General Instructor - Catering

Catering Instuctor - Hawkes Bay Regional Prison

• Combine your mentoring skills with your passion for cooking catering
• Pass on your knowledge and make a difference!

Mo te tunga | About the role

Offender Employment (OE) is all about giving the men we manage the opportunity to gain skills and work experience to increase their chances of obtaining employment after release.Now is an exciting time to join us as a Catering Instructor! In this varied role, you will be working with prisoners, providing direct supervision and practical training in a commercial kitchen setting. From general meal preparation and delivery, to corporate catering, you will enable others to achieve NZQA qualifications linked to the ServiceIQ Industry Training Organisation. In providing a platform of good working habits to take forward to the future, you will further support rehabilitation and reintegration practices.

The role also provides support to the Laundry operation on occasion as part of the wider Internal Services Team.

Mou | About you

This position needs someone who possesses -

• Proven passion experience in the catering industry at a professional level
• Outstanding HS practices
• Exceptional people communication skills
• The ability to motivate and develop people within a team environment

Applicants must have the legal right to work in New Zealand. In line with Immigration New Zealand requirements, we are required to give priority to candidates who already hold this right. As a result, we may not be able to support visa applications for this role.

Nga pukenga me nga wheako | Skills and experience

• Experience as an adult educator or NZQA Assessor (4098) is preferred
• London City Guilds 706/1 and 706/2 or equivalent trade qualifications
• A full drivers licence and First Aid Certificate are also required

The hours of work will be on a rostered shift basis of 80 hours per fortnight. Public Holidays with the possibility of some overtime or call-outs may be required.

A comprehensive Frontline Futures Introduction into Corrections and extensive initial training is provided for the successful applicant. This will involve on-site training at Hakwes Bay Regional Prison as well as residential, in-house training at our National Learning Centre in Wellington, to focus on the custodial elements of the position.

Instructors have the same classification as Correction Officers and complete the same initial training courses.

Nga painga | The benefits

The full range of the salary (Level ENTRY - 3+) is $72,514 - $90,322 per annum. Appointment and remuneration will reflect skills and experience relevant to the role.

Mo matou | About us

Join Ara Poutama Aotearoa - Department of Corrections, where your work will contribute to improving public safety, reducing re-offending, and address the overrepresentation of Maori in correctional facilities. As a values-led organisation, we use the principles of rangatira (leadership), manaaki (respect), wairua (spirituality), kaitiaki (guardianship), and whanau (relationships) to guide our work and achieve the goals of our Hokai Rangi strategy.

We value inclusion and diversity in our workforce, and as a Public Service organisation we are committed to building a workforce that reflects the public we serve. We strive to make our recruitment process fair, and we encourage you to discuss reasonable accommodations with us if required.

Tono inaianei | Apply Now

To submit an application and view the position description, click the apply link. All applications must be submitted through our careers site to ensure transparency - applications received via email will not be considered.

When applying, submit a tailored CV and a cover letter describing your motivation for joining the department highlighting relevant skills and experience and the alignment to our work.

Applications close on: Monday 2nd of March 2026

If you have any questions or want to learn more about a career with us, contact LNRRecruitmentSM@corrections.govt.nz, or visit careers.corrections.govt.nz.