Operators. We have a permanent, full-time position based in Otahuhu, Auckland, working a variety of day and night shifts.

What you’ll do

As a Trainee Track Worker, you will play a vital role in maintaining, repairing, and renewing our infrastructure assets. Working closely with the experienced track ganger and senior track maintainer, you will receive on-job training as well as in the classroom training to enhance your understanding and competency as a trainee track worker.

Your responsibilities include carrying out specified maintenance tasks in a safe, timely, and cost-effective manner, ensuring the integrity of our rail network. At KiwiRail, Zero Harm is not just a slogan – it's a way of life. As a trainee track worker, you will be a key player in upholding our commitment to safety.

As a member of our maintenance teams, you will work in a team environment carrying out maintenance, repairs, and renewals of the infrastructure asset (the train tracks) in a safe, cost-effective, and timely manner.

This is an outdoor role; you will need to be physically fit, willing to work in all weather conditions, and not afraid to get your hands dirty. You must also be willing to work shifts - we work 24/7, so shift work will be on a rotating roster, including early mornings, nights, weekends, and public holidays.

What you’ll need

• Ideally, you will have experience in the construction industry or in a heavy labouring environment, using light mechanical hand tools.
• You will be results-driven and can follow safety guidelines.
• A solid level of both verbal and written communication is also important in this role.
• Ideally, hold a current full licence, and class 2 (HT Licence) is advantageous, but if not, we can support you in getting one if it's required in your role.
• Complete a Ministry of Justice check and a mandatory medical and drug test to be considered for this role.

We offer competitive benefits, including:

• Access to discounted staff travel
• Medical cost support, and holiday homes via the NZ Rail Staff Welfare Trust.
• Southern Cross discounted health insurance for you and your whānau.
• A wide range of retailer discounts
• Additional training along with professional growth and development opportunities.

Please note a willingness to travel within New Zealand as required for this role.

Ready to make a significant impact on New Zealand’s infrastructure landscape? If you’re prepared to take your career to the next level, KiwiRail is ready for you. Applicants must hold NZ residency or citizenship.

Applications close: Sunday, 12th October 2025, unless filled prior.