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NZARMY AUTOMOTIVE TECH 2

Army

Automotive Technician

Our Automotive Technicians keep the force moving, repairing and maintaining all operational vehicles and equipment. Combine unrivaled diesel and petrol mechanic training with military skills and a range of experiences that civilian mechanic careers can’t match.

Mō te tūranga

About the role

  • Specialisations

    Apprenticeship trades | Engineering & Technical trades

  • Entry type

    General entry, Apprenticeships

  • Under training

    $68,103

  • Location

    Trentham

An average day for an Automotive Technician involves a large portion of “swinging spanners”, a term that is used in the workshop to describe working on vehicles or time on the tools. You’ll repair and maintain all operational vehicles and equipment in camp. This could range from our Light Armoured Vehicles (LAV) and Medium Heavy Operational Vehicles (MHOV), to a motorbike or even an engine in a chainsaw. The NZ Army fleet of vehicles is primarily diesel, but there are a few vehicles which run on petroleum.

As an Automotive Technician, you’ll find plenty of variety in your work. In any given month, you might be in the workshop, on a field exercise, completing a career development course or out at the range shooting. Plus you’ll earn trade-certified qualifications along the way.

Requirements

Basics

  • Must be 18 years old by the time you graduate from recruit course.
  • Eligible to meet national security clearance criteria, as stipulated by the Government's Protective Security Requirements.

Education

  • 3 years secondary school.

Note, qualifications may be used to assess trade suitability.

Citizenship

There are strict citizenship and security requirements to gain the required CV security clearance for this trade.
Find out if you’re eligible here.

Period of Service

Once you have completed training you will be required to give a 24 month return of service to the NZ Army.

We offer guidance on entry requirements in our eligibility section. Apply if you're uncertain, as we’ll work through the criteria with you to determine if you can proceed.

“Not only do we get to work on all the vehicles but we get taught how to drive all of them as well. That includes the Light Armoured Vehicles and the new Bushmasters.”

Tiana, Automotive Technician

  • Job on base

    You’ll be responsible for keeping the Army moving and providing support wherever you are in camp. You will be given all the knowledge and tools required to diagnose and repair any possible fault with any of our fleet of vehicles. The repairs you will perform range from basic servicing tasks to engine replacements. Variety is also provided in your day-to-day camp routine by the inclusion of sport, PT, parades, and other soldier skills and training activities.

  • Job on deployment

    Automotive Technicians deploy on a variety of overseas deployments and postings, which could range from a three-month deployment within a South Pacific nation to a deployment of 8 months with the United Nations.

    While deployed you will find yourself working on a wide variety of equipment, from forklifts to the MHOVs and MAN Trucks. You'll fix what you can in the field, or recover the vehicle to bring it back to base for repair. Your working environment will differ: you could be working at night to repair equipment from under a tarpaulin on grass, or be working within a concrete-floored building. The exciting part of this job is the challenge of having to repair equipment with sometimes limited resources.

Career progression and training

01Basic Training

02Job Training

03Ongoing Training

04Career Progression

Benefits & allowances

Earn a competitive salary while training or learning your trade, along with additional allowances for time spent in the field, at sea, overseas, or deployed on operations.

In addition to salary and allowances, other benefits of joining the New Zealand Defence Force include:

  • Access to your Service marae or tūrangawaewae
  • Sponsored tertiary study programmes at all levels
  • Free access to gyms and swimming pools on camp and bases
  • Opportunities to travel
  • Free and subsidised medical and dental care
  • Subsidised food and accommodation on camps and bases
  • Free and subsidised insurance cover
  • Help to buy a home and save for retirement

Salary & benefits

Careers in the Army are well-rewarded, diverse and exciting. As you become more experienced and move up through the ranks, gaining additional skills and qualifications, your salary will rise accordingly.

  • Under training

    $68,103

  • Future potential earnings

    $98,000

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Am I fit enough?

If you want to be part of the NZ Defence Force you need to be medically and physically fit for military duties worldwide.

Medical & Fitness
NZA soldiers 20230512 012

The application process

Your step-by-step guide on what to expect at various stages of the application process, specifically for military roles.

Application process
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Ready to start your Army career?

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