Would you like to work at the heart of government, designing and developing New Zealand’s laws?

PCO plays a critical and distinctive role in developing and designing legislation. We work closely with our colleagues across Government to deliver legislation that is fit-for-purpose, constitutionally sound, and accessible.

We are looking to grow our team of legislative drafters. As part of this team, you will work alongside experienced counsel and gain a fascinating insight into the politics, policy development, and legal design behind New Zealand’s legislation.

A legislative drafting role offers the opportunity to:

• Work on “greenfield” projects which require unique and innovative legal solutions
• Enhance and adjust existing legislation in response to developing situations
• Analyse complex legal issues
• Collaborate with and influence some of Government’s top lawyers and policy analysts
• Work on legislation as it proceeds through Parliamentary and select committee processes
• and more!

To see what drafters say about working at PCO, see Life at PCO.

What we are looking for

We are looking for practising lawyers with 2 or more years of post-qualification experience, which may be in legislative drafting or other areas of legal practice.  You will need:

• Excellent legal, analytical, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to break down complex ideas and reason logically
• To be able to work under pressure both within a team and independently
• A high level of initiative and judgement, flexibility, and a sense of responsibility
• To be a clear communicator and an advocate for plain language
• To support PCO’s commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the revitalisation of te reo Māori me ōna tikanga

PCO is committed to supporting the Crown to be an effective Treaty partner and is currently developing its te ao Māori strategy. One component of this strategy is to grow our capacity in te reo Māori and to draft legislation in te reo Māori. There are opportunities to influence and guide PCO’s response to this rapidly developing area for those fluent in te reo Māori and with knowledge of tikanga Māori.

What we offer you

This is an excellent opportunity to join a professional and highly respected organisation. PCO is a small and friendly office of around 100 people with a passion for producing great legislation.

We value our people and provide a flexible and supportive environment where each individual can thrive and be who they are. We embrace diversity, and welcome the fresh energy and perspectives that new team members bring to our work. New legislative drafters receive extensive training and coaching from experienced drafters when they join.

In addition, PCO offers:

• Flexible working arrangements
• Te reo classes
• Free exercise classes and netball
• Access to services within the parliamentary complex including the gymnasium, indoor swimming pool and restaurants

How to apply

Please see our website for the job description and how to apply. You may apply for this role only if you have the right to work in New Zealand.

For information about New Zealand work or residence visas, please visit www.immigration.govt.nz. 

Applications will be accepted only if they include a CV and a letter of application.

Applications close 13 February 2023.

Ngā Kaituhi Ture Hukihuki

Kei te hiahia koe ki te mahi i roto i te iho o te kāwanatanga, ki te hoahoa me te waihanga i ngā ture o Aotearoa?

He wāhanga hira, wehe kē tō PCO mō te waihanga me te hoahoa ture. Ka mahi tahi mātau me ngā kaimahi puta noa i te Kāwanatanga ki te whakarato ture e tika ana, e pono ana, ā, e tuwhera ana.

Kei te whakawhānuitia ake e mātau tō mātau rōpū kaituhi ture hukihuki. I roto i tēnei rōpū, ka mahi koe i te taha o ngā rōia matatau me te whai tirohanga whakamīharo ki ngā mahi tōrangapū, whanaketanga kaupapahere, me te hoahoa ā-ture i muri i ngā ture o Aotearoa.

He whai wāhitanga te tūranga kaituhi ture hukihuki ki te:

• Mahi i ngā kaupapa hou rawa e puta ai ngā rongoā ahurei, auaha anō hoki
• Whakarei ake me te whakatika i ngā ture onāianei hei urupare ki ngā āhuatanga hurihuri
• Tātari i ngā take ā-ture uaua
• Mahi tahi me te whakaawe i ētahi o ngā rōia matua me ngā kaitātari kaupapahere a te Kāwanatanga
• Mahi i ngā ture i te neke haeretanga i roto i ngā tukanga o te Whare Pāremata me ngā komiti whiriwhiri
• Me te maha atu!

Kia kite ai koe i ngā kōrero a ngā kaituhituhi ture mō te mahi i PCO, tirohia te Life at PCO.

E kimihia ana e mātau

E rapua ana e mātau te hunga kei te mahi rōia he 2 tau, neke atu rānei ngā wheako i muri i te whai tohu, mō ngā mahi tuhi ture hukihuki, ētahi atu wāhi tikanga ture rānei. Ko tāu:

• He whai pūkenga ture, tātari me te raparongoā rawe, tae atu ki te mōhio ki te wāwāhi i ngā whakaaro uaua me te whakaaro arorau
• He whai kaha ki te mahi i raro i ngā taumahatanga i rō rōpū, ā, takitahi hoki
• He tino kakama, he whai whakataunga ngaio, he wairua ngāwari, ā, he wairua haepapa
• Me mārama ki te tuku kōrero, ā, me hāpai i te reo ngāwari
• He tautoko i te pūmau o PCO ki te Tiriti o Waitangi me te whakarauoranga o te reo Māori me ōna tikanga

E pūmau ana a PCO ki te tautoko i te Karauna kia whaitake ai hei pātui Tiriti, ā, kei te hanga i tana rautaki ao Māori i tēnei wā. Ko tētahi wāhanga o tēnei rautaki he whakatipu i tō mātau kaha e pā ana ki te reo Māori me te tuhi ture hukihuki i te reo Māori. Kei reira ngā whai wāhitanga ki te whakaawe me te ārahi i te urupare a PCO ki tēnei wāhanga nekeneke mō te hunga matatau ki te reo Māori me te mōhio ki ngā tikanga Māori.

Ngā mea ka whiwhi koe

He whai wāhitanga rawe tēnei kia uru mai ki tētahi whakahaere ngaio, whaimana hoki. He tari paku noa, ratarata a PCO he tata ki te 100 ngā tāngata e ngākaunui ana ki te whakaputa i ngā ture rawe.

E tiakina ana e mātau ā mātau kaimahi me te whakarato i tētahi wāhi ngāwari me te tautoko, e momoho ai ia tangata kia mau ai tōna ake āhua. He mea nui ki a mātau ngā tāngata nō ao kē, me te tuwhera ki ngā hiringa hou me ngā tirohanga hou ka kawea mai e ngā kaimahi hou ki ā mātau mahi. Ka whiwhi ngā kaituhi ture hukihuki i ngā whakangungu matawhānui me ngā akoranga mai i ngā kaituhi ture hukihuki matatau i tō rātau urunga mai.

I tua atu i tēnei, e whakarato ana a PCO:

• Ngā whakaritenga mahi ngāwari
• Ngā akoranga reo Māori
• Ngā wā korikori tinana koreutu me te poitarawhiti
• He āhei atu ki ngā ratonga i roto i te whare pāremata tae atu ki te whare whakapakari tinana, hōpua wai kaukau i rō whare me ngā wharekai

Me pēhea te tono

Me haere ki www.pco.govt.nz/current-vacancies mō te whakaaturanga mahi, ā, me pēhea te tono

Ka āhei anake koe ki te tono mō tēnei ture mēnā e āhei ana koe ki te mahi i Aotearoa.

Mō ngā mōhiohio mō te mahi i Aotearoa, mō ngā kōkota kainoho rānei, me haere ki www.immigration.govt.nz.

Ka whakaaetia anake ngā tono mēnā kua tāpiria he tāhuhu tangata (CV) me tētahi reta tono.

Ka kati ngā tono hei te 13 Pēpuere 2023.