Mō te tūranga

About the role

Specialisations

Engineering & Technical trades
Entry type

General entry
Under training

$68,103
Location

Trentham

As a Maintenance Fitter, you are responsible for maintaining and repairing the diverse range of mechanical and electrical equipment used by the New Zealand Army. Whether you are tasked to provide engineering maintenance support in the Pacific, conduct structural welding on an overseas mission or be undertaking hydraulic repairs to equipment within New Zealand, no day will ever be the same.

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.}

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.

Maintenance Fitters service and repair a wide variety of our mechanical and electrical equipment. Throughout your career, you'll get to specialise in lots of different types. For example, Ben looks af

Job on base

As a Maintenance Fitter within one of the New Zealand Army Camps, your expertise will be called upon to undertake a variety of work. As well as providing all types of repairs to the equipment you have been trained to maintain, you will be heavily involved in engineering problems that need solutions every day.
As well as providing Maintenance Fitter outputs, you will also be able to experience all the benefits of being a member of the Defence Force such as regular physical training and continue with your soldier activities including weapons and first aid training.
Job on deployment

As a Maintenance Fitter you are employed on a variety of overseas exercises and deployments in support of operational units and activities. Maintenance Fitters are regularly deployed to Antarctica and have recently been deployed in Afghanistan and Sinai working from within the main deployment base.

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

TRADE TRAINING SCHOOL (TTS), TRENTHAM, WELLINGTON

Initial trade training is conducted at TTS, where you will be introduced to the Royal NZ Army Logistic Regiment (RNZALR). While at TTS you will complete two course modules which will provide you with an insight into RNZALR and the part that you will play in the New Zealand Army..

BASIC MAINTENANCE FITTERS COURSE

This is the beginning of your journey as a Maintenance Fitter where you will begin you General Engineering Apprenticeship. This nine month course is designed to give you the basic engineering knowledge and skills to become a Maintenance Fitter. Engineering learning covers a range of subjects which include an introduction to hand tools, basic mechanical fitting, gas/arc/mig welding and metal machining. you will also complete Mechanical Engineering Apprenticeship unit standard correspondence via learning online.

03Ongoing Training

Ongoing Training

JUNIOR MAINTENANCE FITTERS COURSE

This six month course builds on everything learned during the Basic Maintenance Fitter Course. You will begin learning more advanced welding techniques and complete complex machining projects. Various mechanical engineering unit standards are completed which will see your trade knowledge start expanding to a much higher level.

04Specialist Training

Specialist Training

MAINTENANCE FITTER SENIOR EQUIPMENT COURSE

This eight week course is in the final year of your apprenticeship and covers advanced Operational Equipment Repairs. THe course covers learning in subjects such as Vehicle Armor Composite Repairs, Fuel Dispensing Equipment and Operational Hydraulics. You will also complete your remaining Mechanical Engineering Unit Standards.

MAINTENANCE FITTER SENIOR WELDING COURSE (SMFSW)

This is the final course of your apprenticeship. This eight week course expands on the welding skills you have and takes your welding ability to an advanced level. You will learn how to conduct structural welding and also complete your remaining welding unit standards.

05Career Progression

Career Progression

As your career progresses, you will learn about a wider range of equipment from qualified instructors both at the Army’s Trade Training School and at your place of work. You will attend professional development courses such as promotional courses, experiential leadership development activities. You can also train to become a recruit instructor.

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

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

Ready to start your Army career?

APPLY NOW

Tūranga whaipānga

Related Roles

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Electrical Fitter

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General entry

Electrical Fitters maintain and repair the vast array of electrical equipment used by the Army. Effectively the “jack of all trades” amongst the electrical workers, you will be charged with fixing anything, anywhere, in particular looking after power generation and reticulation, as well as refrigeration systems.