Job Description

Te kōwhiringa | The Opportunity
Ready to build a career outdoors? Keen to learn a trade with purpose?

We’re looking for a motivated Trainee Utility Arborist to join our Palmerston North team. No experience is required, just the right attitude, commitment, and willingness to learn. We’ll teach you everything you need to know.

Utility Arborists play a critical role in protecting New Zealand’s power network. In this role, you’ll learn how to maintain safe vegetation distances around transmission lines, support fault and emergency response work, and help keep communities connected across the central and lower North Island.

• Full training provided – become a qualified Utility Arborist
  Training typically takes 1–2 years, and we support you every step of the way with industry-recognised learning, coaching, and on-the-job development.
• Travel the region
  Our crews often work away from home Monday–Friday across the wider region. To make this easy, we provide Penal rates, Allowances Accommodation and meals We make sure you’re well looked after while you’re on the road.
• Work in nature every day
  Swap the desk for forests, trails, rivers, rural landscapes, and some of Aotearoa’s most beautiful outdoor environments.

This is a hands-on, physical, and incredibly rewarding job where every day is different. If you love being outdoors, enjoy practical work, and want a career with real progression, this could be the opportunity for you.

Nga pūkenga matua | Important Skills
If you’ve worked in the trades, farming, forestry, landscaping, or any outdoor/manual role before, you’ll be attuned to teamwork, and a strong worth ethic.

We’re interested in people who have:

• A commitment to learning and upskilling
• Enjoy working outdoors in all conditions
• Good physical fitness
• A positive attitude and teamwork mindset
• Sound safety awareness
• Willingness to work away from home during the week
• A full NZ driver licence (or close to obtaining one)
• The ability to work away from home as required, Monday-Friday
  

Ngā Painga o te Mahi ki Downer | Benefits of working with Downer

Our purpose is to enable communities to thrive, driven by your passion and dedication. We offer a wide range of opportunities for personal and professional growth, with support systems tailored to your diverse needs and aspirations.

Our benefits focus on four key areas:

• Career: We invest in your success with personal development planning, training and upskilling opportunities, and established leadership programmes designed to support long-term career growth.

• Wellbeing: Your safety, health and wellbeing are our priorities. We embed Zero Harm practices across all our work, and offer free counselling for you and your immediate whānau, as well as access to Marram healthcare benefits and discounted holiday homes throughout Aotearoa.

• Community: Together, we make a difference. We’re proud of the strong culture within our E&U teams. You’ll also have opportunities to connect through our employee networks including StandOut (LGBTQIA+), Fetu Pasifika, EmpowerHER and Wāhine Kotahitanga, which celebrate diversity and foster belonging.

• Individuality: We celebrate high performance and what makes you unique. Perks@Downer gives you access to a range of offers tailored to your lifestyle, including discounts on Southern Cross premiums, gym memberships, car rentals, movies, travel, and cashback on retail purchases.

Discover more of our great benefits here!

Ko wai mātou | Our Organisation
Downer's Energy & Utilities business is a trans‑Tasman team delivering the essential services that keep our communities connected. We design, build, operate and maintain critical assets and networks across water, electricity, telecommunications, industrial and power generation sectors. Our strength comes from our in‑house technical expertise, specialist engineering capability, trusted OEM partnerships and highly skilled crews.

You want your work to matter, and so do we. With more than 26,000 people across our wider Downer whānau, we’re a diverse team of thinkers, doers, and problem‑solvers. We’re committed to building a team that reflects the communities we work in. We welcome people of all backgrounds, cultures, identities and abilities.

If your experience doesn’t tick every box, we’d still like to hear from you. And if you need any support or adjustments during the recruitment process, just let us know. We’re here to help you succeed.

Me pēhea ki te tono | How to apply

Click APPLY and follow the prompts, including your CV and copies of relevant licences/qualifications. Reference number: 722879

All successful applicants must complete a satisfactory pre‑employment drug and alcohol test, medical, and Ministry of Justice check. If you need support with any part of this process, our team is here to help.

At Downer we plan, create and sustain. Downer is the leading provider of integrated services in Australia and New Zealand. Through trusted relationships and world leading insight we work closely with our customers to design, build and sustain assets, infrastructure, and facilities.