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General Information

Job Type
Permanent
Category
Construction/Technical
Business
Higgins
Location
Manawatu-Whanganui
Job Reference
41751
Posted Date
20-Apr-2026
Closing Date
20-May-2026

Description

Enjoy career growth, tailored PPE, and great benefits. Apply now if you have drainage and roading experience!

  • Previous experience operating a range of excavators is essential
  • Competitive hourly rate + guaranteed 40 hours per week
  • Be part of a significant drainage projects across the Manawatu. 

Are you ready to take your career to the next level? The Higgins Manawatu team is now seeking a Highly skilled Excavator Operators to join their Drainage Crew. 

If you're passionate about drainage and have a keen eye for detail, we want to hear from you! You will be responsible for excavation and backfilling of trenches for water, sewer, and stormwater pipes. Our projects are in urban and rural areas within the Manawatu and Horowhenua Districts. 

The ideal candidate would bring to the role.

  • Self-motivated, reliable, honest, and a true team player.
  • A strong focus on health and safety for yourself, your colleagues, and the public.
  • This is a hands-on role, so a high level of physical fitness is required.
  • Previous experience in drainage is essential. You’ll be operating a range of equipment, including excavators, rollers, loaders and trucks.
  • Ideally +5-year experience in 12T to 30T Diggers working on 3 waters drainage projects in urban areas.
  • A minimum of a full Class 2 license with WTR endorsements.
  • The ability to work nights when required.
  • Basic computer literacy to manage your workload on a variety of Apps.

Join the Higgins team:

  • Competitive hourly rate + guaranteed 40 hours per week 
  • Opportunity to upskill and gain further licences 
  • Join a supportive team that treat each other like Whānau
  • Brand new PPE gear (that’s your own personal protective equipment)
  • Permanent role with long term career development opportunities
  • KiwiSaver employer contribution matched up to 4%
  • Opportunity to upskill and gain further training and qualifications
  • Great benefits for you and your family to enjoy
  • Z fuel discounts including a monthly free pie and coffee

Higgins is a leading roading and civil infrastructure company in New Zealand. We are on a dynamic growth path with people at the heart of what we do every day. We offer a great working environment, competitive hourly rate, subsidised medical insurance and subsidised education and training for you and your dependants. 

Higgins is committed to a drug-free workplace. The successful applicant will be required to pass pre-employment drug and alcohol testing along with a health check - you’ll need to be fit for work! 

Building better roads for safer journeys – He pai ake te hanga o ngā rori, kia haumaru ai ngā haerenga 

We are actively looking to fill this role and encourage your early application. Applications are reviewed regularly, and we reserve the right to remove the advertisement before the advertised closing date.

Research shows that females and minority groups don’t always apply for roles unless they match 100% of the requirements. So, if this role is of interest but you feel you don’t quite fit, we encourage you to apply anyway. We are enriched by many nationalities, languages, religions, customs, and lifestyles. We are proud of our diversity and see it as one of the things that make us better together.