Wellington and the Hutt: public service heartland job market and local help

Why Wellington is different

Government departments, policy teams, regulators and the consultancies and contractors that serve them make up a large share of Wellington jobs. When departments shrink, contractors and vendors lose work too, and rents and retail feel the knock-on. The Finance Minister said teachers, nurses, doctors, police and defence staff are not covered by the cuts. Other roles may be affected, depending on the agency.

Check the guide on public service cuts for the redeployment and voluntary redundancy process.

Where else to look

• Local government: Wellington City, Hutt City, Porirua, Upper Hutt, Kāpiti and Greater Wellington regional council. Councils are under budget pressure too, but still advertise.
• Health: Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley hospitals, and primary care, aged care and community health.
• Universities and research: Victoria University of Wellington and other research bodies. Tertiary restructures happen often, so check the current position.
• Energy, infrastructure and regulatory consultancies, and professional services firms that were less dependent on government.
• Tech, creative and screen studios. These sectors can be volatile.
• Working remotely for Auckland or Australian employers, or consulting, if you have senior policy or project skills.

Local help

• PSA (Public Service Association) has its head office in Wellington and supports members in change processes.
• Wellington Chamber of Commerce and WellingtonNZ publish employer and business-support information. Check their sites for programmes.
• Work and Income service centres in Wellington, Lower Hutt and Porirua. Ask about redundancy support and group sessions.
• Community Law Wellington and Hutt Valley and CAB provide free advice.
• Wellington's cost of living and rents are high, so check your Accommodation Supplement area.

Work and Income offers redeployment support for people facing redundancy. Its page says you can contact them before your job ends, even if no decisions have been made. Support can include a named contact who helps with your CV and cover letter, looks for jobs or training, connects you with employers and arranges financial support between jobs.

• Email RedeploymentSupport@msd.govt.nz (the address Work and Income lists for redundancy support).
• Call Work and Income on 0800 559 009 to talk about payments such as Jobseeker Support or a Transition to Work Grant.
• Book a free career conversation with the Direct Career Service on 0800 222 733.