Manawa Ako Internship

Are you a driven and passionate person, aged 17 – 25, interested in a career in the Finance or Banking industry? Heartland Bank’s paid Manawa Ako Internship Programme is your opportunity to gain real-world experience, develop your skills, and make a difference in a supportive, inclusive environment.

• Six-week paid internship (December 2025 – January 2026)
• Are you at the end of Year 13, undertaking tertiary study or a recent graduate?
• Interested in a career in the Finance or Banking industry?
  
  

What will you be doing?

• Work in one of our teams on real projects, learning how the business runs and what it’s like to work in a corporate environment.
• Participate in workshops and hear from speakers focused on supporting your personal and professional development.
• Be supported by mentors and peers throughout your journey – your success if our success.
  
  

You'll Work On Projects, Such As

• Researching business areas and reporting findings
• Talking to customers to help keep information up to date
• Analysing data and information
• Helping us understand what young people want to know about banking and finance.
  
  

Who can apply?

We’re Looking For

• people aged 17–25 at the start of the programme (1 December 2025);
• people interested in a career in the Finance or Banking industry;
• individuals who are driven and have a desire to learn;
• from day one, you'll be working directly with our people across the business so ideally you will be comfortable with communicating, sharing your ideas and asking questions; and
• students who have just finished Year 13, recent or soon-to-be graduates, or currently studying at university.
  
  

Why Join Manawa Ako?

• Gain invaluable experience strengthening opportunities for your future employment
• Some interns progress to graduate and permanent roles at Heartland
• Be part of a programme grounded in the values of Mahi Tika (do the right thing), Mahi Tahi (be one team), Mahi Tipu (always evolving), and Mahi Toa (have big ambition).
  
  

Manawa Ako is based on the Māori concept of 'ako' which means to learn and to teach. As such, it provides a rich opportunity for the next generation of potential leaders to gain experience working in a corporate environment and develop their careers. In turn, it also allows for our Heartland people to learn from them. Heartland gains insights from the diverse thinking and perspectives the Manawa Ako Interns bring to the organisation.

He Manawa Whenua, He Manawa Tangata - Our Heartland

As an employee at Heartland, we would expect you to embrace our mātāpono (values):

Mahi Toa - We have big ambition

Mahi Tahi - We work as one team

Mahi Tika - We believe in doing the right thing

Mahi Tipu - We strive for excellence and to always evolve

To apply: tell us about yourself in a cover letter and attach your CV.

In your cover letter please tell us a little about who you are and why you're interested in being a part of our Internship programme - Manawa Ako. Let us know what you have to offer and what areas of business you're interested in and why. Please include your whakapapa if you wish.

Next step: complete a questionnaire.

To support your application we will also send you a questionnaire to complete. Please keep an eye out on your email for this questionnaire and please complete it as soon as possible.

Key Dates

• Applications close: 10:00pm, Tuesday 7 October 2025
• Interviews: Mid October 2025
• Programme start: Monday 1 December 2025
• Programme end: Wednesday 28 January 2026
• Summer break: Friday 19 December – Sunday 11 January
  
  

Note: the working hours for this Internship will be 9am – 4:30pm, Monday to Thursday.

Please let us know if you need any adjustments throughout the application or interview process including a sign language interpreter or speech to text reporter. In your application, feel free to let us know what your pronouns are (for example, she/her, he/him, they/them etc).

A Bit About Us And What We Do

Heartland is an NZX/ASX-listed financial services group with big growth plans. Heartland Group owns both Heartland Bank in New Zealand and Heartland Bank in Australia. We provide award-winning savings and finance products to a diverse range of customers including business owners, farmers and retirees. Heartland's strategy is to digitalise everything we do, enabling us to provide customers with what they need in a scalable way. We can then pass those benefits onto our customers through faster service and better rates.

Can you see yourself here?

We're innovative and always evolving. We work together as one team and have big ambition. We're committed to creating a culture of inclusivity that celebrates our diverse backgrounds and supports the wellbeing of our people. We offer real opportunities for learning and career development. You can also drive change through our internal groups (including Manawa Whenua - our Māori group, the Rainbow Committee, Diversity & Inclusion Committee and our Green Team).

Some of our perks include employee banking benefits, an excellent insurance package, flexible working options, sports teams (touch, netball and football), and Friday night pizzas and drinks!

Diversity & Inclusion

At Heartland, we're proud to celebrate the many characteristics that make each of us different. We embrace diversity in all its forms and believe in creating an environment that helps us better understand and serve our customers. As a Living Wage Employer, a Hearing Accredited Workplace, and a Rainbow Tick certified organisation, we're committed to doing right by our people.

Keen to learn more?

For an insight into life at Heartland, check out our Instagram @heartlandbanknz or follow us on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/heartland-bank-nz.