Senior Policy Analyst

Overview

Senior Policy Analyst

Role type : Permanent

Location : Wellington

Salary band & range : General Salary Range D : $100,934 to $118,005 depending on skills and experience.

About the Role – Korero mo te Turanga

Help shape the future of New Zealand's vibrant plant-based industries.

As a Senior Policy Analyst, you'll work across a diverse range of topics—from innovation and resource management to the economic challenges facing horticulture.

You'll play a key role in supporting the sustainable growth and resilience of New Zealand's fruit, vegetable, arable, wine, and floriculture sectors.

This role involves significant stakeholder engagement, including regular interaction with industry bodies such as Horticulture New Zealand and across government.

You'll provide strategic and regulatory policy advice, contribute to cross-government initiatives, and help reduce regulatory burden where possible.

You'll collaborate closely with other MPI teams and agencies like MBIE and MfE to ensure the horticulture supply chain is supported and sector needs are well understood.

About You – Mou

You'll bring at least five years of experience in policy development, ideally at a senior level, with a strong understanding of government and parliamentary processes.

You'll have a proven ability to manage projects and deliver high-quality work, alongside experience building and maintaining effective relationships with stakeholders, Maori, and other government agencies.

Your expertise will include knowledge of the primary sector's structure as well as a sound grasp of economic and resource management policy frameworks.

This background will enable you to contribute meaningfully to complex policy issues and support the government's strategic goals.

Horticulture Experience Is Beneficial But Not Essential.

About the Team – Mo to matou Ropu

We're a collegial, supportive team that are working hard to help support one of New Zealand's biggest and most varied growth industries.

The kinds of questions you might grapple with include :

How can policy and regulatory settings encourage the sustainable growth of New Zealand's fruit, wine, vegetable, arable and honey industries?

How can we influence policy outcomes to achieve the right balance between protecting New Zealand and pursuing sustainable growth of the horticulture sector?

Are any changes needed to improve the efficiency and integrity of horticulture legislation?

How can we ensure the continued supply of affordable fruit and vegetables for New Zealanders, while also growing exports?

What is needed to double horticulture value in a decade?

About MPI – Mo Te Manatu Ahu Matua

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) partners with New Zealand's food and fibre sector to be the world's most trusted provider of high-value food and fibre products.

To find out more about the Ministry and what we do please click here.

Benefits of working at MPI – Nga hua o te mahi i te Manatu Ahu Matua

Additional MPI leave days

Annual Wellness payment

Bi-annual paid eye test and contribution to the costs of corrective lenses / frames

Are you ready to make a difference?

– Kua rite koe mo tenei mahi whaitake?

We are committed to being a good partner under Te Tiriti o Waitangi which includes working closely with iwi, hapu, whanau and hapori.

We aspire to reflect the diverse communities we serve, so we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, and identities.

As an organisation, we are committed to making Manatu Ahu Matua Ministry for Primary Industries a great place to work for all.

In your cover letter we'd like to know about you, your values; your interest and motivations for this role; the abilities, strengths, personal attributes and diverse perspectives you will bring to the role and this organisation, which may have also been gained outside of the workforce.

To view the position description and / or apply online, please click "Apply" or visit the MPI Careers Site.

To apply, you must hold the right to work in New Zealand or be eligible to obtain it – click here to find out more about work visa eligibility and options.

Applications close at 11 : 59pm on Sunday 28 September 2025.

If you have any questions about the role, please email

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