Senior/Animal Welfare Inspector | Palmerston North

Job Description

Senior/Animal Welfare Inspector

Role type: Permanent, Full Time

Location: Palmerston North, (other locations available)

Salary Range: $74,251 – $104,403 (this will be dependent on skills and experience)

About the Role - Kōrero mō te Tūranga

The Compliance & Response (C&R) Directorate within Agriculture & Investment Services (AIS) plays a critical role in ensuring optimal compliance across MPI's systems. As a Senior/Animal Welfare Inspector, you will lead and undertake animal welfare and National Animal Identification & Tracing (NAIT) investigations that may involve political, organisational, or export related risk.

Each day brings variety as you split your time between the field and office, engaging with farmers, industry partners, co-regulators and internal teams, to uphold the integrity of New Zealand's primary sector.

In this role you will:

• Primarily hold statutory appointments as an Animal Welfare Inspector and NAIT Officer
• Hold other appointments as required (e.g. Animal Products Act, Biosecurity Act)
• Lead, plan, and progress investigations, including prosecution files
• Ensure breaches of the Animal Welfare and NAIT Acts are identified, assessed, and progressed using appropriate intervention tools
• Apply technical knowledge across investigations, inspections, monitoring, surveillance, intelligence, and enforcement functions
• Participate in readiness and response activities using the Coordinated Incident Management System (CIMS)
• Support regional and national animal welfare emergency management coordination
• Provide advice, education, and training on animal welfare and NAIT, promoting good practice across the sector
• Build and sustain strong working relationships with internal and external partners, including SPCA, NZ Police, OSPRI, emergency management agencies, and sector stakeholders
• Use analytical skills to gather, assess, and present information, evidence, and intelligence
• Regularly update reports and investigation files in MPI's data systems
• Regional and national travel as required.

About You - Mōu
To be successful in this role you will bring:

• Practical working knowledge of legislation relevant to investigations and compliance, including:
• Animal Welfare Act, NAIT Act, Privacy Act, NZ Bill of Rights, Crimes Act, Evidence Act, Summary Proceedings Act, Criminal Justice Act.
• Experience in compliance and investigation processes
• Experience managing relationships both internally and externally
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office tools
• Ability to plan, manage, and prioritise multiple investigations
• Knowledge and experience preparing and conducting prosecution cases
• Familiarity with search and surveillance legislation and seizure powers
• Experience presenting written and oral evidence at court
• Competence in interview techniques (witness/suspect/defendant)
• Experience with animal husbandry, production systems, and primary sector operations
• Knowledge of primary industry organisations, NAIT agencies, and animal welfare networks
• Existing emergency response (CIMS) experience
• Experience with biosecurity systems
• Firearms licence or the ability to obtain one; confidence using and storing firearms/captive bolt
• Coaching or mentoring experience in a compliance environment

You do not need to meet all of the role requirements to apply. We offer a breadth of development and learning opportunities and will welcome an application if you think you could make a great fit.

About the Team - Mō tō mātou Rōpū

The Animal Welfare & NAIT Compliance group sit within Agriculture & Investment Services. We currently have six positions to fill across the country.

• We have one position in our Northland District, based in the Whangarei Office, covering the Far North, Whangarei and Kaipara area.
• We have one position in our Auckland District, based in our Auckland Office, near the Airport, covering from Te Hana to Bombay.
• We have one position in our Waikato District, based in the Hamilton Office, covering from Pokeno, Thames- Coromandel down to Turangi.
• We have one position in our Central South District, based in the Palmerston North Office, covering Manawatu to the bottom of the North Island.
• We have one position our Central Otago District, based in the Dunedin Office, covering from Timaru, Queenstown-Lakes down to Clutha.
• We have one position within our Southland District, based in the Invercargill Office, covering the Te Anau, Invercargill and Gore area.

About MPI - Mō te Manatū Ahu Matua

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) partners with New Zealand's food and fibre sector to be the world's most trusted provider of high-value food and fibre products.

To find out more about the Ministry and what we do please click here.

Benefits of working at MPI - Ngā hua o te mahi i te Manatū Ahu Matua

• Additional MPI leave days
• Annual Wellness payment
• Bi-annual paid eye test and contribution to the costs of corrective lenses/frames

Security checks - Ngā Taki Whakahaumaru

Secret level Security Clearance

• most preferably a New Zealand citizen, who has resided continuously in New Zealand for at least the last ten (10) years, OR
• is a citizen of, and/or has resided continuously in one or more of the following countries for the last ten (10) years: either Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom (UK) or the United States of America (USA); and has a background history that is verifiable and can be assessed as appropriate by the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) towards a recommendation of suitability for a security clearance at this level.
• click here to find out more about the national security vetting process and access the eligibility self-check tool.

If you do not meet these minimum criteria, we will not be able to accept your application.

Drug and Alcohol Screening - Whakamātau Whakapōauau me te Waipiro

Please note, given this position is safety sensitive the preferred candidates(s) for the position will be required to undergo a drug and alcohol pre-employment screening test. Further information on this process can be found on our careers site, here.

A New Zealand Firearms Licence (or the ability to obtain one) may be required.

Are you ready to make a difference? - Kua rite koe mō tēnei mahi whaitake?

We are committed to being a good partner under Te Tiriti o Waitangi which includes working closely with iwi, hapū, whānau and hāpori.

We aspire to reflect the diverse communities we serve, so we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, and identities. As an organisation, we are committed to making Manatū Ahu Matua Ministry for Primary Industries a great place to work for all.

In your Cover Letter we'd like to know about you, your values; your interest and motivations for this role; the abilities, strengths, personal attributes and diverse perspectives you will bring to the role and this organisation, which may have also been gained outside of the workforce.

To view the Position Description and/or Apply online, please apply via this advert or visit the MPI Careers Site. To apply, you must hold the right to work in New Zealand or be eligible to obtain it – click here to find out more about work visa eligibility and options.

Applications close at 11:59pm on 17 March 2026.

If you have any questions about the role, please email james.brodey@mpi.govt.nz 

Follow MPI here - Whāia ngā tūhononga ki MPI i konei

Links to Facebook, MPI Careers, LinkedIn, X