Deaf and disabled students can apply for 10 paid internships

Deaf and disabled final-year tertiary students and graduates can now apply for paid public service internships, with applications closing on Sunday 8 November 2026.

Whaikaha, the Ministry of Disabled People, runs the all-of-Government programme. It offers 10 internships across 7 government agencies, and they run for 12 weeks from 1 February 2027.

Whaikaha says the programme aims to reduce barriers to employment and create pathways into professional careers. Successful interns will work in an accessible, inclusive and supportive environment where they can build practical skills and confidence.

The host agencies are Inland Revenue, Ministry for Pacific Peoples, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Social Development, New Zealand Qualifications Authority and Whaikaha. All internships are based in Wellington, except one Ministry for Pacific Peoples internship in Auckland.

Who can apply

The programme is open to Deaf and disabled final-year tertiary students and graduates. That includes people with visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodivergent people and people with long-term health conditions. Applicants can apply whether or not they use the word disabled to describe themselves.

Interns are employed directly by their host agency in a fixed-term role. The programme does not guarantee ongoing employment. Anyone who needs to relocate must arrange and pay for their own travel, accommodation and relocation costs.

How to apply

Applications go through the MSD careers website. Applicants need to submit only 1 application and can select the opportunities that interest them.

Applicants can tell the programme about any accessibility requirements or reasonable accommodations they need. Support may include accessible interviews, assistive technology and flexible working arrangements.

Anyone who needs more time to apply should email [email protected] before applications close. The same address is for questions about the programme or accessibility support.

The internships were announced in Whaikaha’s October 2026 update. That update also covered a position statement from the New Zealand Sign Language Board on using artificial intelligence with New Zealand Sign Language.