Experienced Animal Keepers (x2)
Mō mātou: About Us: At Te Nukuao Wellington Zoo we are guided by our kaupapa “Me tiaki, kia ora!” We care about connecting animals, people, and our environment. We lead the way through connecting people with animals, providing evidence-based care and welfare, saving animals in the wild and ensuring we’re a voice to be heard. We’ve been a crucial part of the Wellington community for 120 years and are proud to be a progressive, accredited Zoo.
After recently completing the master plan for the next 20 years, it’s an exciting time to join the team and help shape our new habitats and visitor experiences.
We are fortunate to have a well-equipped on-site vet hospital that also treats native wildlife and zoo patients, and we are part of several local species recovery programmes.
We use the Five Domains Model to continually assess animal welfare.
Mō te tūranga: About the role. Two permanent full-time positions are available in one of our three animal care teams, depending on your experience and skill set. These are rostered roles in either our Primate team, or Ectotherms and Birds team (including all native species) or our mixed Mammals team.
We are looking for colleagues who can support other members of the team with their knowledge, practicality and initiative. From time to time, the role may arrange and monitor daily keeping duties of other team members as a Point of Contact (POC).
Keepers at this level (L3) have significant input into creating and updating care manuals and ensuring that welfare assessments continually evolve. These roles will be integral to developing other keepers' skills and coaching them through shared experiences.
You will be encouraged to participate in one of our welfare working groups, which allow keepers to drive the ongoing development of care standards here at the zoo.
There’s also a good amount of interaction and collaboration with other staff across the Zoo, as well as engagement with our visitors.
He kōrero mōu: About you
- Proven experience as an Animal Keeper (at least five years) in the best-practice husbandry of a range of zoo taxa.
- Demonstrated experience and confidence in providing guidance and support to other members of a team.
- Able to effectively train colleagues in specialist skills.
- Proven ability to carry out and supervise daily keeping duties to a high standard, ensuring all husbandry and welfare needs are met.
- Proven experience in operational training/conditioning and behavioural enrichment.
- Relevant bachelor’s degree and/or Certificate in Zoo Animal Management and/or relevant equivalent experience.
- Commitment to and understanding of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums strategies for Animal Welfare and Conservation.
- Prior ZIMS record-keeping experience is essential.
- Effective communication and collaboration skills.
- Able to perform close encounters and keeper talks.
- Great at organising with an aptitude for creative problem-solving and a ‘can-do’ attitude.
- A good level of fitness due to the nature and requirements of the role (and our terrain – we are on a hill).
- Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with a broad range of people
Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou: What we offer
- Inclusive and supportive colleagues and managers, zoo wide.
- Active and lived team values. Commitment to a safe, respectful and inclusive workplace
- A work/life balance that allows for opportunities to explore the best of wild New Zealand
- A city that encourages people to live alongside wildlife - we have a green and vibrant city that embraces everyone and encourages expression and individuality.
- Rotating roster (Monday to Sunday). The repeating roster does not exceed four working days in a row. 160 hours per fortnight.
- Salary NZ$67,619.90
- Full uniform provided including boots.
- Annual leave four weeks per annum.
- An extra accrued week of annual leave after 5 years continuous service.
- Zoo product discounts.
- Yearly allocation of Zoo passes to give away.
- Free annual flu vaccinations.
- Free parking.
Please note the following:
- If successful, a police background and a police vetting check and a drug and alcohol test are required. We will talk you through this at the time.
- If you have support or access requirements, we encourage you to let us know when you apply so we can assist you throughout the recruitment process.
- Please contact people&culture@wellingtonzoo.com if you have any questions about the role or the application process.
Te Nukuao Wellington Zoo is a diverse workforce that reflects Aotearoa New Zealand. We are committed to accepting, valuing, and embracing the diversity of all people.
Tono mai | Apply Now Applications close: NZT 5:00pm Sunday 10 May 2026
Tūhono mai! Come join us!
Applications for this role will take you to the advertisers site.
