The Catlins Area School
Caretaker Kaitautiaki
Caretakers keep places such as schools, apartment blocks and public buildings clean, safe and in good order.
Caretakers may do some or all of the following:
- maintain grounds, facilities and gardens
- clean buildings and dispose of rubbish
- operate boilers and furnaces used for heating
- make minor repairs and organise contractors for major repairs
- oversee security.
Physical Requirements
Caretakers need to be reasonably fit as some jobs may involve lifting heavy objects, bending or climbing.
Useful Experience
Useful experience for caretakers includes:
- work in the trades, especially carpentry
- manual labour
- cleaning or maintenance work
- experience working with children or teenagers (for caretakers in schools).
Personal Qualities
Caretakers need to:
- be self-directed and able to work unsupervised
- have good time management skills
- be good at problem solving
- like working outside
- be reliable.
Caretakers who work at schools must be able to relate well to children.
Skills
Caretakers need to have knowledge of:
- how to use and maintain tools and equipment
- basic repair skills
- how to look after plants and lawns
- what to do in emergencies
- alarms and security systems.
Those who manage larger facilities may need to have basic computing and administrative skills.
Conditions
Caretakers:
- may work full time or part time, and may need to work evenings and weekends or be on call
- work at locations such as schools, apartment buildings, sports grounds and commercial properties
- work indoors and outdoors in most weather conditions.
Subject Recommendations
There are no specific secondary education requirements to become a caretaker.
Caretakers can earn around $23-$26 per hour.
Pay for caretakers varies depending on experience and what kind of work they do.
- Caretakers at schools usually earn the minimum wage and $24 per hour.
- Caretakers at schools supervising other usually earn between minimum wage and $26 an hour.
- Caretakers who work for private employers usually earn more than this.
Sources: Ministry of Education, 'School Caretakers, Cleaners and Canteen Staff Collective Agreement 14 November 2022 to 13 November 2024', 2022; and careers.govt.nz research, 2023.
Years Of Training
There are no specific requirements to become a caretaker.
Some caretaking jobs may require a police background check.
The Vulnerable Children Act 2014 means that if you have certain serious convictions, you can’t be employed in a role where you are responsible for, or work alone with, children.
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