Chef / Cook

The Whakapapa whanau are a small but ambitious team, running year-round operations on the northern slopes of Mt Ruapehu. In winter, from June until October, this includes a world-class ski area. In summer, from December until April, this includes our summer sightseeing operation, heroing our iconic Sky Waka gondola. Each year we welcome hundreds of thousands of manuhiri (guests) to Whakapapa, many with life-long connections to the maunga (mountain) and surrounding region, some even third or fourth generation.
Mo te tunga | About the role Do you have a passion for food? Whether you're creating a burger that makes us drool or prepping for a busy day in one of our cafe's, our chef's take pride in presenting food options for all of our guests no matter which outlet they're working in. We have a need for Chefs and Cooks that can be flexible with the type of food that is being served each day.
Working alongside the Head Chef in the day-to-day kitchen duties, preparation and coordination of particular sections of kitchen production is what the bulk of the job entails. Other daily tasks include:
Ensuring quality standards are maintained with respect to food presentation, cooked properly and delivered on time. Understanding all outlet menus & recipes and be able to follow recipes and instructions carefully. Preparing and cooking appropriate amounts of stock to meet demand and minimise waste. Assisting with preparation and placement of stock orders within set time frames and conducting stocktakes. Ensuring the necessary stocks are on hand at the right quality and quantity. Ensuring food service is in accordance with customer orders in a manner and time frame that optimises service quality. Ensure kitchen areas are prepared, cleared and maintained for food preparation and storage in accordance with departmental and industry guidelines. Ensure all rubbish and recycling is removed from storage locations to disposal areas and distributed correctly. Nga pukenga me nga wheako ou | Your skills and experience Along with your commitment to exceptional guest service, skills and experience a successful candidate will have are:
Ability to build effective working relationships with a wide range of people.  Commitment to a strong customer service ethic.  Punctual and reliable.  High energy levels. Chef: Exceptional communication skills Level 3 or 4 New Zealand Certificate in Hospitality (Professional Cookery) or similar international qualification and/or experience Previous experience training and assisting new cooks/chefs  Cook:  2 years cooking experience (Desirable).  Kitchen Attendant:  A passion for food and one year experience working in a kitchen (Desirable).  Nga ahuatanga kei a matou | What we offer Gear up for the ultimate work adventure at Whakapapa. Joining Whakapapa unlocks a number of perks including exclusive food and beverage, and retail discounts, for use in Whakapapa's cafes and store.
We also offer an accommodation option to staff on request.
Your Whakapapa whanau experience is not just a job: you will build lifelong memories and experiences in one of the most beautiful and culturally significant places on earth
Remuneration range - 
Kitchen Attendant / Cook - $23.15 to $24.74 depending on experience Chef - $24.74 to $31.46 depending on experience Tono mai - Apply now ** Research shows that while men apply to jobs when they meet approximately 60% of criteria, women and those in underrepresented groups tend to only apply when they check every box. If you think you have what it takes for this role but maybe you don't meet every single bullet point above, we encourage you to get in touch. We'd love to hear from you and see if you could be a great fit for our whanau.
***On October 27, 2023, Ruapehu Alpine Lifts Limited was put into Receivership with Brendon Gibson and Neale Jackson appointed as Receivers. They transferred ownership of the Turoa ski area to Pure Turoa Limited in April 2024 and are continuing to work on the sale of Whakapapa.