Residential Youth Worker

Take a step away from doing work that is the same day in and day out - join the team at our
Te Maioha Youth Justice Residence as a Residential Youth Worker
and take pride in knowing that the work you do every day makes a real difference to the lives of our tamariki and rangatahi.

We are aiming for an early February start date for this opportunity.

Mō mātou | About us:
Te Maioha o Parekarangi Youth Justice Residence
, just outside Rotorua, provides a safe, secure and supportive environment where rangatahi (young people) who have offended can make changes and get their lives back on track. It's a place where 13-17-year-olds accused of an offence stay to await court proceedings or serve a sentence. This means they are not free to leave. However, a residence is not a prison, and our
Residential Youth Workers
are not prison guards .

At all times we prioritise the safety and security of our tamariki and staff on site, however, we are committed to ensuring that the time tamariki spend in our residences will improve their prospects for the future. Our
Residential Youth Workers
are there to keep our tamariki safe, but they're also mentors, role models and coaches .

Mō te tūnga | About the role:
Our
Residential Youth Workers
enrich the lives of our tamariki and maximise learning opportunities and engagement with positive role models. They work alongside our partners to build high-trust relationships and help tamariki develop the skills, behaviours, and attitude they will need to meaningfully contribute to their whānau and their community. They understand that the causes of offending are complex, and that successfully dealing with young offenders demands action beyond simple punitive measures. Ultimately, Residential Youth Workers are responsible for keeping the rangatahi and their team safe.

We offer a variety of interesting, educational, and fun activity programmes for our young people while they stay with us. A few examples of the activities we offer might include cooking classes, gaming and sports tournaments, vocational and cultural demonstrations, and lessons with leaders from the local community and much more

Ngā pūmanawatanga ōu | What you will bring:
Our
Residential Youth Workers
join us with a broad array of experiences, perspectives, and passions. The most important thing that they all have in common is that they are determined to be there for our tamariki. To succeed in this role, you need to be able to listen without judgement to build trust and respect.

You might have worked with children previously (this could be as part of your job or in your social life i.e., coaching sports, mentoring, tutoring etc) Alternatively, you might have experience in customer service, healthcare, psychology, education, sports, trades, music, or art.

• You must be willing to work a full-time roster that covers mornings, evenings, weekends, and public holidays.
• You must be physically willing and able to play sports and interact with our rangatahi safely.
• You must be able to meet our background checking criteria under the Childrens Act 2014, including a police check where the Clean Slate does NOT apply.
• You must be reliable and consistent in your work attendance - our tamariki count on a consistent routine and seeing familiar faces
• You must be able to present at work free from the influences of drugs and alcohol.
• You must hold a clean New Zealand drivers licence, with a preference for a Full and Restricted licence as this role does require transporting rangatahi.
• You must have the right to work 40 hours a week in New Zealand.

Knowledge of Tikanga and Te Reo Māori is an advantage - Oranga Tamariki is committed to developing our kaimahi to develop this important capability. Our best Youth Workers are those who are passionate about sharing their interests, culture, experiences, and what matters to them with our tamariki and being a positive, consistent role model

Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you:
We are aiming for the successful candidates to start in the role on
2 February, 2026
. If you join our team and work as part of our team working shifts in our residence you will receive a package of remuneration and benefits that includes:

• 4 weeks and three days of annual leave each year
• A generous 20% allowance paid on top of base remuneration for working as part of a rotating roster (shift work).
• Meals that are prepared by our commercial kitchens and provided on-site - our kaimahi are encouraged to sit with rangatahi and share a meal and meaningful conversations
• Regular training and professional development so that you can thrive and grow your skills and capabilities
• Access to counselling and support when you need it through our employee assistance programme which reflects our genuine commitment to supporting the wellbeing of our kaimahi

We offer a remuneration package that starts between approximately $57,760 and $65,334 (depending on your experience). On top of this, we also apply a 20% allowance to your base remuneration for working shifts/a roster pattern. The 20% allowance is applied once you have completed your initial induction and are placed onto a rotating roster that covers days, evenings and weekends.
Base remuneration plus the 20% allowance works out to be between $64,766 and $78,400 (depending on your experience).
Additionally, Oranga Tamariki has a remuneration framework that offers step-based annual increases based on your tenure.

To see all the benefits of working for Oranga Tamariki, please visit

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to Apply:
Apply online with your CV and answers to our application questions in lieu of a cover letter.

If you are an Oranga Tamariki employee already, please ensure you apply with a log in using your Oranga Tamariki email address. If you have any questions about role, please contact

Applications close: 9 December 2025 Applications will be reviewed when received and we will be contacting candidates before the close date of this role.
If you are interested in any of our vacancies, please ensure that you make yourself familiar with our code of conduct as it sets out our expec ations for our kaimahi and requires you to present at work free from the influences of both drugs and alcohol.