Apprentice - Maintenance Engineer / Toolmaker

Pact Packaging is committed to a whole‑of‑life approach to sustainable packaging. We partner with leading brands to design and manufacture solutions that improve supply‑chain efficiency and support the circular economy.

Job Description

About the role

This is an entry‑level apprenticeship role suited to someone who has recently left school and is looking to start their career in a hands‑on engineering trade.

The role is designed for someone at the very early stage of their engineering career, seeking practical experience while completing a recognised apprenticeship in Maintenance Engineering or Toolmaking. The work is closely supervised and centres on learning core trade competencies rather than applying advanced theoretical engineering knowledge.

Based on our Henderson site, you’ll join the Engineering & Maintenance team and learn directly from experienced tradespeople, developing practical capability in plant maintenance and basic toolroom activities.

What you’ll do

Preventative maintenance: assist with scheduled PMs to keep machines reliable and safe.

Breakdown support: help diagnose basic faults and support repairs to restore production.

Toolroom support (as required): learn safe machining (turning, milling, drilling, grinding), polishing and sharpening, and care for tooling and fixtures.

Changeovers & set‑ups: support die/tool change activities and equipment startups to quality standards.

Continuous improvement: contribute to data collection, basic root‑cause analysis, and small improvement projects (reliability, waste reduction, uptime).

Safety & compliance: follow HSE procedures, lock‑out/tag‑out, and keep maintenance and training records accurate and up to date.

Learning & qualification: actively progress on‑the‑job learning and off‑site training toward your NZ apprenticeship milestones.

What you'll bring

• Recently left school and ready to start your first full‑time job or apprenticeship
• Interest in developing a hands‑on engineering trade through an apprenticeship
• Comfort working in a learning‑focused, supervised environment
• Mechanical aptitude developed through school subjects, hobbies, pre‑trade programmes, or early work experience
• Willingness to follow instructions, learn from others, and build skills progressively
• Strong safety awareness and attention to detail

Additional Information

Why join us

Coaching and mentoring from experienced engineers and toolmakers.

Structured support to complete your apprenticeship and log NZQA evidence.

Discounted Southern Cross health insurance.

Free annual flu vaccination and Employee Assistance Programme (EAP – RAISE).

Career pathways across Pact Group.

Free onsite parking.

Paid overtime and allowances in line with policy/rostered needs.

How to apply

Apply with your CV and a brief cover letter describing your study/apprenticeship progress and why you’re keen on maintenance/toolmaking. (If internal, please advise your manager before applying.)