Turf Care Operator

Rotorua Lakes Council; Rotorua; On-site; NZD 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

Rotorua Lakes Council is seeking a motivated Turf Care Operator to join our Parks & Open Spaces team. This role supports maintenance of parks, sports fields and reserves across the district, ensuring spaces are safe, inviting and ready for community use.

You will operate ride-on mowers and tractors, perform mowing, aeration, line marking, and turf repairs, and help with events prep. A current driver’s licence and reliable time management are essential.

Qualifications

• Experience in turf care, sports field preparation or grounds maintenance.
• Current driver’s licence.
• Competence operating turf care and mowing equipment.
• Endorsements for machinery operation would be an advantage.
• Reliable with good time management.

Responsibilities

• Mow, line mark, aerate, fertilise sports fields and recreational areas.
• Prepare fields for sporting and community events.
• Weed, prune, plant and maintain park furniture, signage and amenities.
• Operate ride-on mowers, tractors and trimmers.
• Maintain and report on equipment condition and hazards.

Job description

Rotorua Lakes Council is seeking a motivated Turf Care Operator to join our Parks & Open Spaces team. This role plays a vital part in ensuring the parks, sports fields, and reserves across our district are well-maintained, safe, and inviting for everyone to enjoy. Working within the Reserve Mowing team, you will take pride in presenting our green spaces to the highest standard and helping to create vibrant spaces for community life.

As Turf Care Operator, you will carry out mowing, line marking, aeration, turf repairs, and fertilising of sports fields and recreational areas. You will prepare fields for sporting and community events, monitor turf health, and support a range of park maintenance tasks such as weeding, pruning, and planting. You will also maintain park furniture, signage, and amenities, ensuring all work meets council’s service levels and safety standards. Operating machinery such as ride‑on mowers, tractors, and trimmers will be a regular part of your work, along with maintaining and reporting on equipment condition.

Health and safety are central to this role. We are looking for someone who takes responsibility for working safely, uses appropriate PPE, and promptly reports any hazards or incidents. Excellent customer service and teamwork are also key, as you’ll be representing the council out in the community and working collaboratively with colleagues to achieve shared goals.

To thrive in this position, you’ll bring practical experience in turf care, sports field preparation, or grounds maintenance—ideally within a council or public sector environment. You’ll have a current driver’s licence and proven competence operating turf care and mowing equipment. Endorsements for machinery operation would be an advantage, as would knowledge of tractor mowing and sports renovation attachments. A solid understanding of horticultural practices and a strong sense of reliability and time management will help you succeed.

If you’re enthusiastic about the outdoors, enjoy hands‑on work, and take pride in creating great public spaces, we’d love to hear from you. Join a team that’s passionate about keeping Rotorua green, beautiful, and ready for play.