Communicator - Trainee

111 Police Emergency Communicator – the invisible front line!

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

• Permanent fulltime shiftwork based in Otahuhu, Auckland, close to the motorway with free car parks available


• Training salary $64,161 (nine weeks training)


• Base salary $72,112 after successfully completing training


• Next intake starts July 20th 2026

If you’re tired of the 9 to 5 grind and want a more meaningful role that makes a direct impact to our communities and you’re up for the challenge where no two days are ever the same, then join our hardworking, dedicated and passionate team answering 111 calls as a Police Emergency Communicator!  Help make New Zealand the safest country in the world!

Mō te tūnga | About the role

We’re not going to sugarcoat it! In this role you are the frontline of the frontline – the calm voice people first hear when calling on what is often the worst day in their lives.  It is fast paced, stressful and demanding both mentally and emotionally.  Every call is different and can range from violence, suicide, sexual assaults, sudden deaths, rescue situations and more – people’s lives are at stake.

As a Police Emergency Communicator, you will be the reassuring and empathetic voice guiding and supporting people in their time of need.

This role is tough, but equally rewarding, and could be the start to an exciting career!

Our Centres operate 24/7, 365 days a year. The role is permanent shift work, broken down into six days on (with early morning, late afternoon and evening starts) followed by four days off, with an additional 15% shift allowance and additional leave entitlements for hours worked on weekends, in the evening and overnight.

Follow the link to watch a day in the life of a Police Communicator: A Day in the Life: Police Communicator | New Zealand Police - YouTube

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

• A passion and empathy for helping others in need


• Resilience and professionalism in the face of adversity


• Strong communication skills - excellent written and spoken English


• An aptitude to think on your feet and use your questioning and listening skills to make sound decisions under pressure


• An ability to follow highly-structured processes and multi task


• Tech savvy – you will be navigating several IT systems at once as well as typing quickly and accurately – all while talking to the caller


• An understanding that our continuous shift work can conflict with family and social events


• Full driver licence preferred

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

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. Altogether, 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 the position description for this role please copy and paste this link into a new browser:

https://www.police.govt.nz/sites/default/files/pd/01-2026/communicator.pdf 

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 police vetting, references and possible drug and alcohol testing 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. Applicants must have the right to work in New Zealand.  

This advert is set to close at 5:00pm, Wednesday June 17th, but please note it may be taken down earlier if we receive a high number of applications.

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