Refugee and Protection Officer

Discover a career with purpose at MBIE

• Challenging and rewarding career opportunity
• Exciting opportunity to join a fun, supportive and high performing team
• Extensive training and support provided
• Permanent full-time position 
• Starting salary: $77,359 | Auckland CBD 

Tēnei tūranga - About the Role:

We have a challenging and exciting permanent full-time opportunity within the Refugee Status Unit (RSU) in central Auckland.  You will be joining a dedicated team who are passionate about their work.  As a Refugee and Protection Officer (RPO) you will be making decisions on refugee and protection status in accordance with New Zealand and international law.  This will involve interviewing claimants, conducting investigations, analysing relevant information, and writing quality decisions.
 
The RSU plays a key role in upholding New Zealand’s obligations under certain international human rights instruments. We are part of the Refugee & Migrant Services Branch of Immigration New Zealand, which manages the Government’s commitments to asylum seekers, quota refugees and recent migrants.
 

As an RPO you will:

• Utilise your research, analysis, writing and communication skills to make fair and balanced refugee and protected person status determinations. 
• Be agile, flexible, organised and able to meet deadlines. 
• Interact with people from a wide variety of backgrounds, as such cultural competence is important.

Ngā pukenga me ngā wheako e hiahiatia ana -

Skills and Experience Required
 

• Familiarity with the Refugee Convention, Convention Against Torture, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
• Understanding of the Immigration Act 2009 and other relevant international human rights instruments.
• Knowledge of New Zealand refugee case law, particularly decisions from the Immigration and Protection Tribunal.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• A tertiary qualification in a relevant field or equivalent knowledge and experience in refugee status determination.
• Ability to gain and maintain a national security clearance as required.
• Our ideal applicant is someone who has excellent writing skills, the ability to apply legal principles in making objective, well-reasoned decisions, and the ability to work under pressure.

For your application to be considered, you must be a New Zealand Citizen or hold a Permanent Resident Visa.

Ētahi kōrero mō MBIE - About MBIE:

MBIE's goal is to create a resilient and high-performing economy that delivers real and ongoing quality of life for all New Zealanders.

We do this by working with others to create an environment that supports businesses to be more productive and internationally competitive, enables all New Zealanders to participate in the economy through improved job opportunities and by working to ensure quality housing is more affordable.

People are at the heart of our mahi, our way of working is guided by our values which shape our behaviours.

• Mahi Tahi – Better Together
• Māia – Bold and brave
• Pae Kahurangi – Build our Future
• Pono Me Te Tika – Own It

Our aspirations are echoed in our Māori identity – Hīkina Whakatutuki – which broadly means ‘lifting to make successful'.

MBIE recognises the partnership founded under Te Tiriti o Waitangi between Māori and the Crown and is committed to giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We will do this through enduring, meaningful and effective partnerships with iwi, Māori, other Māori groups/organisations and the Crown, as this is critical to enable economic and social development, both for Māori and for wider Aotearoa New Zealand. We are committed to continuing to partner with iwi in order to find new sustainable solutions to address long standing systemic and cross-cutting issues facing Māori and wider Aotearoa New Zealand and we are also committed to identifying opportunities for iwi to lead and creating an enabling environment for iwi to leverage these opportunities.

E mōhio ana a Hīkina Whakatutuki i puea ake te kōtuinga I waenganui i a ngāi Māori me te Karauna i Te Tiriti o Waitangi, ā, kei te whai ia ki te whakaū ake i Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Mā te whai kiko o ngā kōtuinga ahungaroa o ngāi wi, o ngāi Māori, me ētahi atu rōpū Māori ki te Karauna, katutuki tēnei. He āhuatanga nui tēnei e āhei ai ngā mahi whanaketanga ā-ohanga, ā-pāpori hoki ki a ngāi Māori me Aotearoa whānui. E whai tonu ana mātou ki te kōtui atu ki ngā iwi mō te rapu huarahi hou ki te whakaara i ngā kaupapakua roa nei e tāmi ana i a ngāi Māori me Aotearoa whānui, ā, e whai ana hoki ki te tautohu i ngā āheinga kōkiritanga mā ngā iwi, me te tautoko i ngā iwi kia whai mana ake ai ēnei āheinga.

Me pēhea te tono - How to Apply:

Recruitment Process:

All applications will be considered in line with the requirements of the role.

• Shortlisting will take place from the 6 February.
• Interviews and written test will take place from the week on the 16 February. 

Click here to view a position description. 

When you are ready to apply please send a CV and cover letter telling us why you're the perfect fit for this role.

All applications must be submitted via our online process.

We can't wait to hear from you!

Email Emily Boyd at emily.boyd@mbie.govt.nz quoting ref MBIE/18904 if you have any further questions.

Applications close on Thursday 5 February 2026 at 11.59pm.