Position: Toolmaker / Tool & Die Maker / Precision Toolmaker / Manufacturing Toolmaker
Employer: To Be Announced (TBA)
Country: New Zealand
Employment Type: Full-Time
Occupation: Toolmaker – ANZSCO 323412 where duties match
Skill Level: ANZSCO Skill Level 3
Experience: Qualified / Experienced Skilled Tradespeople
Salary: According to Experience, Qualification & Employer
2026 Adult Minimum Wage: NZD $23.95 Gross Per Hour
Working Hours: Full-Time – Minimum 30 Hours Per Week for Applicable AEWV Employment
Accommodation: Provided
Lunch: Provided During Working Days
Overtime: Available Where Required
Work Visa Assistance: Provided for Eligible Candidates
Potential Skilled Residence Pathway: Available to Eligible Toolmakers Meeting Applicable Requirements

WORK AS A TOOLMAKER IN NEW ZEALAND

Applications are now open for experienced Toolmakers interested in full-time manufacturing and precision-engineering employment in New Zealand.

Toolmakers are highly skilled tradespeople responsible for manufacturing, maintaining and repairing precision tools, dies, jigs, fixtures, moulds and specialised manufacturing components.

Opportunities may be available with:

Precision-engineering companies
Manufacturing businesses
Tool-and-die workshops
Injection-moulding companies
Metal manufacturers
Automotive-component suppliers
Industrial-equipment manufacturers
Plastic-product manufacturers
Engineering workshops
Specialist production companies

Potential positions include:

Toolmaker
Tool & Die Maker
Precision Toolmaker
Manufacturing Toolmaker
Jig & Fixture Maker
Mould Toolmaker
Press Toolmaker

AVAILABLE LOCATIONS

Toolmaker vacancies may be available in:

Auckland
Hamilton
Tauranga
Wellington
Palmerston North
New Plymouth
Napier / Hastings
Christchurch
Dunedin
Invercargill

Other industrial regions may also have vacancies.

WHAT WILL YOU BE DOING?

Toolmakers produce highly accurate tools and components used in manufacturing.

Typical duties may include:

Reading engineering drawings
Manufacturing precision tools
Producing dies
Producing jigs
Producing fixtures
Manufacturing moulds
Repairing tooling
Modifying existing tooling
Operating CNC machinery
Operating manual machinery
Precision grinding
Measuring components
Fitting components
Testing completed tools
Diagnosing tooling problems
Maintaining manufacturing equipment

The exact duties depend on the employer and manufacturing industry.

TOOL & DIE MANUFACTURING

Toolmakers may manufacture dies used for:

Stamping
Forming
Cutting
Pressing
Production manufacturing

Responsibilities can include:

Reading designs
Selecting materials
Machining components
Grinding components
Fitting assemblies
Checking clearances
Testing tooling
Making adjustments

JIGS & FIXTURES

Manufacturing companies use jigs and fixtures to ensure components are produced consistently.

Toolmakers may:

Interpret designs
Manufacture jig components
Machine fixture components
Assemble systems
Check alignment
Measure completed assemblies
Modify equipment

MOULD TOOLING

Some positions may involve manufacturing or repairing moulds used in:

Plastic injection moulding
Rubber production
Other manufacturing processes

Workers may be responsible for:

Machining mould components
Polishing surfaces
Fitting inserts
Maintaining moulds
Repairing damaged tooling
Testing production tools

CNC MACHINING

Modern Toolmakers frequently use CNC equipment.

Responsibilities may include:

Setting CNC machines
Loading programs
Programming where required
Selecting tools
Setting offsets
Machining precision components
Inspecting finished parts

Candidates with CNC experience should clearly describe it in their application.

MANUAL MACHINING

Traditional machining skills remain important.

Toolmakers may use:

Manual lathes
Milling machines
Surface grinders
Cylindrical grinders
Drilling machines
Other workshop machinery

Candidates who combine manual and CNC machining skills can be particularly valuable.

