Categorisation Specialist and Investigat

Categorisation Specialist Investigator!  

• Based at Lambton Quay (Please keep in mind when applying: The role is expected to relocate to Porirua at a later date).


• Police Employee


• Permanent – Full Time


• JR 5756806

E tῡ ki te kei o te waka, kia pakia koe e ngā ngaru o te wā.

Stand at the stern of the canoe and feel the spray of the future biting at your face

Mō te tūnga | About the role

The Online Child Exploitation Across New Zealand Team (OCEANZ), who investigate online child sexual exploitation, are seeking applicants to fill the position of Categorisation Specialist / Investigator. This role is a relatively new position to the workgroup and represents an exciting opportunity to support child exploitation investigations across New Zealand and internationally.

This is a demanding but rewarding role. Applicants must have high levels of resilience, self-motivation, and a desire to be part of a high performing team. Through collaboration with stakeholders across New Zealand you will share responsibility for building and driving the categorisation capability for New Zealand Police.

You’ll work with District Investigators, the Digital Forensic Unit, New Zealand partner agencies as well as the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), International Law Enforcement and our Australian counterparts.

You will be required to analyse media content depicting child exploitation and abuse to assist District Investigations staff and prepare documents to assist in prosecution and sentencing of offenders. The role has an overarching goal of identifying, locating and safeguarding child victims. In this role you will deploy systems and methodology to create a sustainable long-term capability.

To succeed in this role, you must be prepared to be exposed to objectionable publications including the sexual abuse of children. This role requires a focus on personal psychological wellbeing, and you will be expected to adhere to a strict wellness plan and participate in regular psychological wellness checks.

Key Accountabilities:

• Processing and categorising media, predominantly video and still images via a platform used by Law Enforcement


• Maintaining contact with the officer in charge of criminal investigation cases, specialist teams and policing groups as required.


• Contributing to overall investigations by supporting OCEANZ, the New Zealand Police Digital Forensic Unit, and Investigation units.


• Ensuring that all information and material is appropriately and sensitively dealt with according to best practice and sound ethical principles.


• Completing the full range of correspondence in relation to objectionable material investigations in a timely manner, including preparation of reports and statements


• Keeping up to date with technological, policy, strategy and procedural changes relating to objectionable material and ensuring these are reflected in areas of responsibility.


• Delivering teaching and learning programmes with respect to the categorisation of objectionable material to New Zealand Police and other government agencies nationally and internationally.


• Evaluating and triaging reports provided to Police from local and international partners and agencies.

He aha taau e kawe mai | What you’ll bring

Whilst we are looking for skills, knowledge and experience relevant to the role, we also place high importance on your state of mind, the alignment of your values with ours, your ability to contribute to and build high performing teams, and the way that you lead yourself or others.

 Helpful but not essential is:

• Experience in conducting or supporting criminal investigations.


• Experience in or knowledge of technology enabled crimes. 

This role is Individual Contributor/Emerging Leader level. You can refer to Indicators for Success for further information on the requirements

To view the position description for this role please copy and paste this link into a new browser:

Categorisation Specialist/Investigator

Mo tātou | About us

New Zealand Police is the lead agency responsible for preventing crime and enhancing community safety. It works in partnership with individuals, communities, businesses, and other public sector agencies towards the vision of making New Zealand the safest country. Police is the government’s largest front-line response agency with around 15,000 staff in large and small communities all over New Zealand and in liaison and policing development roles overseas.

Your development is highly valued at NZ Police. Our employees enjoy significant investment in their development not only at an individual level, but also at the team and community practice level. We work hard to match you with work that will both play to your strengths and challenge you in new ways.

The work you’ll be engaged in is real, tangible work that directly benefits our frontline and communities. Taken all together, this means we can offer you career path opportunities to progress in your chosen profession and become a more well-rounded, experienced leader, with opportunities across the range of work we support.

To view more detailed information about our recruitment process along with further details about requirements please click below link:

Applicant Information Pack (External)

Tono ināianei | Apply now

If this position sounds like you, click apply now and submit a tailored CV. You will be required to submit an application form. Before confirmation of hire, pre-employment checks will be undertaken which include reference, drug and alcohol testing  and police vetting prior to any written offer being made.  

For further information on the application process, please copy and paste this URL: https://www.police.govt.nz/careers 

All applications must be submitted online and will not be accepted directly via email. All applicants must have the right to work in New Zealand.  

Utu ā-tau | Salary 

This position is covered by a collective agreement and salary will commence between $80,295 and $83,973 dependent on skills and experience relevant to the role.  

Please note: Deadline for applications is 5:00 pm on Wednesday 25th February 2026. Applications may be reviewed prior to the close date as well as contact made with candidates.

If you have any questions about this vacancy, please contact [email protected]