Kickstart your career in the public service
Learn directly from senior leaders and experts in a small, high-impact agency
Modern Wellington CBD office, metres from the Beehive
About our graduate programme
At the Ministry for Regulation, you’ll be part of a small team where you’ll make a genuine contribution from day one, helping to shape a new and growing agency.
Over the two-year programme, you’ll:
build real-world skills through hands-on work
be supported by a buddy and structured development programme
get direct exposure to senior leaders, including our Chief Executive
obtain broad experience across different projects and priorities.
If you’re looking for a role where you can learn quickly, contribute early, and see the impact of your work – this is it.
About the role
We’re looking for a graduate to join our Economics team – a small, expert team at the heart of how our organisation works.
You’ll use your economics skills to support a range of projects across the Ministry.
What you’ll be doing
From day one, you’ll be involved in meaningful work. This could include:
conducting literature reviews
contributing to economic research that supports public policy development
undertaking cost benefit analysis
supporting senior economists to draft internal and external papers
compiling quantitative insights into clear, accessible reports
undertaking deep dives into topics such as regulation trends, comparative international analysis and data-led reporting.
No two weeks will look the same – and that’s exactly the point.
Please see the job description here: Graduate
Who we’re looking for
You might be the right fit if you:
have completed or are about to complete a postgraduate economics degree (e.g. honours, masters, PhD)
are ready to start in late February 2027
are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
are willing to relocate to Wellington.
We’re also looking for people who:
are curious and keen to learn
enjoy solving problems and working with others
bring initiative and a willingness to give things a go
have some experience outside study (work, volunteering, leadership, or community involvement).
What we offer
$65,000 salary + wellbeing benefits
23 days annual leave
A structured, supportive two-year development programme
Opportunities to work across a wide range of projects
A collaborative, down-to-earth environment
Coffee roulette, social groups and team activities
A genuinely supportive culture where people look out for each other.
About the Ministry for Regulation
We’re a small central government agency with a big job: improving the quality of regulation in New Zealand.
Our work helps ensure regulation is effective, practical, and delivers better outcomes for New Zealanders.
Register for our webinar
If you’d like to learn more about what it’s like to work for us, you can hear from our current graduates at a webinar being held on 16 July. Register here: https://tinyurl.com/546wvx8b
How to apply
Apply via the link and upload your CV, academic transcript, and completed application form.
Applications close midnight Sunday 9 August.
Recruitment process:
Submit your application
Online testing
Online video interview
Pre-interview written task
Virtual panel interview
If you need any adjustments to the process to help you participate fully, please let us know in your application.
For questions, contact: support@talentsolutions.co.nz
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