Legal Advisor and Investigator

About us

The Nursing Council of New Zealand is the independent regulator for nurses in Aotearoa with our purpose beingSafe nurses safe public.

We have an important mission and working for the Nursing Council is an exciting opportunity for you to use and grow your skills while working with a team that has a true purpose and take pride in the work they do.

Our work is varied and is focused on protecting the health and safety of the public by setting and monitoring standards to ensure nurses are registered competent and fit to practice.

We strive to lead health professional regulation. Our values are important to us and guide the way we work.

We are RESPECTFUL He WHAKAKOHA mātou. We act with integrity upholding the highest ethical standards seeking out and listening to the views of others. We ensure our processes are fair impartial and equitable

We Are COLLABORATIVE Ka mahi NGĀTAHI mātou. We foster strong relationships with each other and our stakeholders. We work with our regulatory partners in Aotearoa and internationally to enhance nursing practice and protect public health and safety

We are ACCOUNTABLE Ka noho HAEPAPA mātou. We promote honesty and transparency in all regulatory activities. We hold ourselves and the nursing profession to account for meeting high standards of professional conduct and competence. We place safety and well-being of the public at heart of what we do.

We are INCLUSIVE He TĀPITI mātou. We value diverse perspective and experiences. We make our processes and information accessible understandable and user-friendly

About the role

The Legal Advisor Investigator plays a critical role in supporting the Nursing Councils fitness to practise functions by providing high quality legal advice and conducting thorough impartial investigations into complaints referred to a Professional Conduct Committee. Working closely with Council committees Nurse Advisors and senior leaders the role ensures investigations and disciplinary processes are fair timely and consistent with natural justice. The position requires strong legal judgement excellent investigative capability and the ability to clearly communicate complex processes to complainants nurses and other stakeholders. A core aspect of the role is advising Professional Conduct Committees on matters of law evidence and decision making supporting hearings and prosecutions where required and contributing to well-reasoned proportionate determinations.

The role also has a strong commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi actively supporting the Councils responsiveness to Māori and demonstrating cultural safety tikanga and the appropriate use of te reo Māori in practice. The Legal Advisor Investigator contributes to a collaborative customer focused environment models professional and respectful communication and helps ensure the Council meets its legislative obligations while maintaining public confidence in the nursing profession.

About you

You are a qualified legal professional holding a current practising certificate with strong experience operating in complex advisory and investigative environments. You bring a sound understanding of or experience within the NewZealand health and disability sector and are comfortable navigating regulatory disciplinary or complaints-based frameworks. You have significant experience undertaking investigations or managing complaints alongside hands on exposure to litigation or prosecutorial processes enabling you to provide confident practical legal advice in high stakes and sensitive matters.

You demonstrate strong cultural competence with an appreciation of the social cultural and religious values of diverse communities and the ability to engage respectfully and effectively with a wide range of stakeholders. You are well organised adaptable and able to manage a varied workload including travel when required and you hold a current New Zealand drivers licence.

Benefits

As well as a supportive team and collaborative environment we also offer:

Health insurance

Additional leave days

Flexibility and support for study

Opportunities for ongoing professional development and training

Long service leave

Flexible working policy

What next

If this role sounds like you then apply now with your CV and a cover letter telling us what makes you right for this role. You must be based in Wellington and hold a valid working visa to be considered for the role. If you have any questions please contact Kevin Keane on We will be reviewing CVs as we go so apply now!