Advisor Regulatory Licensing at Maritime New Zealand, Wellington

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Our Vision: Preventing Harm. Saving Lives. Securing our Future.

We play a key role in the guardianship of New Zealand waterways. We're bringing together our aroha, work and skills to achieve our outcomes of sustainable supply chains and sectors, safe people and operations, secure ports and ships, and clean seas and waterways.

Our values are about who we are as individuals and the behaviours we expect from each other at Maritime NZ.

Care | Kia Tika - We care for each other and do the right thing

Connect | Kotahitanga - We unite in a common purpose

Courage | Kia Māia - We are brave, capable and confident 

Mō tō mātou Rōpū | About the team 

The Seafarers team is part of Regulatory Practice, Licensing and Notifications and plays a critical role in ensuring that people working at sea have the knowledge, skills and experience required to do so safely.

We assess a wide range of applications for New Zealand seafarer certificates, endorsements, renewals and recognition of overseas certificates. Our work supports people throughout their maritime careers, from those seeking their first certificate to experienced masters and marine engineers.

The team is also at an exciting point in its development. Many seafarer applications can now be submitted and managed digitally l. Our Advisors play an active part in the continuous improvement of these processes.

We have a very collaborative and supportive culture where everyone is valued for their participation and contribution.  If this sounds like you, read on!

Te tūnga | The role  

The Advisor Regulatory Licensing role is multi-faceted. You will interpret and apply technical information, assess applications, engage with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, and work within maritime legislation and rules.

Advisors assess applications using Maritime NZ's risk-based regulatory approach focused on harm prevention and hold delegations to assess and issue maritime documents. The work requires accurate, consistent and legally robust decision-making and makes a direct contribution to safety within New Zealand's maritime system.

This role may from time to time involve communication - such as emails or phone calls - that are potentially aggressive and emotionally charged in nature.

Maritime NZ provides training and support to employees exposed to this critical risk. We expect employees to undertake training and familiarise themselves with the relevant processes and the support available to them to manage traumatic events. Please consider carefully whether you have any past history or resilience challenges that would make you unsuitable for this type of work. 

Nōu te rourou | What you bring 

To be successful you will need to be a self-starter and be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment. Ideally, you will be experienced working in a risk-based regulatory environment where you have been responsible for assessing technical applications, making decisions and responding directly to applicants. 

Ideally, you will have:

• The ability to interpret technical information and provide accurate and specific advice to industry participants in simple terms;
• Confidence and experience working with people who may disagree with their application outcomes;
• Proven success in applying critical thinking skills to problem-solving and decision-making;
• Proven time management skills and the ability to prioritise effectively;
• Attention to detail, high levels of accuracy, strong self-checking practices, and the ability to follow processes effectively;
• The ability to learn quickly and the confidence to challenge others' thinking or advice constructively;
• The ability to thrive in a busy, fast-paced environment;
• A collaborative approach and a willingness to train and mentor others;
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, along with a professional phone manner;
• High ethical standards and respect for the sensitivity of personal information.

Mōu | For you

Maritime NZ recognises and respects te Tiriti o Waitangi and we are committed to working with Māori to build strong, meaningful and enduring relationships to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.   

We aim to be a workplace where everyone feels valued, supported with a sense of belonging. We encourage our people to actively contribute to our workplace culture where we all thrive and authentically live our Maritime NZ values. 

Upon joining us, you will receive a full range of benefits including Income Protection and Life Insurance so check out our full range on our careers page to find out more about why we love working here. 

Appointing range for the role is $67,942 - $82,407

Applications for this role close on 15^th September 2026 

If you have any questions, please e-mail careers@maritimenz.govt.nz