View our current vacancies at Customs and apply for a role that's right for you.
How we work
The way we work is guided by our values | whanonga pono of:
- Te Ara Tika: We do what’s right - acting with integrity, professionalism, and accountability.
- Kaitiakitanga: We are guardians - protecting Aotearoa New Zealand's borders, people and interests.
- He Tāngata: We value people - fostering respect, inclusion and strong relationships.
- Pae Tawhiti: We look forward - embracing innovation, adaptability, and continuous improvement.
These values are underpinned by the enduring principles of Kaitiakitanga (protection), manaakitanga (care and respect for others) and kotahitanga (working together in partnership). Together, they shape who we are, how we work, and how we serve Aotearoa New Zealand.
The integrity of New Zealand’s border depends on the integrity of our people. Our people are critical to our success.
We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace where everyone feels they belong, every voice is valued, and every person has the opportunity to succeed. We are proud of our progress as we continue to facilitate environments where people are respected, supported and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work.
We strive to reflect the communities we serve by attracting and developing a workforce with a range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Through our Inclusion and Diversity Council and employee-led networks, our people can connect, share experiences and help foster a culture where everyone feels welcome, supported and able to do their best work.
As a member of Te Uru Tāngata Centre for Workplace Inclusion, Customs is committed to equal employment opportunities and to continually strengthening an inclusive workplace for all.
Operational, Corporate and Specialist teams
Customs offers a broad range of career pathways that allow you to deepen your expertise, take on new challenges, and make a meaningful contribution to keeping Aotearoa New Zealand safe.
Your career with Customs does not stop at an entry level role.
As you build your Customs knowledge and operational experience, a wide range of opportunities become available across the organisation.
Operational units and teams
Most officers begin by developing their expertise through frontline operational roles, gaining a strong understanding of Customs' core functions, legislation, and operating environment. This experience provides the foundation for pursuing specialist and leadership opportunities throughout Customs.
Many of our specialist teams provide additional training, qualifications, and development opportunities to ensure our people have the expertise required to operate in highly specialised environments.
Specialist Operations opportunities include:
- Detector Dog Unit - working alongside highly trained detector dogs to identify prohibited and restricted goods.
- Investigations - conducting complex investigations into illicit drugs, organised crime, tobacco smuggling, fraud and child exploitation offending.
- Intelligence - collecting, assessing, and analysing information to identify and respond to border threats.
- Electronic Forensics - examining digital devices and electronic evidence in support of Customs investigations.
- Data science and modelling - using analytics, data, and technology to support intelligence-led border management.
- Maritime Operations - our specialist team who patrol New Zealand's vast coastline.
- National Security and Emergency Management - contributing to New Zealand's preparedness, resilience, and response to national security risks and emergency events.
- Trade, Revenue & Compliance - ensures goods entering and leaving New Zealand are traded fairly, legally and efficiently. The group combines specialist knowledge, revenue assurance and compliance expertise to support businesses, protect government revenue, and strengthen trust in New Zealand's border and trade systems.
- International Liaison Posts - these roles represent the interests of Customs and the New Zealand Government at strategic locations across Asia, the Americas, UK and Europe, Australia, and the Pacific.
Our Corporate functions
Customs has a range of corporate functions that support our work at the border. These teams are vital to support Customs’ ongoing work and objectives and are typically based at our Wellington and Auckland Customhouses.
- Finance
- People and Capability
- Corporate Services
- Change and Transformation
- Risk, Security and Assurance
- International
- Policy
- Legal
- Strategy and Programmes
- Privacy and Information Sharing
- Data and Technology
- Stakeholder Engagement and Communications
- Ministerial Servicing
Take a closer look at our work areas
Keen to see where a career in Customs can take you? Take a deeper dive into some of our specialist teams and learn more about the work they do.
Investigations
The Customs Investigations Unit is a core function of our Operations group. Our Investigators use substantial experience, communication skills and attention to detail to investigate serious criminal offending at New Zealand's border.
The unit is responsible for building investigations that disrupt criminal activity and bring those responsible to justice. Customs Investigators are delegated special powers under the Customs and Excise Act 2018 which includes the power to arrest.
The unit works closely with our Intelligence and technical teams as well as law enforcement partners in New Zealand and abroad.
This is a specialised role and the pathway for joining the unit requires Customs Officers to show exceptional understanding and application of operational knowledge and tradecraft, as well as having excellent communication skills and being an inquisitive thinker.
It is preferable for officers to gain the rank of Senior Customs Officer prior to applying for the unit.
The hours of an Investigator can be long and sometimes unpredictable. It can include dealing with offenders, exhibiting, paperwork, meeting with your team and partner agencies, conducting search warrants, and other duties. You may be required to work unsocial hours and travel out of town at short notice.
To join the unit, you must be able to obtain a high-level security clearance. You must have a background history that is verifiable and can be assessed as appropriate by the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS). For a 'Confidential' clearance, this is a minimum of five years, and for 'Secret' or 'Top Secret', this is a minimum of 10 years.
Detector Dog Unit
The Detector Dog Unit (DDU) provides a specialist capability using purpose-bred dogs to support Customs' border enforcement activities across Aotearoa New Zealand.
To be eligible to apply as a Detector Dog Handler, applicants must be existing Customs Officers who have completed Te Ara Ako and Mahia Te Mahi, the Customs Officer cohort programme, or have at least six months' operational experience within Customs.
Detector dogs work across operational areas such as airports, aircrafts, ships, cargo inspection facilities, mail centres, and sometimes assist in search warrant activities.
Opportunities to join the Detector Dog Unit as a Detector Dog Handler become available as vacancies arise in Auckland and Christchurch only.
Maritime Operations
Maritime Operations is responsible for securing New Zealand's maritime border. Officers are deployed throughout the country to respond to threats to New Zealand's maritime border and to disrupt criminal activity offshore.
The unit undertakes marine patrols of areas of New Zealand’s vast 15,000-metre coastline on board our vessels Hawk V and Rapua while also providing support to the team on the ground. The team also carry out aircraft patrols, port activity, and searches of commercial and cruise ships. During patrols, our team look for risks to our border, detect non-compliance of arriving small craft, and carry out enforcement activity.
The unit works closely with enforcement agencies both in New Zealand and overseas on training and joint operations. It also plays an important role in Customs’ Border Protect campaign, which works with members of industry and the community to identify suspicious activity and encourage confidential reporting.
Being a Customs Officer in Maritime Operations is a role which requires excellent teamwork, flexibility and commitment to develop and maintain the skills required to be an effective officer.
The unit is not part of the Customs Officer rotational deployment and advertises for Customs Officers twice annually in Auckland. You must already be a Customs Officer to apply.
If you are interested in joining the unit, you must:
- Pass an annual medical test,
- Pass an annual swim and fitness test,
- Be able to be on call and deploy at short notice for up to 120 days a year.
A qualification in boat handling such as a skippers ticket/boat master, practical boating experience and maritime knowledge is highly desirable.