PRECISION GRINDING

Toolmaking often requires very tight tolerances.

Grinding duties can include:

Surface grinding
Cylindrical grinding
Tool grinding
Finishing precision components

Employees must accurately monitor dimensions.

ENGINEERING DRAWINGS

Toolmakers should be able to interpret complex engineering drawings.

Workers may need to understand:

Dimensions
Tolerances
Fits
Surface finishes
Geometry
Material specifications
Assembly requirements

PRECISION MEASUREMENT

Measurement equipment may include:

Micrometers
Vernier calipers
Height gauges
Dial indicators
Bore gauges
Gauge blocks
Other precision inspection equipment

Accuracy is extremely important.

TOOL MAINTENANCE & REPAIR

Toolmakers may maintain tooling used in production.

Responsibilities can include:

Inspecting worn tooling
Identifying faults
Repairing components
Replacing parts
Regrinding surfaces
Adjusting tooling
Testing repaired equipment
Returning tooling to production

TROUBLESHOOTING

Experienced Toolmakers may investigate problems involving:

Poor component dimensions
Tool wear
Production defects
Die alignment
Mould damage
Fixture problems
Mechanical failures

Workers may need to determine the underlying cause and recommend a solution.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Toolmaking is a skilled trade.

Employers may require:

Toolmaking apprenticeship
Tool-and-die qualification
Mechanical engineering trade qualification
Relevant Level 4 or comparable qualification
Several years of relevant experience
CNC machining skills
Manual machining skills

Applicants should provide full information concerning their qualifications and employment history.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Toolmakers normally work in engineering workshops and manufacturing plants.

Candidates should be comfortable working around:

Machine tools
CNC machines
Grinding machines
Metal components
Lifting equipment
Manufacturing machinery

Good concentration and attention to detail are essential.

HEALTH & SAFETY

Employees must follow safety procedures.

PPE may include:

Safety footwear
Eye protection
Hearing protection
Appropriate work clothing
Gloves where suitable

Only trained employees may operate machinery.

Machine guards and safety systems must not be bypassed.

WORKING HOURS

These are full-time positions.

For applicable AEWV employment, the job offer must provide:

AT LEAST 30 HOURS PER WEEK

Many positions may provide around:

40 HOURS PER WEEK

Typical schedules may include:

8 hours per day
5 days per week
Day shifts
Afternoon shifts

Some manufacturing companies operate rotating shifts.

SALARY

The New Zealand adult minimum wage from 1 April 2026 is:

NZD $23.95 GROSS PER HOUR

Toolmaker wages may be substantially higher depending on:

Qualifications
Experience
CNC knowledge
Tool-and-die skills
Employer
Responsibilities

The actual hourly wage or annual salary will be stated in the employment offer.

SKILLED RESIDENCE WAGE THRESHOLD

Toolmaker – ANZSCO 323412 – is currently on the Skilled Migrant Category Trades and Technician occupation list.

Employment being counted toward that pathway must satisfy the applicable SMC wage threshold.

The current threshold is:

NZD $35.00 GROSS PER HOUR

Meeting this wage does not by itself establish residence eligibility.

OVERTIME

Overtime may be available when production requirements increase.

Overtime is not guaranteed.

Any additional-hour arrangements will be stated in the employment agreement.

ACCOMMODATION PROVIDED

Accommodation will be arranged for successful employees.

Possible arrangements include:

Shared houses
Shared apartments
Worker accommodation
Employer-arranged accommodation

All applicable costs or lawful deductions will be disclosed before employment begins.

LUNCH PROVIDED

Lunch will be provided during scheduled working days according to employer arrangements.

ACCREDITED EMPLOYER WORK VISA

Eligible international candidates may potentially obtain an AEWV for qualifying Toolmaker employment.

