About this role

Fitness & Wellbeing Trainer - Waikeria

 

• Permanent, full-time role based at Waikeria Prison
• Empower others through health and fitness
• Make a real difference in the lives of people in our care

 

Mō te tūnga | About the role

As a Fitness & Wellbeing Instructor, you will play a vital role in improving the health and wellbeing of the prisoners in our care. You will design and deliver fitness programmes, lead physical education sessions, and provide education on nutrition and healthy living. This role is about more than exercise – it's about engagement, inspiring positive change and supporting reintegration.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Conducting physical education sessions, including warm-ups, exercise routines, and cool-downs
• Developing and implementing tailored fitness programmes
• Delivering recognised qualifications that improve employability.
• Ensuring safety and wellbeing during all activities
• Overseeing the sports centre, including outdoor fields, courts, weight room, and classroom
• Supporting other units (MH1, MH2, low security) with additional sessions
• Conducting prisoner inductions and promoting engagement in programmes
• Assisting with equipment setup and maintenance
• Supporting the Physical Readiness Assessment (PRA) process for new staff recruits
• Completing regular positive and negative file notes on prisoners
• Completing all associated daily administration for the PRA and for PE
• Collaborating with the Principal Instructor to ensure smooth operations

This is a Monday to Sunday rostered role, offering variety and the chance to make a meaningful impact every day.

 

Mōu | About you

We're looking for someone who is passionate about health and fitness and can motivate others to achieve their goals. You'll have:

• Experience delivering fitness classes and sports activities
• Knowledge of safe fitness practices and a range of techniques
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills
• Ability to work in a culturally responsive way, including knowledge of mātauranga Māori
• A tertiary qualification in Physical Education or a related discipline
• Current First Aid Certificate (or willingness to obtain)
• A teaching or assessing qualification (or willingness to obtain)
• Experience working on and producing Excel and Word documents
• A clean and current driver's licence

 

Ngā painga | The benefits

The salary range for this role is $72,514 - $90,322 per annum. Appointment and remuneration will reflect skills and experience relevant to the role.

A comprehensive Ara Tika Introduction into Corrections and extensive initial training is provided for the successful applicant. Instructors have the same classification as Corrections Officers and complete the same initial training courses.  This will involve on-site training as well as residential training at our National Learning Centre in Upper Hutt, Wellington, to focus on the custodial elements of the position.

 

Mō mātou | About us

Join Ara Poutama Aotearoa - Department of Corrections, where your work will contribute to improving public safety, reducing re-offending, and address the overrepresentation of Māori in correctional facilities. As a values-led organisation, we use the principles of rangatira (leadership), manaaki (respect), wairua (spirituality), kaitiaki (guardianship), and whānau (relationships) to guide our work and achieve the goals of our Hōkai Rangi strategy.

We value inclusion and diversity in our workforce, and as a Public Service organisation we are committed to building a workforce that reflects the public we serve. We strive to make our recruitment process fair, and we encourage you to discuss reasonable accommodations with us if required.

 

Tono ināianei | Apply Now

To submit an application and view the position description, click the apply link. All applications must be submitted through our careers site to ensure transparency – applications received via email will not be considered.

When applying, submit a tailored CV and a cover letter describing your motivation for joining the department highlighting relevant skills and experience and how you align with our Kaupapa and values.

Applications close on: Friday 8 May 2026.

If you have any questions or want to learn more about a career with us, contact madeleine.stapleton@corrections.govt.nz, or visit careers.corrections.govt.nz.

Kia Tu, Kia Oho, Kia Mataara!