- Looking for a job where you can make a real impact?
- Interested in being on the front line, playing a vital role in securing our maritime border?
New Zealand Customs Service | Te Mana Arai o Aotearoa is looking for people to join our maritime team based in Tauranga. Your work will help keep our communities safe from organised crime, drugs, terrorism and smuggling.
The Maritime Group has been established to protect and promote New Zealand's interests in the maritime border environment; working in partnership to provide the highest level of integrity and security across the maritime border system. Our actions are informed by Rautaki Mana Arai (Customs Strategy), the Maritime Security Strategy and the Transnational Organised Crime Strategy.
Our four pillars of intent are:
- Understand the maritime border environment and systems
- Engage and work collaboratively with our partners, industry, iwi and communities
- Prevent the exploitation of the maritime border system
- Respond with the right tools and levers
About the role | Mo tenei turanga mahi
When you're not in the office, you could be inspecting cargo, facilitating cruise ship passenger arrivals and departures, clearing vessels and assessing them for risk, investigating suspicious activity and undertaking targeted searches. The key activity for the Maritime Group is to respond to any risk to the New Zealand maritime border.
You will have the opportunity to:
- Process passengers/crew and goods in/out of Aotearoa which can include search activities
- Facilitate legitimate trade and travel, collect import and export duties
- Intercept contraband (such as drugs and weapons), investigate and prosecute offences through land patrol, surveillance and search/inspections activity
- Conduct operational activity within the port and maritime environments
- Understand supply chain and maritime travel risks and vulnerabilities, and assess and identify opportunities for further activity
What you'll do | He aha t u e mahi ana
Based in Tauranga, this role involves working closely with the team and other agencies in achieving positive outcomes for Customs. In this role you will:
- Assess and search for available information to formulate an accurate risk assessment and recommend risk management activity
- Undertake activity to provide assurance of compliance with legislation, policy and procedure which may include:
- Searching
- Interviewing and/or questioning
- Profiling of persons and/or documentation
- Patrolling and surveillance
- Ship servicing
- Primary processing
- Addressing non-compliance and taking appropriate actions
Working as part of a tight-knit and busy team, you will focus on maritime activity, including all craft types (commercial, yachts, cruise ships and fishing vessels) and sea cargo, as well as operational activity within the port environment itself.
Hours of work involve shifts to provide 7 days/nights a week coverage, and you will also be rostered for on-call work out of hours and at weekends.
The starting salary for this role is $59,364. There is also an additional allowance of $10,154 for rostered shift work.
About you | Ko wai koe
We're looking for people with:
- A passion for protecting our borders and affinity with the work that Customs does
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to handle diverse situations professionally and tactfully
- Great attention to detail and the ability to make sound judgements under pressure
- A high level of integrity and the confidence to uphold laws, policy and procedures
- Ability to adapt quickly, work in an often, fast-paced environment and be comfortable embracing technological advancements and procedural changes
- A good level of fitness and be able to manage the requirements of the role, which includes completing our Officer Safety Tactics training, sometimes long periods of sitting and/or standing, and lifting up to 20kg
Our maritime capability in Tauranga is growing and whilst the following are not essential for you to apply for the role, please outline in your application if you hold a Class 4 licence and/or any sea-going/maritime qualifications.
Working for Customs | Mahi ki te Mana Arai o Aotearoa
To work for the New Zealand Customs Service, you must be able to meet the following requirements:
- Be a New Zealand Citizen or New Zealand Permanent Resident
- Residing in New Zealand at the time of application
- Have resided continuously in New Zealand for the last 5 years*
- Successful applicants are also required to pass a medical assessment, drug test and have a clear Police record.
- If you are a New Zealand Citizen or New Zealand Permanent Resident who has resided in New Zealand for the last 5 years but have been absent from New Zealand for periods of 6-9 months within the past five years, preferably in one or more of the following countries: either Australia, Canada, UK or the USA then you will be required to provide overseas Police certificates for these periods spent outside of New Zealand.
How to apply | Me pehea te whakauru
Please apply online. You will be asked to answer questions around your interest in this role, and skills and experience relevant for this role. You will also be asked to complete a couple of competency-based questions, please set aside time to complete this online application.
If you have any queries, please contact [email protected]
Applications close on Sunday 03 August 2025 at 5pm.
If you are shortlisted, we will be holding Assessment Centres in Tauranga on Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 August 2025.
**You must be available to attend an assessment centre on these dates to be able to be considered**
New Zealand Customs Service | Te Mana Arai o Aotearoa is a member of Diversity Works New Zealand and is committed to developing a diverse workforce and an inclusive workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities and welcome applications from everyone who can meet the requirements of the role.