Career opportunities for graduates, interns, and young people

What we value at MPI

At the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) we value the unique perspectives, experiences, and innovation of our motivated younger generations – our rangatahi, our future leaders, and change-makers. MPI celebrates an inclusive and diverse workplace where difference is championed. We're an employer of choice because of it.

We are committed to meeting the challenge of rapidly moving to a low carbon emissions society, restoring health of New Zealand's water, and reversing the decline in biodiversity, while continuing to feed New Zealand's people. The breadth of the primary industries offers meaningful and exciting careers, and Manatū Ahu Matua – MPI – is at the heart of the sector. Join us to make a difference.

You could be part of real change. As a leader. As kaitiaki.  As a guardian. As you.

MPI's Graduate Development Programme

Join MPI's award-winning grad programme and launch a rewarding career – driving sustainability, prosperity, and protecting our taonga as well as our primary industries. You would be joining over a hundred MPI graduate alumni who have gone on to be government delegates abroad, principal advisers, senior analysts, fishery officers, and much more.

Is the graduate programme for you?

We want to hear from you if you:

• are knowledgeable and passionate about the primary sector
• are enthusiastic, adaptable and willing to learn
• want to become a kaitiaki of New Zealand’s taonga
• want to work with others to create a better future.

What you can expect in the grad programme

The MPI graduate development programme has been designed to enable you to launch your career working with and learning from a team of leading experts, contributing to exciting, meaningful, and rewarding projects, and experiencing professional and personal growth. You'll have work rotations of about 6 months each in different parts of MPI, such as biosecurity, forestry, fisheries, food, agriculture, response, regulation or policy.

The programme is about developing you – we invest in you to build the skills you need to succeed to accelerate your career. You will be exposed to policy, standards setting and regulation, stakeholder engagement, responses and readiness, frontline operations, and support functions; in addition to gaining specialist skills and training through the structured learning and development programme.

You'll need:

• a recent tertiary qualification (applicants should have graduated no more than 2 years before the start of the programme)
• to hold the right to work in New Zealand or be eligible to obtain it
• curiosity and strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• clear, confident communication skills
• to be adaptable, committed, and focused on achieving
• a collaborative working style.

Thankfully, you don't have to be a one-size-fits-all mould to make it here at MPI because what makes you different is what makes you special and that's what we are looking for. We want to hear about:

• your identification with your community or iwi
• if you've done voluntary or community work
• your experience leading, coaching, or mentoring others – for example in a sports team, volunteer group, or academically

How to apply for the grad programme

Applications for the 2026 MPI grad programme are open until 5 August 2025.

Apply to join our graduate programme – MPI Careers Centre

To get updates on the 2026 programme, email grads@mpi.govt.nz

What some of our grads say about the programme and working at MPI

Other ways we support primary industry careers

As well as our grad programme, we also support primary industry careers through:

• MPI scholarships
• TupuToa internships
• New Zealand Food Safety Summer Intern Programme

MPI scholarships

We know that balancing study with everything else you have going on is hard yards. We support a range of scholarships and awards that may help you.

Fisheries New Zealand scholarship

Available to both Masters and undergraduate students in the fields of fisheries science and marine biology.

Get details about the Fisheries New Zealand scholarship

TupuToa Internship Programme

We are a proud major partner of the TupuToa Internship Programme. This is an innovative programme creating pathways for Māori and Pasifika students into careers in the corporate and professional sectors. Each year we welcome a number of TupuToa interns to join MPI for a 3-month internship. 

TupuToa seeks to ensure corporate Aotearoa is representative of our country, by developing and empowering our people and building the cultural capability of our partners.  TupuToa programmes aim to address the persistent inequalities facing Māori and Pasifika communities and disrupt intergenerational disadvantage.

TupuToa Internship Programme

New Zealand Food Safety Summer Intern Programme 2025-2026

Recruitment for our summer internships is open until 3 August 2025.

If you have any questions, email careers@mpi.govt.nz

Apply to be a New Zealand Food Safety Intern – MPI Careers Centre

The type of intern we were seeking

• Those considering a career in food safety. 
• Students who wanted to find out what it’s like to work in the public sector.
• Applicants looking for paid employment over summer. 

We sought applications from effective communicators, who loved problem-solving, had excellent attention to detail, and enjoyed building relationships.

We were looking for interns studying for an undergraduate degree in microbiology, biomedical science, food technology, food science, nutrition, toxicology, chemistry, veterinary sciences, environmental/public health, emergency management or a biochemistry degree.

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Ka pū te ruha, ka hao te rangatahi.

— When the old net is cast aside, the new net goes fishing.

Tautua nei mo sou manuia a taeao. (Samoan)

— Serve now for a better tomorrow.