Inaugural graduate programme in a central government agency
Modern office just metres from the Beehive
Opportunity to quickly grow and develop skills

About our graduate roles

As a Graduate at the Ministry for Regulation, you will work through a structured development programme over a two-year period. You will be paired up with a buddy, and have close access to all of our leaders, right up to our Chief Executive. So, if you’re interested in kickstarting your career in the public service, check out the four great roles we have available below!

Graduate, Digital and Insights

Are you graduating with a degree in information technology, information management, software development, AI, data science, computer science or something similar? This team is looking for someone who can bring great digital, data engineering and visualisation skills to a varied work programme. The team gets involved in all things digital and insights, for example:

Rolling out AI solutions and training our people how to use it safely and effectively
Making sure our information management practices are up to scratch
Supporting our people to maximise productivity and efficiencies through Microsoft 365
Project Management
Analysing data and helping our people present this

Graduate, Ministerial Services

Are you interested in learning all about how government works? We’re looking for someone to join this small and mighty team. You may have a directly relevant degree (e.g. political science, law), or you may be graduating with a different degree but have a keen interest in what makes public service agencies tick.

You’ll get involved in:

Responding to Official Information Act Requests and Parliamentary Questions
Liaising with our Minister’s Office
Writing correspondence
Supporting projects like our Annual Report and Strategic Intentions
Governance processes

Graduate, Economics

Are you graduating with a postgraduate degree in economics? This role is for someone who has a solid academic background in economics and is ready to apply it in the real world. On any given day you may find yourself:

Reviewing and summarising economics literature
Analysing data and using empirical economics techniques
Contributing to written reports and papers
Undertaking research on regulations
Providing economic advice on regulatory issues
Reviewing policy advice and providing input with an economics lens

Graduate, Reviews and System Capability

Are you interested in learning about how laws and regulation affect people’s lives and working on making regulation better for New Zealanders? We’re looking for someone to join one of our review teams. You will likely have a directly relevant degree (e.g. economics, political science, public policy or law), or you may be graduating with a different degree but have relevant knowledge in these fields.

You’ll get involved in:

Assessing how laws and regulations work in practice
Understanding why, when, and how governments intervene
Researching international regulatory practice
Recommending improvements to regulations to achieve better outcomes
Writing advice to Ministers and senior leaders.

About you

Finishing your university studies, ready to start work in late-February 2026
New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
Be willing to relocate to Wellington for the duration of the programme
Have a growth mindset, be keen to learn and to make the most of the opportunity
Have some work or leadership experience – this could be paid work, volunteer work, internships or experience supporting community groups or sports teams.

Please click here for the job description: Graduate

What we can offer you

An annual salary of $65,000, and access to wellbeing benefits
23 days of annual leave per year, including a closedown period over Christmas
A planned-out development programme over two years, with great learning opportunities
A supportive, collaborative environment, where transparency is key
Exposure across a wide range of work
Opportunities outside of your core work, such as our after-work board game group, coffee roulette, walking groups, our Rainbow Network and more

About the Ministry for Regulation

The Ministry for Regulation is a central government agency making sure we have high quality regulation in New Zealand. We believe that better regulation results in better outcomes.
We review sectors of the economy to make sure their regulations are fit for purpose, rapidly look into regulatory issues raised through our tipline, and provide advice and support to government agencies on regulatory issues.
We are a small group of dedicated professionals, working in a 'can do' environment.

How to apply

To apply, select 'Apply'. Follow the link to the application form and upload your CV, academic transcript, and complete the online application form.

Applications close Sunday 10th August.

The recruitment process:

Submit your application
Complete a video interview
Undertake online cognitive testing
Attend a virtual interview

If you require any adjustments to the recruitment process, please feel free to outline your needs in the application form.

For any questions please contact: support@talentsolutions.co.nz