Mō te tūranga
About the role
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Specialisations
Apprenticeship trades | Engineering & Technical trades
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Entry type
General entry, Apprenticeships
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Under training
$68,103
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Location
Linton
As a Carpenter, your primary role is vertical construction - such as constructing a field hospital to humanitarian relief construction tasks in disaster struck areas. You will work with all sorts of material and in all sorts of situations, both in New Zealand and overseas. You will receive training under the BCITO apprenticeship scheme to qualify in Level 4 New Zealand Certificate in Carpentry. Once qualified your skills will be called upon everywhere the Army goes.
You will be trained to do everything that a civilian equivalent carpenter can do, but with all the Army skills (weapons training, fitness etc) as well! Your civilian qualification will be recognised throughout New Zealand and will prove that you have the knowledge and ability to build almost anything you are tasked with. You will also have all of your tools supplied for you, free of charge.
Accepting Applications
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Recruit Regular Force 417, starts 07 Jul 2025 Apply by 24 Mar 2025
Apply Now
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.
- Any practical or construction experience will make you a more competitive applicant
Education
- 3 years secondary school.
Note, qualifications may be used to assess trade suitability.
Fitness & Medical
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.
NZ Army leads building work on remote Tongan island group post eruption
“Working with electricians, carpenters and plumbers from different countries was stressful at times – there was a bit of a language barrier to begin with, but we were able to work through it, helped by our similarity in training."
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Job on base
A Carpenters main role while on camp is construction, building and maintaining assets on camp. You will primarily work within the School of Military Engineering (NZ) or the Engineer Regiment, providing both construction and combat engineering capabilities. Once qualified work locations include Linton and Burnham.
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Job on deployment
While on deployment Carpenters will be used to put their vertical construction skills into use in building new camp facilities overseas or maintaining and repairing existing facilities. Royal New Zealand Engineers (RNZE) personnel can be found in small contingents around the globe. Places they have previously been deployed include Antarctica, Afghanistan, Bougainville, Vanuatu, Fiji, Bosnia, Timor Leste and Iraq.
Career progression and training
01Basic Training
Basic Training
Upon successful enlistment into the Army you will be posted to Waiouru Army base. Here you will do 16 weeks of basic military training to find out if you have what it takes to be in the Army, and learn various subjects including:
- Organisation and Administration
- Army Customs and Protocol
- Drill and Parades
- Military Field Skills and Weapon Training
- First Aid
- Physical Fitness
02Job Training
Job Training
BASIC COMBAT ENGINEER COURSE
This is an eight week course held at the School of Military Engineering, Linton Military Camp. This is the first course conducted for most trades within the Royal New Zealand Engineers (RNZE). It introduces you to the combat side of being an engineer before you undertake your specific trade. The course covers the basics of field engineering including bridging, water supply, explosives, field defences, obstacles, booby traps, boating and other subjects. After the course, you will have a good understanding of field engineering and also be qualified as an Army (explosives) Demolition Handler.
CARPENTRY APPRENTICESHIP
Your building apprenticeship is conducted over 4-5 years, completing Industry Training Organisation aligned Unit Standard competencies. You will learn a mixture of theory and practical construction work and complete an NZQA Certificate in Carpentry.
ADVANCED CARPENTRY QUALIFICATIONS
Qualified personnel will be given the opportunity to undertake additional study in the Level 4 New Zealand Certificate in Construction Related Trades (Supervisor) to enable you to qualify as a site foreman and project manager.
Once you have completed your apprenticeship training you will be required to give a two year return of service to the NZ Army.
03Career Progression
Career Progression
As your career progresses, you can move into the Army Works career path and later into a project manager's role. This is an important job, as you assist in the management of the Defence Force building assets, and it also offers the widest range of job locations.
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.
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Under training
$68,103
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Future potential earnings
$98,000
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 & FitnessThe application process
Your step-by-step guide on what to expect at various stages of the application process, specifically for military roles.
Application processReady to start your Army career?
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