Working at Waikato Regional Council

On this page: The Waikato Regional Council code, working at Waikato Regional Council, working in the Waikato region, about our staff

The Waikato Regional Council code

Our vision

An engaged community, a healthy environment.

Our mission

We work with communities to develop ways of living that will sustain our region for generations to come.

The Waikato Regional Council code

We are responsible to the people of the Waikato region whose wellbeing is at the centre of all our decisions and actions.

High performance is vital to our success. Our reputation depends entirely on the individuals who work here. We support our people to carry out their work with flair. We must constantly innovate, build on our strengths and improve our knowledge, expertise and processes. We value diversity and use collective wisdom to solve problems.

The business environment for all staff is enabling, family friendly and inclusive. We share knowledge and support each other, striving to be the best we can possibly be at work, always showing respect and taking responsibility for our own actions. We enjoy each others company and have fun.

Work-life balance is a strong focus of our culture. We are mindful of the families that support us.

We make decisions about our environment and our community that will affect people for generations to come. We shall apply our professional knowledge and expertise, listen carefully to our communities and take the most effective and affordable action.

We will behave in ways that keep the publics trust and respect.

Working at Waikato Regional Council

Waikato Regional Council's workforce is highly motivated, professional and customer focused.

Team work is a key feature of our culture, with staff members working in project teams to ensure the best mix of skills and resources.

Some of the great benefits of working at Waikato Regional Council include:

Working in the Waikato region

Waikato Regional Council’s main office is located in Hamilton East. We also have offices in Paeroa, Taupo, and Whitianga, as well as depots in Gordonton, Te Aroha and Kerepehi.

The region covered by Waikato Regional Council is known for its diverse landscape including farmland, rolling hills, rivers, lakes, coast lands and volcanic mountains. You can choose to live in a small beach town, a close-knit rural community, or the central city and still be close to amenities. Natural highlights of the region include Raglan and Coromandel beaches, Waitomo caves, Lake Taupo, the Whangamarino wetlands, and numerous forestry walks.

Hamilton is the main centre of the region with a population of 131,000. The city is built around the banks of the Waikato River and characterised by its café culture, world class gardens, university and innovative research facilities. Hamilton plays host to many national and international events, including Balloons Over Waikato (NZ’s premier hot air ballooning event), the V8 Supercar championships, Fieldays (the largest agricultural event in the Southern Hemisphere), and The Great Race (rowing regatta).

About our staff

Many diverse and highly skilled people choose to work for the Waikato Regional Council. We've profiled some of our staff members here to provide a snapshot of the range of people working at the Waikato Regional Council, their skills and backgrounds and the types of career paths that are available.

Terry McDonald

Programme Manager - Property Services

"Waikato Regional Council is a nice place to work. I always felt they tended to put more cognizance on people than many other organisations do and recognise that staff are their biggest asset."

Originally employed as Deputy Works Supervisor at Waikato Regional Council's Te Aroha depot, Terry McDonald has had several career changes within the organisation, including working as Lands Supervisor facilitating acquisition of land for the Waihou Valley Scheme, and currently as Programme Manager - Property Services.

In his current role, Terry is responsible for managing staff and contractors involved in property related issues including building management and maintenance, management of flood control scheme land, insurance, and energy management. There have been huge changes in the 29 years he has been with Waikato Regional Council, but Terry says that he has always felt supported when accepting new responsibilities and progressing his career within the organisation. "There are lots of opportunities within the organisation and Waikato Regional Council encourages growth."

Terry is a keen outdoors person who enjoys walking to work and can often be found tramping in some native bush within the region or beyond. Terry says his big drive in life has always been his family and he and his wife enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren. He also has a focus on community outcomes, saying "So many people at Waikato Regional Council are working with a positive outcome in mind for the community - it makes the work rewarding and people happy. If you work with happy, satisfied people then this becomes the culture- to get positive outcomes." 

Kola Fatokun

Corporate Information Support Officer

"The communication lines are open between staff and managers and they make you have a sense of belonging. The staff are actively involved in the development and implementation of plans for the group."

Kola's work involves training new staff, providing corporate information management support to a portfolio of groups across the organisation, and assisting in various archives projects. Kola was offered the job of Corporate Information Support Officer after applying through the Waikato Regional Council website. He says, it is the friendly work setting that informs his decision of choosing Waikato Regional Council as his preferred workplace.

Having already attained a Masters in Political Science, a degree in Public Administration, a Postgraduate Diploma in Strategic Management, and most recently a Masters in Management studies from the University of Waikato, Kola is still keen to pursue further study to enhance his knowledge. Waikato Regional Council's commitment to support the learning and development of employees from induction right through their career in the organisation is a value that Kola says he particularly appreciates as a new employee. "It's good the organisation have a solid staff training programme. For the first three months there was a training programme in place for me and I found this invaluable. There's always a degree of apprehension when you're a new person, but the transition has been very smooth and I'm getting settled into the system."

     Private Bag 3038   Waikato Mail Centre   Hamilton 3240   Fax (07) 859 0998     Freephone 0800 800 401