Āpiha Whare Herehere

Corrections Officer

The world of Corrections is largely hidden away and most people haven't considered what it might take to become a Corrections Officer. While we may not always be visible, we play an important role in keeping our communities safe, while helping people in prison get the help they need. 

It's a hugely diverse, rewarding and challenging mahi. We invite you to discover if you can help make lives better and keep everyday New Zealanders safe.

The role

Corrections Officer stands smiling at camera. A blackboard with te reo Maori on is in the background.

Make an ongoing impact

Corrections Officers are there with people in prison throughout their daily activities, providing ongoing opportunities to influence change and motivate positive decisions.

They supervise people's routines, help them to navigate prison life, escort them to hearings and appointments, and support them to engage in rehabilitation programmes.

Corrections Officer holds a sign with te reo on and engages with two men, with Māori artwork in the bavkground

Diverse environments

Our Corrections Officers work across a diverse range of settings, with different specialist units, security levels and site-specific activities all creating different day-to-day experiences. Some work in specific focus units such as our drug and alcohol treatment units, youth units, Pasifika units, Māori and Tikanga focused units, Mothers and Babies units and Special Treatment units.

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Safety matters

Working as a close team, you'll play an important role in monitoring behaviour and maintaining safety within the prison. You'll patrol prison buildings and grounds, assess situations and take appropriate action.

Our Correction Officers are supported by other officers, and there is backup, training and equipment readily available for when they need it. From detection dogs to emergency response, negotiators to tactical operations – each situation that needs extra support has resource available. There are also opportunities to specialise in these areas as you progress in your career.

What you need to know

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Time off & hours of work

5 weeks annual leave
Rostered rotating shifts including nights, weekends & public holidays

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Salary

Starting salary $67,519, increasing as you achieve National Qualifications Level 3 ($72,197) and Level 4 ($77,713)
$4000 annual shift allowance

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Career development

Opportunities to gain qualifications in Level 3, 4 and 5 in the National Certificate for Offender Management and to branch into more specialised areas (eg prison negotiation, dog handling, site emergency response teams, etc)
Progression opportunities to Senior Corrections Officer, Principal Corrections Officer

wellbeing

Skills and experience

Strong communicators, team players, ability to motivate others, work well under pressure
Observant, alert, resilient

Full NZ Driver Licence or be in the process of upgrading to a full licence (completion within 3 months)

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Environment

Based at one of our prisons around the country, which each have different units, programmes, and site specific activities.

Latest jobs

To make sure we get to your application quickly and to keep things transparent, please apply directly using the link below. Just so you know, we handle all applications for Correction Officers roles ourselves and don’t use third-party agents.




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Hear from our team

Jeremy's story - reconnecting with his roots

It’s unusual to find someone who has lived on prison grounds, without being incarcerated.

From writing about Corrections to becoming the subject matter

Michelle’s journey with Ara Poutama Aotearoa started with a story much like this one.

Career specialities

As a Corrections Officer, there's many different specialist career pathways to explore.

Reflections from our new recruits

Kyrah, Paige, Owen and Will are all recently graduated recruits. They share what they have learnt about the Corrections Officer role since they started - both through training and their time on the floor.

Where can your career go as a Corrections Officer?

For many people, becoming a Corrections Officer is just the start of their journey at Ara Poutama Aotearoa.

From flight attendant to Corrections Officer

Going from being a flight attendant to a Corrections Officer might not be a career change that people would expect, but it was a leap that Carlin, now a Senior Adviser…

Finding ways to give back

When Adeel first moved to New Zealand as a refugee in 2018, he was searching for a way to give back to the community.

Still learning 28 years on

After 28 years working at Corrections, Principal Corrections Officer Karl says that he’s still learning.

Still thinking it over?

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