Mō te tūranga
About the role
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Specialisations
Safety Management & Emergency Response
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Entry type
General entry
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Under training
$68,103
Being an Emergency Responder in the New Zealand Army is more than just “a job” – it’s a calling and a career that offers unique benefits beyond the traditional scope of firefighting. It’s about being part of something bigger than yourself; it’s about serving your country by enabling military units to conduct mission critical training during high risk fire danger periods as well as enhancing the NZ Army’s (and NZDFs) ability to sustain operations within their area of operations through responding to a range of events that can threaten life, property and the environment.
An Emergency Responder makes a tangible difference both locally and globally whenever called upon and is vital in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of military personnel as well as protecting NZDF property and equipment.
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.
- A class 1 restricted driving licence is required (Class 1 Full is desired)
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
There may be a return of service period for this trade.
Please contact our 0800 number or talk to your Candidate Experience Facilitator for more information.
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.
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Job on base
Your day to day focus will be remaining ready to move at zero minutes notice to respond to emergencies in the defence/local areas, as well as training and enhancing the skills taught to you so you can prepare for whatever emergency occurs. This will include managing and maintaining the specialist equipment to achieve professional results while also keeping your physical fitness and required military skill sets to a high level. As an Emergency Responder you will undergo rigorous training courses to gain both the theoretical understanding and physical techniques to handle a variety of emergency incidents. You can expect to enjoy a structured career path that has opportunities for advancement, not just as an Emergency Responder but as a soldier serving your country.
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Job on deployment
When deployed in the field you will monitor and extinguish vegetation fires that are started by live ammunition, this allow units to continue training and be an effective asset to the organisation and country. Emergency Responders are frequently deployed to assist regional and national emergencies such as the Port Hills Fires and Cyclone Gabrielle.
As an Emergency Responder you will have the potential to travel and serve in different parts of the world, gaining diverse experiences through both peacekeeping and humanitarian/disaster relief missions. These include assisting FENZ at international emergencies such as the fires in USA, Canada and Australia.
Career progression and training
01Basic Training
Basic Training
Upon successful enlistment into the Army you’ll be posted to Waiouru Army Camp. Here you will do 16 weeks of basic military training to find out if you’ve got 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. 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.
BASIC FIRE COURSE
This is a 13-week fire fighting Joint Service course, Army and Air Force, conducted at Linton Military Camp. This course covers all aspects of fire fighting including domestic and rural fire fighting as well as motor vehicle accidents. You will also be trained by St Johns to become a Co-Responder for medical incidents. It is a combination of theory and practical work, where you will learn to use some of the most up to date fire fighting and rescue equipment in the world.
You will be trained how to assess, control and extinguish fires. You will also learn how to correctly respond and aid at motor vehicle accidents. You will also learn how to safely control and extinguish a fire and rescue casualties inside any of the in service RNZAF aircraft.
03Ongoing Training
Ongoing Training
Ongoing training is conducted at your unit and at the SME Fire Wing, with a mix of trade and personal development courses. The Emergency Response trade also sends personnel to attend selected FENZ courses. This ensures that our Emergency Responders are trained in methods and techniques that are of the highest standard and the same level to our civilian counterparts.
04Career Progression
Career Progression
As an Emergency Responder in the NZ Army you will train alongside the RNZAF Aviation Rescue Fire Fighters. This Training is conducted at the School of Military Engineering (SME) Fire Wing, Linton Military Camp.
Rank: Sapper – Lance Corporal
You will begin your career as an Emergency Responder operating in a small team conducting firefighting/rescue tasks at emergency incidents. As you progress through your career you will enhance and build on your skills moving you into the Emergency Response Driver/Pump Operator role.
Rank: Lance Corporal - Corporal
As you build in your experience and knowledge within the trade you will have the opportunity to progress into the Officer in Charge (OIC) role. This position will place you in charge of the initial risk assessment at emergencies, creating a plan and directing tasks on scene in order to have positive effects on rescuing life and making emergencies safe across a range of emergency responses in a variety of environments and situations.
Rank: Sergeant
As you progress in your OIC skill sets you will eventually complete coursing that will enhance your range of skills and increase your proficiency in the OIC role this will place you in a position that allows you to take a higher responsibility at emergency incidents with the potential to be directing multiple rescue crew/agency operations at more complex emergency incidents.
Rank: Staff Sergeant
As you progress further in your career you may be selected to take the role of an Emergency Response 2IC at one of the Emergency Response Troops, by this time in your career you will have been assessed to have an enhanced range of command and management skills allowing you to command complex emergency incidents beyond the span of control of a Sergeant. You will have the responsibility to assist in the management of daily troop operations as well as equipment and personnel management.
Rank: Staff Sergeant – Warrant Officer Class 2
Your final trade related role will be as an Emergency Response Master. The Emergency Response Master controls and manages the troop and its personnel, they provide subject matter expert advice to higher command on trade related topics. You will utilise your enhanced range of command and managements skills to command complex emergency operations outside of the Emergency Response 2ICs span of control.
Out of trade
Beyond the Emergency Responder trade specific roles you will have the opportunities to move into All Corps positions covering a wide variety of roles and responsibilities at different rank levels. These could be positions such as an Instructor at The Army Depot or SME Fire Wing or later on in your career a Squadron Sergeant Major or Regimental Sergeant Major.
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 & Fitness
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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