Kiingitanga/Summer Internship Programme 2026-27

Office of the Ombudsman - Kiingitanga/Summer Internship Programme (Wellington-based) Looking to put your studies into practice and gain meaningful workplace experience this summer? Our 13-week paid internship programme offers four opportunities for students to apply their studies in a supportive environment, gain practical experience and learn more about the role of the Chief Ombudsman. Mō te Tari o te Kaitiaki Mana Tangata - About the Ombudsman The Chief Ombudsman works with his kaimahi to help New Zealanders in their dealings with government agencies. The focus is on handling complaints against government agencies, undertaking investigations and inspections, and encouraging good administration. The Chief Ombudsman is independent and impartial, with the goal of fairness for all. What we offer 13-week paid internship between 16 November 2026 - 12 February 2027 $29.90 per hour, in line with the 2026 Living Wage Paid leave during our end-of-year close-down period Access to our onsite gym Mō ngā rōpū mahi - About the Internship teams Strategy and Performance Come and join our team of seven, who shape strategy, enable delivery and measure impact. We work across the Office of the Ombudsman, connecting people and ideas, providing advice, strengthening governance, monitoring organisational performance and using data and insights to create strategic advice. We also develop key organisational documents, like our Statement of Intent and Annual Plan, helping keep the Office focused on what matters. You'll bring your willingness to contribute to a positive environment, be eager to learn, and demonstrate openness, respect and integrity. As an intern, you'll work alongside experienced people on a real project that matters. You'll learn, contribute your ideas, ask questions and see how strategy, performance and governance come together in a real organisation, while being supported by a fun team. We're also looking forward to learning from you! Legal You will have exposure to a range of public law issues like no other organisation in Aotearoa New Zealand - we use the law in a practical and pragmatic way to support the Ombudsman's mission of fairness for all. The team has five really great lawyers with heaps of experience in a range of public law, human rights, and policy roles who will all provide mentoring and support to you. There are lots of great opportunities for you to contribute to the development of the team and of course, lots of legal research and writing needs. Rōpū Māori Hohonga Hapori Kia Hiwa Ra! Kia Hiwa Ra! In this internship, you'll play a crucial role in gathering, analysing, and presenting information from various reports that will directly contribute to the development and implementation of our Māori engagement practices. You'll actively assist in coordinating the Te Ao Māori Strategy and collecting valuable insights from internal groups to shape tikanga-informed practices. People Enablement Join us if you're interested in how great HR and people practice supports our Office's ability to deliver. The People Enablement team supports the Office through expert people, recruitment, employment relations, health and safety, and organisational development advice and services. You'll gain hands-on experience in HR policy development, giving you exposure to employment legislation and the practical skills of policy and guideline writing. You'll help review and update workplace policy and supporting guides, working alongside experienced people and capability professionals who can mentor you through the process. It's a great opportunity to build your understanding of employment law and HR best practice and make a meaningful contribution in a supportive and dynamic team. Please see the specific schedule of duties you are interested in for more detail about each internship. Internship streams We value the different perspectives, experiences and ideas that rangatahi bring to our work. As part of our internship programme, we're pleased to offer two specialised internship streams that support a diverse range of students to gain meaningful work experience. Kiingitanga Internship for students with whakapapa Māori We are proud to continue our partnership with Te Tari o te Kiingitanga through the Kiingitanga Internship. This stream provides tauira Māori with the opportunity to gain practical experience in their area of interest, develop their skills and contribute their perspectives, experiences, and apply a te ao Māori lens to our mahi. Stream for students with lived experience of a disability This stream provides students with lived experience of a disability with the opportunity to gain practical experience, develop their skills and bring their unique perspectives to our mahi. We are committed to providing an inclusive, accessible and supportive environment where all kaimahi can participate and fully thrive. We welcome conversations about any adjustments or support you may need throughout the recruitment process and during the internship. He kōrero mōu - About you You'll have completed, or be on track to complete, at least your second year of a tertiary qualification relevant to the internship you're applying for. We're looking for students who are curious, keen to learn and ready to get involved. Each internship has different requirements and areas of focus, so we encourage you to read the schedule of duties for each role to see which opportunity best matches your skills, interests and area of study. Me pēhea te tono - How to apply To apply, click on the ‘Apply Now' button where you will need to register through our online careers site, complete our application form and upload your CV and Cover Letter. Your cover letter should include: Your current field of study and how it relates to the internship(s) you are applying for. You can apply for one or two internships; if applying for two, please indicate your preference. Whether you would like to be considered for the Kiingitanga Internship and/or the stream for students with lived experience of disability. You can indicate one or both. If you are applying for the Kiingitanga Internship, please also tell us about your understanding of te Kiingitanga. We'd also love to know how you heard about our internship opportunities, including whether you met us recently at the University of Auckland or Victoria University of Wellington Careers Expos. All applicants will have a legal entitlement to work in New Zealand. Appointees will be subject to a criminal convictions check and may be required to achieve and maintain a NZ Government (NZSIS) security clearance. As the Ombudsman's role is to provide "fairness for all" New Zealanders, it is important that our staff represent New Zealanders from all walks of life. We value your individuality and how you can contribute to our team. We encourage applicants from all walks of life. For any additional information regarding our internship programme, please reach out to us at recruitment@ombudsman.parliament.nz Applications close 5pm, Sunday 13 September 2026