Animal Welfare Coordinator at Ministry for Primary Industries, National

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

 Animal Welfare Coordinator

Role type: Permanent, Full-Time

Location: National (Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North or Dunedin preferred)

General Range Salary G: $67,658 - $78,771 depending on skills and experience

Kōrero mō te Tūranga - About the Role 

Do you have knowledge of farming and a passion that high standards of animal welfare are maintained on farms and lifestyle blocks?

We have an excellent opportunity for an Animal Welfare Coordinator to join our Compliance and Response Directorate part of the Agriculture and Investment Services Business Unit. This unique role will work closely with the wider Compliance Directorate and in particular the Compliance Officers, to support operational responses and investigations pertaining to incidents involving animal welfare in the primary production sector.

This is a role where you support the work of the Animal Welfare Inspectors in the field but don't go into the field yourself.

The role is predominantly desk based with you being responsible for ensuring efficient recording of and response to animal welfare incidents.

We are seeking an excellent communicator who is flexible, adaptable, innovative and thrives on new challenges. The Animal Welfare Coordinators receive information and complaints about animal welfare neglect via a 0800 hotline and Email. and they will accurately acquire and record information from callers who can be emotive. The information is then entered into a database, prioritised, and then sent to Compliance Officers (Inspectors) throughout New Zealand to follow up. You will also be responsible for extracting information from the Animal Welfare database for managers.

Mōu - About You

 The ideal candidate will have:

• A good knowledge of farming
• A good knowledge of production animals and horses
• Knowledge of the NAIT system
• A good knowledge of using computer databases and Excel spread sheeting

While it's desirable that you have knowledge of animal welfare law in New Zealand, this is not essential as you will receive training.

Your communication skills and your ability to talk to frontline staff and also with the public on a regular basis through phone, will be second to none. 

Mō te Manatū Ahu Matua - About MPI 

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

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

• Additional MPI leave days
• Ability to purchase extra annual leave
• Annual Wellness payment

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

We are committed to being a good partner under Te Tiriti o Waitangi which includes working closely with iwi, hapū, whanau 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 a great place to work for all.

In your cover letter we'd like to know about you, your values, your whakapapa; 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 click “APPLY FOR THIS JOB” 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 midnight on 1^st June 2026.

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

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