Work for us

Mō te tūnga | About the role

As the Head of Information and Technology Services, you’ll provide strategic leadership across all of REA’s technology and information functions.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you’ll lead the development and delivery of REA’s IT strategy and Information Systems Strategic Plan (ISSP), ensuring our systems, platforms, and data capabilities support our regulatory responsibilities and organisational priorities.

You’ll oversee both infrastructure and systems functions, ensuring a secure, resilient, and future-focused technology environment. This includes leading digital transformation initiatives, supporting regulatory platforms (such as licensing, complaints, and public register services), and enabling effective internal operations.

You’ll also play a key role in governance, risk, and security, acting as REA’s Chief Information Security Officer and providing advice to the Chief Executive and Board on technology direction, risks, and opportunities.

Mōu | About you

You’re a senior technology leader with strong strategic capability and a track record of delivering organisational impact through technology.

To be successful in this role, you’ll bring:
- Significant IT leadership experience (CIO / Head of IT / GM Technology level)
- Proven experience developing and delivering IT strategy and transformation programmes
- Strong people leadership experience, with the ability to build and lead high-performing teams
- Experience aligning technology initiatives with organisational strategy and outcomes
- The ability to influence and collaborate across a wide range of stakeholders

You’ll be a clear communicator, able to provide high-quality advice to senior leaders and governance groups, and confident navigating complex environments.

Additional experience that would be advantageous:
- Knowledge of public sector digital standards and expectations
- Experience operating at Senior Leadership or executive level
- Experience working in a regulatory or public sector environment

We welcome people who bring a range of perspectives, skills and experience. If you meet most of the requirements, we encourage you to apply. Please let us know if you have any support or accessibility needs during the recruitment process.

Please note: You must have the legal right to work in New Zealand. Appointment is subject to relevant checks.

Tono mai | Apply now

For more information, contact Josh REA, Recruitment Director, Find IT Recruitment,  on 021 475 258 or email josh.rea@findrecruitment.co.nz

Applications have now closed.

Mō te tūnga | About The Role

As an Intermediate Investigator, you’ll be responsible for investigating and producing reports on a wide range of cases and complaints regarding real estate conduct.  In more complex cases, you’ll support the Senior Investigators. Our Intermediate investigators also assist in the design and delivery of proactive compliance campaigns and interventions designed to prevent, detect and deter harm and promote and protect the interests of consumers engaging in real estate transactions.

Mōu | About you

You’ll have solid investigation experience and be ready to join a team of experienced investigators.  You must have a minimum of 3 years complaint handling or compliance experience and at least 1 to 2 years investigation experience.

You’ll manage your own case load and will need to be resilient, methodical, and capable of maintaining impartiality. As part of this team, you’ll be receptive to having your work peer reviewed by senior staff and our in-house legal team who you’ll work closely alongside.

At times you may be required to travel within New Zealand to conduct investigations and to meet with various parties.

You will need a full clean driver licence.

Familiarity with the real estate environment and experience within a regulatory environment would be a real advantage.

Ngā painga |Benefits

The REA team is welcoming, super friendly, collaborative and committed to making a difference for New Zealand.  You can expect rewarding and complex work in an exciting sector that is critical to New Zealand. A great central Wellington CBD location, commitment to staff professional development and an active social club are amongst many benefits of joining the REA team!

Tono mai | Apply now

Please direct any queries and send your CV, Cover Letter and a completed application form to recruitment@rea.govt.nz

The job description is here  [PDF, 224 KB]

The application form can be found here [DOCX, 119 KB]

For further information please contact Sue Johnston on 0272478254 or email recruitment@rea.govt.nz

We welcome people who bring a range of perspectives, skills and experience. We encourage you to apply if you meet most of our requirements for the role. Please let us know if you have any support or accessibility needs so we can assist you during the recruitment process.

Please note, you must have a legal right to work in New Zealand. Successful appointment is conditional upon police vetting and qualification checks.

Applications have now closed. 

