Trainee Dispatchers – Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch – Permanent

Mō tēnei tūranga - About the role

When seconds count, everyone counts on the Dispatcher to respond to the call. If you can multitask, think fast, and solve problems under pressure, this incredibly rewarding full-time permanent role in Auckland, Wellington, or Christchurch could be for you. You'll also enjoy variety, challenge, career progression, and the opportunity to be paid overtime after initial training and assessment.

Dispatchers operate in a 24/7 Emergency Service environment. Working in a small, close-knit team, your primary responsibility will be receiving emergency 111 and non-emergency calls and dispatching appropriate Fire and Emergency responses. You will have daily contact with a wide range of people, including members of the public, firefighters, other emergency services, and government agencies. Our structure involves:

• An eight-day roster comprised two 12-hour day shifts, then two 12-hour night shifts, followed by four days off.
• Four weeks of initial training (including one week at our National Training Centre in Rotorua), comprehensive mentoring and support, and NZQA-recognised qualifications.

Ko tāu nā i tēnei tūranga - What you'll bring to the role:

Strong communication skills are essential, as you'll be liaising with a wide range of people. Members of the public experiencing a crisis, fire crews, and other emergency services who need fast, accurate information and the team on the incoming shift rely on you. Our ability to operate successfully depends on your ability to communicate effectively. Dispatchers must bring the ability to carry out each call with;

• Selfless dedication to helping the community
• Empathy with callers who may be distressed
• A calm manner when controlling stressful situations
• A considered, logical approach to problem-solving
• Resilience in the face of traumatic situations

To be successful in this role, you'll also bring:

• Excellent attention to detail and strong self-management
• Exceptional communication skills and the ability to build rapport with a wide range of people quickly
• Good geographic knowledge of New Zealand
• High level of computer literacy
• Accurate touch typing while listening to callers (45 words per minute, minimum)
• The ability to multitask under pressure with a high level of accuracy
• Availability to work a variety of rostered shifts, including days, nights, weekends and public holidays
• Ideally, have previous experience in multi-tasking and juggling priorities or similar customer service role, with a strong customer focus and a can-do approach.

If this sounds like you, apply now to join a mission-critical team- and wear the uniform with pride.

The training salary is $60,512.12, increasing to $72,614.54 upon completing training and assessment (usually within 12 months).

The role commences with an induction day on Friday, 27th February 2026, followed by a training course on Monday, 2 March 2026.The first week of training will be held at the Fire and Emergency New Zealand National Training Centre in Rotorua, followed by three weeks' training at the Central Communications Centre in Wellington.

Ko wai mātou - Who are we?

Fire and Emergency New Zealand is a Crown Entity responsible for reducing unwanted fires, responding to structural and vegetation fires and other emergencies, including motor vehicle crashes, medical emergencies, hazardous substance-related incidents, natural disasters, and supporting increased community resilience.

Our vision is to build stronger communities and protect what matters most to the people within them. We are proud to be recognised as New Zealand's most trusted public sector agency. Our values reflect what our people believe is core to who we are and the organisation we aspire to be.

• We Do the Right Thing – Kia Tika
• We Serve and Support – Manaakitanga
• We Are Better Together – Whanaungatanga
• We Strive to Improve – Auahatanga

Ko te tono mai - How to apply:

Dispatchers are mission-critical to Fire and Emergency New Zealand. We'd love you to join us if you have the skills and commitment. We value diversity as a strength and welcome applicants who can help bring a difference to our organisation.

Apply now to become the very first responder. To download a copy of our position description, please visit the vacancy page on our FireJobs website.

To find out more about being a Fire and Emergency Dispatcher, visit:

*** IMPORTANT: Please explain why you're interested in this role in your cover letter and what location you are applying for***

If you have any specific questions about this role, please email

However, please note applications sent via email will not be accepted.

Applications close: Wednesday, 12th November 2025.

Please note: Eligibility to work in New Zealand is mandatory for this role.