Hato Hone St John has been serving New Zealanders since 1885. Today, our 11,000-strong team of kaimahi and volunteers work across Aotearoa to enhance the health and wellbeing of our communities. From responding to 111 calls to supporting people to stay healthy through our mahi in health education, access, and monitoring, we are making life-changing differences every day.
As an in-house Legal Counsel – Employee Relations, you will provide expert legal advice and strategic guidance on employment law, industrial relations and workplace matters. You’ll work closely with senior leaders, HR teams, and unions to navigate employment challenges, help manage legal risk, and support a high-performing, engaged workforce. Your expertise is vital in supporting a national emergency service that plays a critical role in New Zealand's healthcare system.
Accountabilities include:
To be successful in this role, you will have:
This role reports into the Head of Employee Relations and can be based from Auckland or Christchurch. You'll enjoy a hybrid working environment (two office days per week, the rest from home), good work-life balance and the opportunity to further your in-house career with the support of an experienced, collaborative team.
Click “I’m interested” before applications close on 28th September
For further information please contact Lindsey Frankland on 027 309 8372 or lindsey.frankland@stjohn.org.nz for a confidential discussion.
At Hato Hone St John, we embrace diversity, welcoming everyone to bring their authentic selves to work. We value unique perspectives, fostering inclusivity to better serve our communities, and we’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone belongs.
E pōhiritia nei e mātou, te whānau o Hato Hone St John, ngā rerekētanga o ia tāngata ki te haramai. E āwhinatia e mātou I ngā whakaaro rerekē, kia mahi pai I roto I ngā hāpori katoa. Ko tā mātou nei haepapa, kia hanga tētahi āhuru mōwai mā tatou, kia mahi haumaru ai.
If you need accommodations for accessibility, please reach out to the recruiter listed for equitable participation in our recruitment process.
Research shows that women and people from under-represented groups are less likely to apply for roles when their experience doesn’t match the job description perfectly. If you’re excited and think you have what it takes, we want to hear from you! Even if your experience doesn’t align 100%. Please apply or contact the recruitment advisor listed on the advertisement for a kōrero.

Our Hato Hone St John people are passionate about serving their communities and caring for fellow New Zealanders. We are a charity and have a volunteer ethos, with paid and volunteer members working side by side towards our mission:
We step forward, when help is needed. For better. For life.
Ka tū ake, hei kaiāwhina. Mō te pai. Mō te orange.
Local and global
Hato Hone St John was founded in New Zealand in 1885 and is a part of the fabric of all communities throughout Aotearoa. St John is well known around the world for helping enrich the health and wellbeing of global communities. Although we operate and are funded entirely independently here in New Zealand, we’re proud to be a part of this important and long established Order.
Enhancing health and wellbeing
Those who work for Hato Hone St John are driven by the desire to help their local communities by providing essential health-related services. Our values - Whakaaro nui (We have open minds), Mahi tika (Do the right thing), Piritaha (We stand side by side), Mahi pono (We are straight up) and Whakapai ake (We make it better) - help us to achieve our vision of 'enhanced health and well-being for all New Zealanders'.
Hato Hone St John is at the frontline of medical response providing Ambulance Services throughout New Zealand. We’re also part of the broader landscape of health and social care, through our provision of first aid training, event medical services, medical alarms, youth programmes and a wide range of community programmes.