When things go wrong, we go to work
Floods, earthquakes, slips, storms: Marlborough gets its share. When they happen, NZ-RT20 is there. We're a nationally accredited team of volunteers who turn up when our community needs help. We can also deploy anywhere in Aotearoa New Zealand when a big emergency hits.
We're your neighbours: tradies, office workers, vineyard and fish farm crew, and parents. Everyday people who've learned to do extraordinary things together, with a lot of laughs along the way.
What you'll learn to do:
Technical rescue: Search damaged buildings after an earthquake and get people out, rig vertical rope systems to reach people in tricky terrain and bring them out safely.
Disaster response: Head into communities hit by severe weather and earthquakes. You'll clear the way, solve problems on the spot, and help people get back on their feet.
Recon and intel: Be the eyes on the ground. You'll scout affected areas, spot hazards like slips and damaged infrastructure, and send field data straight back to the Emergency Operations Centre so they can make decisions faster.
Welfare and logistics: Set up Civil Defence Centres and shelters, lead evacuations, knock on doors to check on residents, and get critical supplies into cut-off areas.
You don't need to know any of this yet. That's what we're here for.
What we're looking for:
You care about Marlborough. You want to give back to your community and stick with the team long-term.
You get stuck in. You're practical and hands-on, and you like solving problems.
You stay calm under pressure. You keep your head, back your teammates, and adapt quickly when the plan changes (it will).
You can carry your weight. You keep a reasonable level of fitness so you can handle physically demanding work safely.
You can drive. You hold a full NZ driver licence.
You're keen to learn and you show up. You commit to training and keep building your skills.
No experience needed. We care more about your attitude than your CV.
A Ministry of Justice background check is required for this role.
Weekly training: Thursdays, 5:30–7:30 pm, at our Blenheim base. We also run some extra Mondays for our rope skills.
Weekend courses: Run by external providers to build on your weekly training.
Callouts: These depend on Mother Nature, who doesn't check our calendar. Some months are quiet and some are busy. We know you have a life, work and whānau, and we respect that.
Getting started:
The first step is to express your interest by filling out the form below.
We will then put you in touch directly with the organisation for more information on the role and how to proceed.
Emergency Services