The employer must generally:

Hold the appropriate accreditation
Have an approved job check
Offer genuine full-time employment
Provide at least 30 hours per week
Pay the applicable legal and market wage
Use the correct occupation classification

The applicant must satisfy all visa requirements.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Toolmaker is classified at ANZSCO Skill Level 3.

Current AEWV rules generally require applicants for Skill Level 3 positions to show that they can speak and understand English.

The accepted evidence will depend on Immigration New Zealand requirements.

SKILLED MIGRANT CATEGORY – TRADES & TECHNICIAN PATHWAY

Toolmaker – ANZSCO 323412 is specifically included on New Zealand’s Skilled Migrant Category Trades and Technician pathway occupation list.

This creates a possible long-term residence route for suitably qualified Toolmakers.

Eligible applicants generally require:

Employment in the eligible occupation
Pay at or above the SMC wage threshold
Relevant Level 4 or comparable/higher qualification
Relevant post-qualification experience
Qualifying New Zealand skilled employment

Current pathway requirements generally include:

AT LEAST 2.5 YEARS OF RELEVANT POST-QUALIFICATION WORK EXPERIENCE

plus:

AT LEAST 1.5 YEARS OF QUALIFYING POST-QUALIFICATION SKILLED EMPLOYMENT IN NEW ZEALAND

The New Zealand work must meet the applicable SMC wage threshold.

Applicants must satisfy all other Skilled Migrant Category requirements.

WORK VISA ASSISTANCE

Candidates selected by an eligible employer will receive assistance with the applicable immigration process.

Assistance may include guidance regarding:

Employment offer
Employment agreement
Employer accreditation
Job-check information
Toolmaking qualifications
Work references
English evidence
Police certificates
Medical requirements
Visa documents
Application preparation

Visa approval is not guaranteed.

APPLICATION & INTERVIEW PROCESS

Candidates should complete the online application form and provide information concerning:

Toolmaking qualifications
Years of experience
Tool-and-die experience
Mould-making experience
CNC experience
Manual machining experience
Precision grinding
Previous employers
English ability
Current country of residence

Shortlisted candidates may be invited to:

Online interviews
Technical interviews
Employer interviews
Practical trade tests
Engineering-drawing assessments

Depending on recruitment arrangements, formal interviews may also take place in Asia or the United Kingdom.

Applicants must not make travel arrangements until formally invited and legally eligible to travel.

EMPLOYMENT OFFER

Successfully selected candidates will receive formal information stating:

Employer
Position
Workplace
Wage
Guaranteed hours
Shift pattern
Duties
Accommodation
Meal arrangements
Proposed starting date

Candidates should review the employment agreement carefully.

POSITION SUMMARY

Position: Toolmaker
Occupation: ANZSCO 323412 where duties match
Skill Level: 3
Employment: Full-Time
General Minimum Wage: NZD $23.95 Gross Per Hour
SMC Trades Pathway Wage Threshold: NZD $35.00 Gross Per Hour for qualifying employment
Accommodation: Provided
Lunch: Provided
Overtime: Where Required
AEWV Assistance: Provided for Eligible Candidates
Potential Skilled Residence Pathway: Yes, subject to meeting all SMC requirements
Employer: TBA

APPLY FOR TOOLMAKER JOBS IN NEW ZEALAND

Qualified Toolmakers with experience in precision engineering, tool-and-die manufacturing, mould tooling, CNC machining or related manufacturing work are invited to apply.

Provide complete information about your qualifications and employment history.

COMPLETE THE APPLICATION FORM AND WAIT TO BE CONTACTED IF YOUR APPLICATION IS SHORTLISTED.

Submitting an application does not guarantee an interview, employment, Accredited Employer Work Visa or New Zealand residence. The position must genuinely meet the relevant occupation classification. Skilled Migrant Category eligibility requires the applicant to independently satisfy the occupation, qualification, experience, New Zealand skilled-employment, wage, English, health, character and other requirements in force at the time of application.