Mai te hiku ki te taurapa, whitikina e te rā    
From the tail of the fish to the tail of the waka, shines the sun    

Meridian is Aotearoa's largest producer of renewable electricity, generating power from 100% renewable resources – wind, water, and sun, because we believe that’s the best for our planet and our communities. We strive to deliver clean energy for a fairer and healthier world, helping reduce carbon emissions and supporting our communities. We also retail electricity to more than 400,000 homes, businesses and farms across New Zealand through our Meridian and Powershop brands.   

Mō te tūranga | What you’ll be doing   

• Lead Meridian’s engagement with Government to shape coherent, evidence‑based policy outcomes aligned with Aotearoa’s long‑term interests.
• Own and deliver government relations strategies, including briefings, advocacy, and engagement programmes with Ministers, officials, regulators, iwi, and sector stakeholders.
• Provide trusted advice to senior leaders on emerging policy risks and opportunities, supporting strong decision‑making and reputation management.
• Work closely with the Head of Regulatory Affairs to ensure a consistent, credible, and well‑aligned message across all government and regulatory interactions.

Ngā painga ki a mātou | What we can offer  

We value work/life balance, so our WFH and flexible work options (where possible) make things easier for you and your whānau. We also offer:   

• An attractive and competitive salary package that’s reviewed annually, performance incentives, plus discounts from several partnerships   
• Southern Cross Healthcare - Wellbeing One insurance, a funded scheme for eligible employees to give you that extra peace of mind     
• Enhanced leave provisions: three company-paid days (over the holiday period), enhanced parental leave and options to buy up to 12 days of additional leave   
• Life, trauma and income protection insurance (which we hope you won’t need!)    
• Enhanced KiwiSaver contributions    
• Access to the Meridian employee share scheme   
• Excellent learning and development opportunities, we want you to be the best version of yourself, and we'll help you get there!    
• Award-winning wellbeing programme that provides support whenever and wherever you need it    
• Employee discounts off your power with Meridian, every bit counts   
• A one-off $400 payment to support your work-from-home set-up (if needed)  

Ngā pukenga kei a koe mō tenei tūranga | What you’ll bring   

• Strong experience in government relations, public policy, or public affairs within a complex environment.
• Deep understanding of New Zealand’s government, policy, and regulatory landscape, with sound political judgement.  
• Proven ability to engage, influence, and build trusted relationships with Ministers, officials, and senior stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including briefing and advising up to Board‑level audiences.

• High integrity, strong judgement, and the ability to lead advocacy and submissions under pressure. 

Tono mai ināianei tonu | Apply now    

All in all, we’re a genuinely great place to work, with meaningful projects, supportive teams, and a clear purpose. If this role sounds like a fit and you're keen to make a real impact, apply today and tell us what you’ll bring to the role.

 If you’ve got any questions, please email [email protected]. We're committed to becoming more accessible and providing support if needed. Please get in touch if there are parts of our process you would like assistance with (process found here meridianenergy.co.nz/careers), we’re more than happy to help. 

To view the full position description please click here (link to PDF) 

Location – Wellington is preferred but Auckland and Christchurch will be considered too.

Advertising closes 9 March 2026 (please note this is subject to change)