• Gain experience working in a modern regulatory environment
• Join a welcoming, super friendly and collaborative team
• Support consumer protection in real estate

Mō mātou | About us

The Real Estate Authority (REA) is the independent government agency that regulates the New Zealand Real Estate profession. Our purpose is to promote and protect the interests of consumers in real estate transactions and promote public confidence in the performance of real estate agency work. 

REA is a high performing and respected conduct regulator with a critical role in the real estate sector. We license real estate agents, oversee the code of conduct, continuing professional development and the complaints and discipline process. We are a proactive, evidence-led regulator committed to protecting consumer interests. We strive to understand and serve the needs of New Zealand’s diverse communities in our work. 

Mō te tūnga | About the role

This position supports and helps coordinate the Complaints Assessment Committees (CAC) who consider serious complaints against real estate professionals. This is an ideal introduction to a modern regulatory environment. You’ll be:

·       Coordinating the end-to-end processes of complaints about real estate agents

·       Providing administration support to Complaints Assessment Committees

·       Keeping parties up to date with the progress of their complaints

·       Working in a small team of 4 and alongside a team of investigators

Working with people from across New Zealand’s diverse communities

Mōu | About you

You’ll have:

We’re looking for someone who is passionate about providing great customer service and has fantastic organisational skills. Our workload is varied, so it’s important you’re able to prioritise tasks and communicate clearly with your teammates, and parties to your cases.

A university qualification or relevant work experience is desirable to help you to quickly gain knowledge of the Real Estate Agents Act 2008 and related regulations.

An understanding of legal, regulatory or compliance functions would be an advantage but is not essential.

Ngā painga | The benefits

REA offers a diverse and inclusive work environment. Our people are welcoming, collaborative and committed to making a difference for New Zealand. You can expect rewarding work in a sector that is critical to New Zealand. A central Wellington CBD location, commitment to staff professional development, healthy work-life balance and an active social club are some of the benefits of joining the REA team.

Tono mai | Apply now

Please direct any queries and send your CV, Cover Letter, and a completed application form to recruitment@rea.govt.nz.

The application form [DOCX, 118 KB] can be found here.   [DOCX, 118 KB]

The job description can be found here [PDF, 200 KB].

For further information please contact Liz O’Connor on 04 471 8948 or email recruitment@rea.govt.nz

We welcome people who bring a range of perspectives, skills and experience. We encourage you to apply if you meet most of our requirements for the role. Please let us know if you have any support or accessibility needs so we can assist you during the recruitment process.

Applications have now closed. 

Please note that our offices will be closed from 24 December 2025 to 12 January 2026, applications and enquiries will be accepted during this period but will not be responded to until after 12 January.

Please note, you must have a legal right to work in New Zealand. Successful appointment is conditional upon police vetting and qualification checks.

Senior Solicitor

Take your litigation skills in‑house, retain meaningful advocacy work, and enjoy greater ownership, purpose and balance.

The work you’ll love

As a Senior Solicitor at the Real Estate Authority (REA), you’ll work at the forefront of regulation and professional discipline. The work is varied, challenging and thoughtful, combining legal analysis, advocacy (both written and oral), and strategic advice.

Your work will include:

• Managing end‑to‑end regulatory and disciplinary matters under the Real Estate Agents Act, including issues such as alleged misconduct, failures to disclose material information, conflicts of interest, and other breaches of professional standards.
• Preparing clear, persuasive written advice and submissions, with many matters determined on the papers and others proceeding to hearings as required.
• Advocacy and appearances before Complaints Assessment Committees and, where appropriate, the Real Estate Agents Disciplinary Tribunal.
• Involvement in court proceedings and appeals, working with and instructing external counsel when needed.
• Advising decision‑makers on evidence, legal risk, procedural fairness and outcome options.
• As a senior member of the team, providing peer review, guidance and mentoring.

Who this role will suit

This role will appeal to an experienced litigator from any discipline — civil, criminal, family, public, regulatory, employment or disciplinary — who is ready to take their advocacy skills in‑house and apply them in a new and engaging regulatory context.

