People Who Shape Community Progress
Local government offers a huge variety of career and job opportunities. Councils employ a wide range of staff who contribute towards shaping the environmental, cultural, economic and social well-being of New Zealand communities.
Councils are in charge of the smooth running of local infrastructure (water, roads, drainage) services, ensuring that air and water quality are monitored and parks, libraries and public facilities are maintained or even developing long-term plans to make your community sustainable. Your council is responsible for finding solutions to local problems.
There are more than 25,000 employees who work in local government throughout New Zealand. Despite the slow down of recruitment due to the economic recession, councils are still in need of staff – especially the highly skilled ones who are hard to find – planners and engineers. There are still projects to be completed, roads to be maintained and resource consents to be processed.
Working in local government has lots of benefits. Not only do you get an opportunity to make a difference in your community, but you will also be working in an environment where staff development and work/life balance are prioritised. Councils have shifted gears to focus on becoming an employer of choice and offer benefits that promote a positive and healthy working environment for all staff.
Many people working in councils are passionate about their jobs.
Meet Phil Parker, Parks Officer at South Waikato District Council. He is responsible for ensuring that maintenance and upgrading is carried out on all the Council’s sports grounds, parks, reserves, gardens and cemeteries.
"I really enjoy being responsible for public assets, and ensuring ratepayers get value for their money," said Phil.
Phil has been working in local government for 20 years now, but still enjoys the variety of work available to him.
It is also not uncommon these days to see graduates joining local government after their studies or employees who take up formal studies while working.
One of them is Kendall Goode, Environmental Consents Planner at Taupo District. Kendall started her career as soon as she finished her Social Science degree majoring in Geography, Political Science and Public Policy.
"I was processing consents when I first started. I was part of the team the moment I began my work at the Council -- everyone is helpful. There are lots of opportunities to develop my skills and grow my career. And to those who have recently graduated from University, they should look at working for local government as there are lots of opportunities to grow and develop," said Kendall.
Paula Philips started working as a part time library assistant when she was only 19. Two years on, she is now the Community Librarian at Greerton Community Library in Tauranga City. She is a full time employee and finishing her Level 5 Diploma in Library and Information Studies and a Certificate in Literature and Library Services for Children and Young People.
Paula loves reading and working in a library is something that she always wanted to do. Part of her job is maintaining the Tauranga City Libraries’ Bebo page.
Many councils now offer a wide range of financial support (such as scholarships and cadet schemes) to students who live locally and are working towards a qualification in disciplines such as, but not limited to, Planning and Civil Engineering. Local government is still facing difficulty in finding planners and civil engineers, thus some councils offer this incentive to promote and encourage the young generation to take up studies that would be needed in the future.
In the last four years, South Waikato District Council has taken on four cadets.
"Our four cadets are working in various areas in our council. One is with our water supply area, one as a treatment plant technician and two are working in our Assets area" says Murray McAlister, Human Resources Manager at South Waikato.
South Waikato also offers a Mayoral Scholarship to assist local youth with tertiary education fees. The scholarships will be offered in the next three years and may be made available to those who will pursue studies in civil engineering, accounting and planning.
"The first person to receive the scholarship will complete his Bachelor of Engineering degree this year, and we hope that he will join the council considering he already has experience working for us during his University breaks," added McAlister.
As you start planning your career, look at what opportunities are available in your council. You may be pleasantly surprised to find out about the huge variety of roles available. To find out more about local government visit www.localgovernmentcareers.govt.nz