Summer Internships

About the roles

Selwyn District Council is excited to offer 3 internships from November 2026 through to February 2027. Details of each internship and preferred discipline of study are below:

Title: Records and Archive Intern
1x Intern required
13 - 14 weeks, 30 hours a week, Monday to Friday, 8:30am - 5pm (times can be flexible).
Description: This internship involves supporting the Information Manager to organise and make accessible pre-1989 council records. The intern will help catalogue historic records, create clear inventory entries, safely rehouse materials, and contribute to a finding aid that improves access to important local government information.
Preferred discipline/study: History, Classics, Arts, Art History or Sociology.
We're looking for someone who:

• Has a methodical approach, strong attention to detail and ability to read scripted handwriting.
• Appreciates the value and uniqueness of archival materials and understands the importance of their careful physical handling.
• Is physically capable of working in a records storage environment, including lifting, carrying, and moving archive boxes when required.

Title: Planning Administration Intern
1x Intern required
13 - 14 weeks, 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday, 8:30am - 5pm (times can be flexible)
Description: This internship involves supporting the Planning Technical Advisory Team to process current and historical property split requests and update Council property records, GIS and related databases. The intern will help improve the accuracy and completeness of property information used for LIMs, property file requests, customer enquiries and internal Council processes, while gaining practical experience in local government, planning administration and records management.
Preferred discipline/study: Environment and Society, Planning, Environmental Management or Applied computing
We're looking for someone who:

• Can follow structured procedures and established workflows with consistency.
• Demonstrates a high level of accuracy and attention to detail when updating records and systems.
• Is confident carrying out process-driven administrative tasks and working with data and documentation.

Title: Regulatory Reporting & Analytics Intern
1x Intern required
13 - 14 weeks, 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday, 8:30am - 5pm (times can be flexible)
Description: This internship involves researching, analysing and improving regulatory compliance information and reporting processes to support the transition to New Zealand's new planning system. Working alongside the Regulatory Services team, you will review historical compliance records, analyse data, investigate best-practice compliance monitoring frameworks, and contribute to the development of reporting tools and dashboards. This is a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in data analysis, regulatory services, and process improvement while helping shape future compliance monitoring and reporting capabilities.
Preferred discipline/study: Science, Data Science, Applied Data Science, Social and Environmental Sustainability, Business Information Systems or Environmental Science
We're looking for someone who:

• Has strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Can undertake research and translate information into practical recommendations.
• Has experience analysing data and identifying trends.
• Has excellent report-writing and documentation skills.

About you

You are a current Lincoln University or University of Canterbury student in your second/third or final year of study, studying in the above related disciplines.

You will have:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Confidence using digital systems, including Microsoft Excel.
• A curious mindset and a willingness to learn.
• The ability to follow direction and work independently and part of a team to achieve results.

Please note: these internships will be subject to 1 x reference check (from a recent employer or lecturer/tutor) and a Ministry of Justice check. These will be completed for the preferred students prior to the internship commencing.

How to apply

Please submit your CV and cover letter outlining your preferred internship via our Selwyn District Council careers page.

Please note the top successful candidates will be interviewed on week of the 12th October 2026.

Applications close at 5pm on Sunday 27th September 2026

To apply for this job go to: https://sdcjobs.co.nz/Vacancies & enter ref code: 6931466.

Applications close 27 September 2026