Auckland Council
Graduate Programme (Feb 2026)
Auckland
Opportunity details
- Graduate Job or Program
- NZD 65,000 - 68,000 / Year
- Remuneration is role dependent and includes a 12 month review.
- 7-50 vacancies
- Apply by 19 May 2025
- Start date 9 Feb 2026
- Wellness benefits from a range of providers.
- Discounts on activities and destinations across Tāmaki Makaurau.
- Create innovative positive changes in our communities.
He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata.
What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people.
He angitutanga mutunga kore mō te paetahi pēnā i a koe: Endless possibilities for a graduate like you at Auckland Council
He angitūtanga: The opportunity
Are you in your final year or a recent graduate eager to start your career in a dynamic environment where you can make a real impact? Auckland Council is thrilled to announce multiple exciting opportunities in our Graduate Programme.
Auckland Council is New Zealand's largest local government organisation, serving over 1.6 million residents. Our mission is to make Auckland a world class city, and we achieve this by delivering essential services and fostering community growth and development.
Our Graduate Programme is designed to nurture talent and provide a platform for personal and professional development. By joining us, you'll gain hands-on experience, mentorship from industry experts, and exposure to a range of projects that contribute to Auckland's growth and sustainability.
Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou: What we offer.
Our 2-year Graduate Programme aims to provide you with the opportunities and support you need to launch your career and develop as a future leader or specialist within Auckland Council. With over 80 areas of business and the chance to work on large-scale projects, we want to see you achieve your goals while making a real difference in the lives of Aucklanders.
At the end of the programme, you’ll also be supported in securing a permanent role within one of our Auckland Council entities.
We offer:
- Diverse Rotations: Explore different areas of your divisional area through structured rotations tailored to your interests and career goals.
- Mentorship and Support: Benefit from dedicated mentors who will guide you throughout the programme and help you navigate your career path.
- Training and Development: Access to continuous learning opportunities, workshops, and training sessions to enhance your skills.
- Real Responsibilities: Take on meaningful work that contribute to the improvement of Auckland's infrastructure, environment, community services, and more.
- Networking: Build connections within the organisation and the wider community, expanding your professional network.
As a valued Council kaimahi, you’ll also be eligible for a broad range of wellbeing, sustainability and lifestyle benefits, designed to positively support your work experience.
He kōrero mōu: About you
To be eligible to apply, you must have the following:
- Be eligible to work in New Zealand, or be eligible to apply for a Post-Study Work Visa
- A relevant bachelor’s or master’s degree obtained in January 2024 – January 2026
- Any specific requirements for a particular Graduate Programme
Don't miss this incredible opportunity to launch your career with Auckland Council and play a part in shaping the future of New Zealand's largest city. Join us and start #WorkingForAuckland
Hiring criteria
- No experience required
- New Zealand Citizen +more
- Business & Management +more
- Bachelor or higher
Reviews
So far not much work. Just online training. Looking at examples of geotech review reports, reading Auckland Design Manual - Earthworks & Geotechnical Requirements
My role has gotten very broad since new projects have started and colleagues have left. Sometimes it feels too much but I enjoy being busy. I work largely in excel and am now considered a subject matter expert on spreadsheets, data structures and budget changes.
Role is to look through resource consent applications and provide specialist advice. Mostly office based but there are some site visits.
About the employer
Auckland Council
4.4
1,000 - 50,000 employees
Government & Public Service
Right now, we are working on large-scale projects right across our thriving region that are creating the future of our city.
Pros and cons of working at Auckland Council
Pros
The opportunity to try different areas of work and ultimately focusing on learning the job rather than only on performance.
I appreciate the constant reassurance that our health and wellbeing is crucial in this job. There are a lot of processes involved in making sure we are working in a safe environment, and that there is a priority in making sure we're well. I appreciate how flexible the job is to our lives, and the mass number of employee benefits we get. Though this shouldn't be the case, it feels as though I'm working for a company that sees me as a person with my own personal life. I don't feel awkward or guilty for needing to see doctors, taking time off when I needed etc. The fact that we're instantly given sick leave at the start of our contract is really great. Overall, I feel as though the priority in making sure our health and wellbeing is support is one of the best things about working for Auckland Council.
Workplace flexibility is the best thing about working at Auckland Council. It allows me to complete better work as I'm able to keep well rested with more time in my days due to less travel time to and from work. It also provides an environment where I can focus my thoughts better when I am working from home compared to being in the office. However, on the flip side, it is also nice to have a hybrid working situation where I spend half of my week in the office to attend important meetings and strengthen relationships with my colleagues.
It looks after its people. There is a great balance between work life and personal life. Workload is manageable. There is support available whenever needed. Great pool of experienced and knowledgeable people in the team. This makes it a great place to work in.
In graduate programme, I enhanced my experience in rotating in different teams, all the co- works there are so kind to share experience and teach me the technical skills.
Cons
Working for a local government organization like Auckland Council comes with significant pressure, primarily due to the high expectations and scrutiny from the public. The decisions we make directly impact the community, and this responsibility can be quite demanding. There's a constant need to balance the diverse needs and concerns of residents, which can be challenging. However, it's also an incredibly rewarding environment for professional development. The work is meaningful and varied, providing ample opportunities to gain new skills and experience. It's a great place to grow professionally while making a positive difference in the community.
I'm yet to experience anything bad about working at Auckland Council. If I were to give one output, I would have to say the lack in funding results in technological issues and lengthened work processes.
My experience as a graduate was always pretty good. Maybe too many restructures which gives general staff an unsecure feeling for their jobs.
I don't think there is many negatives to working here so far. If I had to say what the worst thing was it would be how things can move slowly at points.
People not coming into the office as frequently - makes collaboration more difficult