_{27th October, 2026}

An excellent opportunity has arisen for two experienced lawyers to join a small, collaborative legal team within a vital public sector regulatory organisation.

We are recruiting for two Senior Solicitor positions: one permanent role providing broad legal support across the organisation, and one fixed-term role through to the end of 2027 with a particular focus on supporting a nationally significant regulatory project. Both positions report to the Manager - Legal and offer varied, intellectually engaging work at the intersection of law, policy, regulation and challenging technical subject matter. The roles will suit lawyers who enjoy complexity, are comfortable operating with a high degree of autonomy, and take a pragmatic, solutions-focused approach to their work.

Mō ēnei tūranga mahi | About the roles

Senior Solicitor – Permanent

This is a broad senior in-house role providing high-quality legal advice across a range of regulatory, public law and organisational requirements.

You will act as a trusted legal adviser to leaders and teams, providing advice on statutory powers and functions, regulatory decision-making, compliance, enforcement, investigations, legal risk, policy development and legislative reform, including the development of secondary legislation and other regulatory instruments. You will also support governance and broader organisational legal matters and assist with litigation management.

The breadth of the position provides the opportunity to work across a wide variety of matters and to develop practical solutions to legal issues that may have limited precedent or established organisational practice. You will work directly with technical and operational specialists, translating complex legal issues into clear and useful advice and helping the organisation exercise its statutory functions effectively.

Senior Solicitor – Fixed Term

This fixed-term position offers the opportunity to provide dedicated legal support to a significant regulatory project from its developmental stages through to implementation, while also contributing to wider legal team work where capacity allows.

Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, you will advise on the legislative and regulatory framework underpinning the project and help work through emerging legal, policy and technical issues. The initial emphasis will be on advisory work and statutory interpretation, with drafting requirements increasing as the programme develops.

You will advise on statutory powers, decision-making, consultation obligations, legal risk and implementation settings. You will also contribute to the development of guidance, secondary legislation and regulatory instruments, briefing and decision documents, and performance-based regulatory tools and assurance arrangements. Where more substantial legislative drafting is required, you will work alongside the Parliamentary Counsel Office.

Ko koe tēnei | About you
  
You will bring:

• A Bachelor of Laws and a current practising certificate, or eligibility to hold one;
• A minimum of five years' post-qualification experience, with strong public law, administrative law, and statutory interpretation experience;
• Experience within central or local government or within a regulatory environment, or a strong understanding of the machinery of government, public policy processes, and how regulators operate;
• Strong drafting skills, including experience preparing and reviewing secondary legislation, contracts or other legal and regulatory instruments;
• Excellent judgment, critical thinking and analytical skills, with the ability to identify legal issues and risks and develop practical, workable solutions;
• The ability to work independently while building effective relationships and collaborating with policy, regulatory, operational, and technical specialists; and
• An understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Treaty settlement obligations, or a willingness to continue building capability in this area.

For the permanent position, experience in regulatory powers, compliance, enforcement, investigations, governance, or litigation management would be beneficial. Similarly, for the fixed-term position, experience in regulatory design and legislative implementation would be advantageous.

For both positions, experience relating to infrastructure, local government, environmental law, natural resources law, or resource management would be useful but is not essential.

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to apply

To apply, please submit your CV and a cover letter outlining your relevant experience and indicating whether you wish to be considered for the permanent role, the fixed-term role, or both.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received, so we encourage you to apply promptly.

For further information or a confidential discussion about these opportunities, please contact Katy Elliott on 021 483 490 or at katy.elliott@nicherecruitment.co.nz.

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