Health and Safety Inspector | Gisborne

Job Description

• Make a positive difference to the health, safety and wellbeing of all Aotearoa
• The Frontline Inspector role is dynamic, with no two days the same
• WorkSafe is investing in growing this team

Become a Health and Safety Inspector and help influence our community to ensure everyone who goes to work comes home healthy and safe.

About us - Mo tatou

What is the most important thing in the world, it is people, it is people, it is people 

He aha te mea nui o tēnei ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata.

Hello, Kia ora, Noa'ia, Namaste, Talofa lava, Mauri, Mālō e lelei, Tālofa, Ni Sa Bula Vinaka, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Mālō ni, Kia orana , nǐ hǎo, Kamusta.

WorkSafe New Zealand Mahi Haumaru Aotearoa is the primary workplace health and safety regulator – our vision is that everyone who goes to mahi comes home healthy and safe.  Our kaimahi are passionate about our vision and embrace and demonstrate our Mātāpono WorkSafe Values through the mahi they do: 

• Whakakotahi – we're united in a strong purpose 
• Kōrero mai – we engage meaningfully 
• Tiakina mai - we're entrusted with a duty of care. 

We offer a range of benefits including:

• Free life insurance
• $400 contribution towards setting up your home workstation
• Discounts on health insurance and eye care
• Five weeks annual leave
• 15 days sick leave
• Learning and professional development opportunities

There are a growing number of employee led networks to promote the goals and needs of our diverse communities, such as our Wāhine (Women's) Network, Rainbow Network, Pacific Network, and Tū Rangatira Māori Network.

About your team - Ko te tīma

The Inspectorate at WorkSafe Mahi Haumaru plays a critical role in workplace health and safety. The Inspectorate's overall goal is to prevent workplace harm, promote a culture of health and safety, and hold organisations accountable for maintaining healthy and safe working conditions.

Guided by evidence about acute, chronic, and catastrophic harm, WorkSafe Mahi Haumaru prioritise high-risk sectors and high-risk activities. Across these priority areas, WorkSafe Mahi Haumaru deliver enforcement, engagement and permitting activities to maximise our influence and achieve better, more equitable outcomes.

Our Gisborne office is made up of an experienced and collaborative team that values consistency, mutual support, and personal growth. We foster a culture built on learning, respect, friendship, and kindness—where everyone is encouraged to share knowledge and grow, both individually and as a team.    

We focus on four key industries: forestry, agriculture, construction, and manufacturing. Our work is centered on reducing harm through proactive risk assessment, implementing effective controls, and investigating serious incidents to prevent future harm.  

Our area covers Norsewood in southern Hawke's Bay up to the top of the east coast and over to Ōpōtiki.  Travel across the region is required; there is minimal travel between the regions (sometimes more while training).   

About the role - Ō te tūranga

You start your journey as a Trainee Health and Safety Inspector and will progress your way through a series of in-house training courses, on the job experience and coaching until you obtain a Certificate of Appointment giving you powers as an Inspector. As your career as an Inspector continues, you will continuously build your skills and knowledge to become a highly competent Inspector.  

As a Health and Safety Inspector, you can expect that no two days will be the same! Inspectors complete a range of mahi. This could be a site visit completing an assessment, compiling reports, or investigating an accident. The work is varied and interesting, but at times can be challenging due to the nature of the role as you may be exposed to traumatic events, files, photos and statements. You will be well supported with guidance, peer networks, and access to wellbeing resources to help you manage the more challenging aspects of the role.

You will love building rapport with stakeholders and have a natural ability to communicate with people from diverse backgrounds. The conversations may not always be easy, but you will remain calm under pressure and be able to appreciate the viewpoints and perspectives of others. You will assess all the information and risks to identify the best outcome. In doing so, you will work towards achieving a common goal of ensuring that all New Zealander's that go to work come home healthy and safe.

What you will bring - Ko ngā pukenga ōu

• The ability to remain calm under pressure and adapt when situations change
• Strong communication and collaboration, with the ability to build relationships
• Cultural awareness and a willingness to build your understanding and skills in te reo and tikanga Māori
• Ability to communicate in additional languages is highly regarded
• The ability to use a range of methods to communicate, both written and verbal
• Proven experience in problem-solving
• The ability to plan and prioritise tasks effectively to achieve results
• Be a NZ/Australian citizen or hold a NZ Permanent Resident or Resident Visa
• Have a full, clean NZ driver licence
• Confident in using various forms of technology
• Able to work across locations and once a qualified Inspector, be rostered for after hours and weekend work when required

With your food basket and my food basket the people will thrive

Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi. 

The full position description is available from the advert on our careers centre: WorkSafe New Zealand

Salary range - Awhe utu

As part of our remuneration framework, the starting annual salary for this role is $84,956. Once you have satisfied the requirements and successfully completed the Inspector Foundation Development Programme and are appointed to Inspector I level, the annual salary is increased to $87,562. Note: KiwiSaver/SSRSS employer contribution is additional to/on top of your base salary.

How to apply - Me pēhea te tono

Click the apply link, complete the application form and submit a copy of your CV and cover letter.

Applications close on 15 March 2026 - Ka kati nga tono 15 Māehe 2026 

For further information please contact newinspector@worksafe.govt.nz  with any queries, or to find out more about working for us, go to Health and Safety Inspectors

WorkSafe Mahi Haumaru is an equal opportunity employer.  We value diversity and welcome and encourage applicants from all walks of life.  We value the experience your point of difference could bring to us.

Please let us know if there is any support, we can provide to ensure the recruitment process is accessible to you. We look forward to reviewing your application and getting to know more about you.