Residential Cook | Epuni

Mō mātou | About us:
Oranga Tamariki — Ministry for Children is the Ministry that supports children and young people in New Zealand. Oranga Tamariki has a commitment to putting tamariki and rangatahi at the heart of what we do and works to advance the wellbeing and positive long-term outcomes of children and young people.

Mō te tūnga | About the role:
In this busy role, you will be working with the Residence Chef in planning menus for the Tamariki and rangatahi in our care, and you will usually be working independently to prepare and cook those meals on your rostered days at work.
Your great organisational skills will see you prepare quality meals on time, supporting the operations of our secure residence.
We are looking for someone who is passionate about preparing quality meals to a group of people of all ages, and for someone who takes pride in their work and in their working environment.

Ngā pūmanawatanga ōu | What you will bring:Key requirements of the role include:
Proven experience as a cook for large groups
Understanding of health and safety, including food hygiene
Strong relationship building skills
Effective organisation, planning and time management skills
Ability to work well as part of a team
Ability to work unsupervised and able to use your initiative
Full clean valid New Zealand driver's licence without conditions
Understanding and appreciation of cross-cultural practices in particular; knowledge of tikanga Māori, and Pacific peoples' culture
Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you
If you want to work in a meaningful role where you can really make a difference to the lives of young people, apply now!
Oranga Tamariki offer an impartial remuneration package, that offers progression annually for experience through tenure. We offer training and professional development so that you can thrive and grow. We welcome diversity and are committed to working in an inclusive and respectful way. This is your opportunity to apply your skills and experience to the wellbeing of tamariki and rangatahi.
To see all the benefits of working for Oranga Tamariki, please visit https://mahi.orangatamariki.govt.nz/working-with-us/employee-benefits/

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to apply:
Apply online with your CV and cover letter. For reporting and transparency, it is important that all applications are submitted through our careers site, please do not email through applications and/or CVs.
If you are an Oranga Tamariki employee, please register or log in using your Oranga Tamariki e-mail address.
If you have any questions about the role, please contact info_recruit@ot.govt.nz

Applications Close: 25th October 2026

If you are interested in any of our vacancies, please ensure that you make yourself familiar with our code of conduct as it sets out our expectations for our kaimahi and requires you to present at work free from the influences of both drugs and alcohol.