You’ll bring:

• At least 5 years’ post‑admission experience, with solid litigation and advocacy exposure (court or tribunal)
• Sound judgement, strong written and oral communication skills, and confidence exercising discretion
• The ability to work autonomously while contributing to a collaborative team
• An interest in work with public impact and purpose

You’ll be part of a highly capable legal team doing meaningful work that protects consumers and upholds professional standards, supported by a flexible, collegial culture and a central Wellington location.

How to apply

For more information, contact Moana Temel, Director, Niche Recruitment on 021 499 902 or email moana.temel@nicherecruitment.co.nz.

To apply, submit your application via email by the closing date of Friday, 10 April 2026. Applications will be reviewed as soon as they are received.

The Real Estate Authority | Te Mana Papawhenua (REA) seeks expressions of interest for appointees to the Complaints Assessment Committee (CAC) panel.

REA is seeking CAC Panel Members who can:

• Make high quality complaint decisions that help increase the standards of conduct for New Zealand’s licensed real estate professionals.
• Bring knowledge, experience and diverse perspectives in law, real estate and consumer affairs to the real estate complaints process.
• Promote and protect the interests of consumers engaged in real estate transactions.
• Support high standards of conduct in the real estate sector

Real Estate Authority – Te Mana Papawhenua

The Real Estate Authority (REA) is the independent government agency that regulates the New Zealand Real Estate profession. Our purpose is to promote and protect the interests of consumers and promote public confidence in the performance of real estate agency work.

REA is a high performing respected conduct regulator with a critical role in the real estate sector. We license real estate agents, oversee the code of conduct, continuing professional development and the complaints and discipline process. We are a proactive, evidence-led regulator committed to supporting high standards of conduct in the profession and protecting consumer interests. We strive to understand and serve the needs of New Zealand’s diverse communities in all of our work.

The role 

The CAC panel consists of lawyers, consumer representatives, and experienced real estate professionals. CAC panel members make decisions on the conduct of real estate professionals. 

The functions of the CAC are to:

• Inquire into and investigate complaints about the conduct of real estate agents.
• On its own initiative, inquire into and investigate allegations about any licensee.
• Make final determinations in relation to complaints, inquiries or investigations.
• Lay charges before the Disciplinary Tribunal.
• In appropriate cases, refer the complaint to another agency.
• Inform the complainant and the person complained about of its decision, reasons for the decision, and appeal rights.
• Publish its decisions. 

Panel members are appointed for a period of up to 5 years. It is expected that there will be an average of 30 - 60 hours work per month subject to complaint case volumes and the role that is held.

About you

You’ll need to have at least 7 years’ legal experience. Along with personal attributes and knowledge and experience, suitability includes the ability to commit the requisite time and capacity to effectively carry out the role. 

All panel members will be able to demonstrate:

• All panel members will be able to demonstrate:
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Sound judgement and ability to work in a team to tight timeframes
• Effective IT capability and experience managing volumes of files, case management systems
• Excellent time management and organisational skills
• Working as a team player
• Proven ability to assess facts and identify issues
• Knowledge and commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi
• Evidence with regard to diverse perspectives, ensuring fair treatment of all people 
• Complaint determination or dispute resolution experience (desired)

Lawyers will also have the following skills and experience:

• At least 7 years legal experience
• Must hold a New Zealand practicing certificate 
• Decision writing experience
• Experience in real estate or property law knowledge (desired).

Remuneration for panel members is set in accordance with the Cabinet Office Fees Framework and is currently between $56 and $92 per hour depending on the position held (Chair, Deputy Chair or Member)

We are currently seeking expressions of interest for all types of panel members and are actively looking to appoint lawyers.  We will be in touch with Real Estate Professionals and consumer representatives when vacancies arise.

We are currently seeking expression of interest for lawyers.

Expression of interest 

Click here for the job description [DOCX, 21 KB]and expression of interest form. [DOCX, 113 KB]

Apply by sending your CV, covering letter and expression of interest form to recruitment@rea.govt.nz

Applications have now closed. 

For any support with the application process, please contact recruitment@rea.govt.nz

Questions

For more information about the roles, please contact Sue Johnston, Investigation and CAC Manager at Sue.Johnston@rea.govt.nz.