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Water
Wastewater Treatment
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Wastewater Treatment Operator

Apply to local councils, Watercare, Wellington Water or regional water authorities. Some run formal cadet intakes. NCEA L2 Science & Maths gets you in the door.

Free — you earn while you train
Train

Level 4 NZ Certificate — Pipeline Construction & Maintenance

Te Pūkenga. Must be working as an Operator at a wastewater treatment plant. Covers treatment processes, regulatory compliance, water quality analysis and environmental reporting.

Free — you earn while you train
Fully qualified

Wastewater Treatment Technician → Supervisor

Technician roles earn $70–90k. Supervisors manage plant operations and teams after demonstrated competency and experience.

Who hires

Who employs apprentices for this role

Citycare Group

High
Auckland · Waikato +5 · Contractor (council-owned)

Advertising Trainee Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator, Whangamata - no treatment plant experience needed

Apprentices in: Wastewater treatment operator

Citycare Water

High
Auckland · Waikato +6 · Contractor (council-owned)

Company story: in June they started apprenticeships, studying to become registered drainlayers; maintains 3-waters networks for 12 local authorities

Apprentices in: Wastewater treatment operator

New Plymouth District Council

High
Taranaki · Council (three waters; joining Taranaki water CCO)

Connexis case study: apprentice started in a cadet-style role at NPDC and completed the NZ Certificate in Water Treatment (L4)

Apprentices in: Wastewater treatment operator

South Taranaki District Council

High
Taranaki · Council (three waters in-house)

Wastewater Treatment Cadet at Eltham with a training programme toward the National Certificate in Water Treatment

Apprentices in: Wastewater treatment operator

Timaru District Council

High
Canterbury · Council (three waters in-house)

Advertising 'Water Treatment Operator (Trainees Welcome)' - NCEA L2 with Maths, interest in learning water treatment

Apprentices in: Wastewater treatment operator

Watercare Services

High
Auckland · Water utility / CCO

Water NZ Excellence Awards: Water Trainee of the Year from Watercare; operates its own training campus

Apprentices in: Wastewater treatment operator

Invercargill City Council

Medium
Southland · Council (three waters in-house)

Connexis water ambassador: Water Treatment Operator at Invercargill City Council trained through Connexis qualifications

Apprentices in: Wastewater treatment operator

Veolia New Zealand

Medium
Auckland · Waikato +3 · Contractor / outsourced utility operator

Advertising entry-level Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Operator (Queenstown) and Water Treatment Operator (Waipawa); no NZ apprenticeship confirmed

Apprentices in: Wastewater treatment operator

Wairakei Resort

Medium
Waikato · Private wastewater plant operator

Connexis water ambassador at Wairakei Resort doing an apprenticeship in wastewater treatment

Apprentices in: Wastewater treatment operator

Apex Water

Low
Nationwide · Contractor (treatment design; build; O&M)

Careers page offers ongoing training but names no apprenticeship or traineeship

Apprentices in: Wastewater treatment operator

Ashburton District Council

Low
Canterbury · Council (three waters in-house)

Retains in-house water services under Local Water Done Well; apprenticeships not confirmed

Apprentices in: Wastewater treatment operator

Christchurch City Council

Low
Canterbury · Council (three waters in-house)

Jobs page mentions internships/graduate pathways only; no apprenticeships, traineeships or trade training named

Apprentices in: Wastewater treatment operator

Dunedin City Council

Low
Otago · Council (three waters in-house)

Listed among councils retaining in-house water services; apprenticeships not confirmed

Apprentices in: Wastewater treatment operator

Far North District Council

Low
Northland · Council (three waters in-house)

Retains in-house water services; apprenticeships not confirmed

Apprentices in: Wastewater treatment operator

Gisborne District Council

Low
Gisborne · Unitary authority (three waters in-house)

Retains in-house water services; apprenticeships not confirmed

Apprentices in: Wastewater treatment operator

Hamilton City Council

Low
Waikato · Council (three waters transferring to Waikato CCO 1 July 2026)

Three Waters Plant Operator PD requires an existing NZ Diploma in Water Treatment (L5); no trainee entry pathway stated

Apprentices in: Wastewater treatment operator

Hastings District Council

Low
Hawke's Bay · Council (Hawke's Bay entity forming)

Advertises in-house Principal Water Operator; apprentices/trainees not confirmed

Apprentices in: Wastewater treatment operator

Hawke's Bay regional water services organisation

Low
Hawke's Bay · Water services CCO (Local Water Done Well)

Four-council Hawke's Bay water organisation still being established; no apprenticeship programme published

Apprentices in: Wastewater treatment operator

Horowhenua District Council

Low
Manawatu-Whanganui · Council (joining Manawatu regional water entity)

Part of the Palmerston North/Horowhenua/Rangitikei regional water services entity; no apprenticeship evidence

