Catering Instructor- Waikeria

## Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Whaaia te maatauranga hei oranga moo koutou;
• Seek after wisdom for the sake of your wellbeing.
• Nau Mai, Haere Mai, we welcome you to join our team
• Full time Permanent Position
• Play a critical role within a high performing team
• Role based at Waikeria Prison
• Mō te tūnga | About the role
• Catering Instructor – Waikeria Prison
• In this varied role as a Catering Instructor, you will be working with and providing direct supervision and practical training to the tāne in our care within a commercial kitchen setting for general meal preparation, cooking, and delivery. You will also oversee operations in the staff cafeteria and provide cover within the prison bakery as part of a larger team.
• Catering :
• The central kitchen at Waikeria Prison supplies three meals a day, seven days a week, for both high-security and low-security prisoners. As a Catering and Laundry Instructor, you will also be responsible for providing catering for events within the facility.The central kitchen aligns with the Department's commitment to providing meaningful learning activities for the tāne by offering employment, work experience, and qualification training opportunities in food preparation and catering. Additionally, the kitchen utilizes a cook-chill process for dinner meals, enhancing efficiency and meal quality. Tāne workers are always supervised by Corrections Instructors when working in any of the industry areas.
• Staff Cafeteria :
• The Staff Cafeteria is equipped to serve up to 75 staff daily, Monday through Friday. It provides a range of meals and beverages, including barista coffee, with indoor and outdoor seating areas available for staff to enjoy their meals in a comfortable environment. Additionally, staff can bring in and heat their own meals.Tāne workers assist in the cafeteria operations, contributing to their rehabilitation and skill development, and are overseen by Corrections Instructors.
• Bakery : (experience preferred but not essential)
• Operating Monday to Friday, the Bakery can produce 2,400 loaves of bread, 2,400 biscuits, 4,800 muffins, and 4,800 meat pies. Tāne workers are employed in bakery operations and are given valuable training and employment opportunities. They are supervised primarily by specialized Bakery Corrections Instructors. While this is not part of the main duties for this role, you may be called upon to provide cover. Experience working in a commercial laundry is preferred but not essential.
• Shifts / Operating Hours
• The kitchen will be operational seven days a week, including public holidays. The Bakery, Staff Cafeteria, and Laundry will operate five days a week. All industry instructors will work 8-hour shifts, with operations running between 0700 and 1800.
• If you want to learn more about being a
• Catering Instructor,
• click here to visit our role page.
• Mōu | About you
• We are looking for a person who is qualified in Catering and commercial kitchens and holds a relevant trade qualification, and experience in a commercial laundry is preferred but not essential.You will also need to have great people skills and the motivation to want to manage and develop the tāne in Prison – This is a role with unique challenges and rewards.This rewarding position will suit someone who possesses :
• A relevant trade qualification or minimum 5 years hands on experience.
• Experience in working in a commercial kitchen with a cook-chill process.
• Bakery experience is a definite plus.
• London City & Guilds hospitality and catering qualification or equivalent.
• Outstanding Health and Safety practices.
• Exceptional people, communication & organisational skills.
• The ability to motivate and harness the talents of people within a team environment.
• Ideally be experienced as an adult educator or NZQA assessor (4098 or equivalent) however it is not essential as we will support you to obtain this.
• Ability to develop effective relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Stocktake management experience.
• First Aid Certificate is required.You will also need a Full New Zealand Drivers Licence and a legal right to work in Aotearoa.
• Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience
• Our Industries Team are all about supporting the tāne in Prison to improve their work habits, work experiences and skills so that they can increase their chances of obtaining sustainable and legitimate mahi on their release. By providing this foundation to success, we reduce reoffending and keep our communities safer.
• A relevant trade qualification or minimum 5 years hands on experience.
• Experience in working in a commercial kitchen with a cook-chill process.
• Bakery experience is a definite plus.
• London City & Guilds hospitality and catering qualification or equivalent.
• Outstanding Health and Safety practices.
• Ngā painga | The benefits
• The full salary range is $72,514 - $90,322 per annum. Appointment and remuneration will reflect skills and experience relevant to the role.Join Ara Poutama Aotearoa - Department of Corrections, where your work will contribute to improving public safety, reducing re-offending, and address the overrepresentation of Māori in correctional facilities. As a values-led organisation, we use the principles of rangatira (leadership), manaaki (respect), wairua (spirituality), kaitiaki (guardianship), and whānau (relationships) to guide our work and achieve the goals of our strategy.We value in our workforce, and as a Public Service organisation we are committed to building a workforce that reflects the public we serve. We strive to make our recruitment process fair, and we encourage you to discuss reasonable accommodations with us if required.
• Tono ināianei | Apply Now
• To submit an application and view the position description, click the apply link. All applications must be submitted through our careers site to ensure transparency – applications received via email will not be considered.When applying, submit a tailored
• CV and a cover letter
• describing your motivation for joining the department highlighting relevant skills and experience and the alignment to our work.
• Applications close on : 13th October 2025
• If you have any questions or want to learn more about a career with us, contact , or visit
• careers.corrections.govt.nz.
• | Location : | Waikato |

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