University Student Placements
Hawera, New Zealand
Reference: 6929735
Water Services Strategy and Planning and Environment and Sustainability
The South Taranaki District Council is seeking two enthusiastic individuals to undertake some project work within the Water Services and Sustainability teams during the upcoming summer vacation period.
About our District – Our mission is to make our communities better and this role will play a key part in achieving this. We are located in a tranquil area of New Zealand offering some of the best access to the great outdoors.
About our Organisation – We are an energetic and progressive, values-based organisation, which is dedicated to providing quality services and facilities for our communities. We place strong emphasis on our organisational culture, which in turn creates strong engagement across our team. We employ people with a ‘Can Do’ attitude who want to work for a united organisation with a strong sense of family that is proud to serve its communities.
At STDC, we offer a proven “best place to work” environment. Our team culture encourages innovation, we care about your professional development, and you will be working with an elite and motivated team of professionals.
About the Role – These are temporary fixed-term full-time roles, and a scope of work for each project is outlined below:
Water Services Strategy and Planning – 8 week project
As part of our Universal Metering project, you will help us gather important information about water service connections across Hāwera. This hands-on field role will involve visiting properties in Hāwera to check whether each property has a manifold or an older toby connection. At each site, you will take photos, record the GPS location, complete a simple on-site form, and measure the depth from the top of the lid to the pipe. The information you collect will help Council build an accurate inventory, update our existing database, and prepare future contracts for installing manifolds across the district ahead of future meter installations.
Environment and Sustainability – 12 week project
In this Environment and Sustainability placement, you will help Council better understand which key Council-owned assets and infrastructure are most important to our communities, and what the social, economic, and environmental impacts could be if those services were disrupted or unavailable. You will carry out desktop research to gather useful information, such as how many people, industries, or communities rely on particular services. Your work will help Council make informed investment decisions, strengthen future planning, and support the next phase of our climate change risk assessments. This is a collaborative project where you will work alongside teams from Environment and Sustainability, Emergency Management, IT, Waste Management, and Infrastructure.
About You – You are a student currently studying towards a tertiary qualification and looking for a meaningful summer placement where you can gain practical experience, contribute to real Council projects, and build your confidence in a professional environment. You will bring a positive, “can-do” attitude, enjoy working as part of a team, and be willing to take on new challenges. You will also be comfortable building relationships and communicating clearly with a range of people, including Council staff, community members, and other key audiences.
Applicants for this position must reside in the South Taranaki district.
If this role appeals to you, head over to our website www.southtaranaki.com where you can access the background information and job description for the role. If submitting an application, please ensure you provide a covering letter outlining your skills and experience for the role along with your most current CV.
Applications close at 4pm on Sunday, 27 September 2026 or when a suitable candidate has been appointed to the role.
Applications Close: 27 Sep 2026
