The Organisation
The Transport Accident Investigation Commission's visionary goal is “No Repeat Accidents – Ever!”. In pursuit of this goal, the Commission (TAIC) inquires into significant transport accidents across the three modes of aviation, rail, and marine, with a view to avoiding similar occurrences in the future.
TAIC's multi-disciplinary teams investigate and analyse the circumstances of these occurrences, supporting the Commission to consider the facts, and make findings and recommendations to improve transport safety, rather than to ascribe blame.
Recruiting now: Commission General Counsel
(Recruiting closes 7 October 2025)
Reporting to the Chief Executive and leading a specialist team, the Commission General Counsel advises the Commission and the Board on all inquiry matters, including constitutional frameworks and appropriate inquiry protocols.
As a member of the Executive Team, this role holds collective accountability for TAIC’s strategy and the delivery of its work programme.
Your responsibilities will include the provision of timely, impartial and principled legal advice that upholds the Commission’s statutory purpose and functions. This includes providing input to investigations and Crown entity matters that traverse international, administrative and transport law. You will also offer the capacity to exercise judgement, articulate complex issues, and influence through the provision of strategic, authoritative advice.
The following capabilities and profile are also sought:
- Proven leadership experience as a member of, or working to, an executive team
- Strong public sector experience, with a deep understanding of machinery of government, and related policy and regulatory frameworks
- Extensive legal experience spanning legal disciplines such as public, transport, administrative and/or international law
- Highly nuanced relationship management skills
- Prior exposure working to a board
- Professional legal qualifications including the ability to hold a current NZ practicing certificate.
This role is based in Wellington.
Confidential enquiries and applications should be directed to Vishnu Nair or Guy Brew at Ichor Leadership Search by 5.00pm on Tuesday 7 October 2025.
Email us at search@ichor.co.nz or call +64 4 499 8230.
+64 4 499 8230
The accident investigation role - general
NB: the following is general information about the job of being an accident investigator at TAIC. It is not a recruitment advertisement.
Accident investigation is specialised and time-critical work that requires broad proven expertise and skill, including:
- Excellent communication, both verbal and written
- Logical and analytical capability, with very strong attention to detail and accuracy
- Ability to anticipate risk and identify mitigations
- Problem solving
- Project teamwork
- Relationship management
- Energy, diplomacy and tact.
The Accident Investigation team is small and close-knit. Investigators attend accident sites throughout New Zealand. They undertake thorough site examinations and evidence collection, review, research, and analyse the evidence, before drafting inquiry reports, findings and recommendations for consideration by the Commission. Each investigation process leads to a detailed final report outlining the findings and safety recommendations to the sector.
Accident investigation work is interesting and varied and involves engagement with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders. Investigators need to be able to work collaboratively and positively with like-minded professionals, and have high levels of diplomacy, tact, and professionalism, particularly when deployed to accident sites.
It can be demanding work that necessitates medical and physical fitness (accident sites can be anywhere) and resilience in stressful and emotionally difficult circumstances.
While relevant investigative qualifications are desirable, the successful candidate will undergo extensive, world class specialised training in accident investigation. This is part of TAIC's supportive and development-focused environment. A typical job description for a Transport Accident Investigation Commission Investigator is available in the Document Downloads box.
Investigator positions are based in Wellington, New Zealand, and involve travel and overnight stays.
Only people with the right to work in New Zealand may apply. For advice on obtaining a New Zealand work or residence visa visit www.immigration.govt.nz.