Apprentices in: Wastewater treatment operator

IAWAI (Flowing Waters) - Hamilton/Waikato water company

Low
Waikato · Water services CCO (Local Water Done Well)

Becomes operational 1 July 2026 covering Hamilton City and Waikato District (90,700 connections); no apprenticeship programme published yet

Apprentices in: Wastewater treatment operator

Kapiti Coast District Council

Low
Wellington · Council (three waters in-house)

Retains in-house water services; apprenticeships not confirmed

Apprentices in: Wastewater treatment operator

Napier City Council

Low
Hawke's Bay · Council (Hawke's Bay entity forming)

Advertises in-house Water Serviceperson roles; apprenticeship programme not confirmed

Apprentices in: Wastewater treatment operator

Nelson City Council

Low
Nelson · Council (three waters in-house)

Retains in-house water services; staff appear in Water NZ Excellence Awards. Apprenticeships not confirmed

Apprentices in: Wastewater treatment operator

Palmerston North City Council

Low
Manawatu-Whanganui · Council (regional water entity with Horowhenua and Rangitikei)

Voted to establish a regional water services entity with Horowhenua and Rangitikei; apprenticeships not confirmed

Apprentices in: Wastewater treatment operator

QLDC 3Waters Ltd / Queenstown Lakes District Council

Low
Otago · Council + water services CCO from 1 July 2027

New CCO 100% owned by QLDC with CE appointed 2026, entity starts 1 July 2027; apprenticeships not confirmed

Apprentices in: Wastewater treatment operator

Rotorua Lakes Council

Low
Bay of Plenty · Council (three waters in-house until 2028)

Listed among councils retaining in-house water services until 2028; apprenticeships not confirmed

Apprentices in: Wastewater treatment operator

Ruapehu District Council

Low
Manawatu-Whanganui · Council (joint water entity with Whanganui)

Named in the Whanganui/Ruapehu water partnership; no apprenticeship evidence found

Apprentices in: Wastewater treatment operator

Selwyn Water

Low
Canterbury · Water services CCO (Local Water Done Well)

First water services entity established in NZ, operational 1 July 2025, ~$1.1b of assets; no apprenticeship programme detailed

Apprentices in: Wastewater treatment operator

Southern Waters

Low
Canterbury · Otago +1 · Water services CCO (Local Water Done Well)

Jointly owned water company for Central Otago, Clutha, Gore and Waitaki; 68 treatment plants, 4,700 km of pipeline

Apprentices in: Wastewater treatment operator

Southland District Council

Low
Southland · Council (three waters in-house)

Retains in-house water services; apprenticeships not confirmed

Apprentices in: Wastewater treatment operator

Taranaki joint water services CCO (working name WaterCo1)

Low
Taranaki · Water services CCO (Local Water Done Well)

Regional CCO for New Plymouth, Stratford and South Taranaki; both NPDC and South Taranaki DC already run water cadet/apprentice pathways

Apprentices in: Wastewater treatment operator

Tasman District Council

Low
Tasman · Council (three waters in-house)

Retains in-house water services under Local Water Done Well; apprenticeships not confirmed

Apprentices in: Wastewater treatment operator

Taupo District Council

Low
Waikato · Council (three waters in-house)

Remains separate from the Waikato water CCO; Downer holds water contracts in Taupo and advertises an Apprentice Water Serviceperson there

Apprentices in: Wastewater treatment operator

Tauranga City Council

Low
Bay of Plenty · Council (joint water CCO with Western BOP)

Forming a joint water services organisation with Western Bay of Plenty District; apprenticeship programme not confirmed

Apprentices in: Wastewater treatment operator

Wai + T (Wairarapa/Tararua water organisation)

Low
Manawatu-Whanganui · Wellington · Water services CCO (Local Water Done Well)

Joint water organisation for Masterton, Carterton, South Wairarapa and Tararua councils; no apprenticeship information published

Apprentices in: Wastewater treatment operator

Waimakariri District Council

Low
Canterbury · Council (three waters in-house)

Retains in-house water services; apprenticeships not confirmed

Apprentices in: Wastewater treatment operator

Western Bay of Plenty District Council

Low
Bay of Plenty · Council (joint water CCO with Tauranga)

Partnering with Tauranga City Council in a joint water services organisation; no apprenticeship evidence found

Apprentices in: Wastewater treatment operator

Whanganui District Council

Low
Manawatu-Whanganui · Council (joint water entity with Ruapehu)

Formed a separate entity with Ruapehu under Local Water Done Well; apprenticeships not confirmed

Apprentices in: Wastewater treatment operator

Whangarei District Council

Low
Northland · Council (Northland cross-council organisation in progress)

Retains in-house water services in the Local Water Done Well decision summary; apprenticeships not confirmed

Apprentices in: Wastewater treatment operator

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