Explore careers

Useful experience for surveyors includes:

• work as a surveyor's assistant or technician
• experience working in cartography, draughting or engineering
• experience working at a mining or construction site.

Surveyors may do some or all of the following:

• survey and monitor land or seabeds
• carry out land title surveys and set boundaries
• check the accuracy of records and measurements
• prepare maps, plans and charts to give pictorial representations of the land or seabed
• map out location and design of structures such as new roads and pipelines
• report on survey data to clients and councils
• discuss surveying or land development projects with clients, local authorities, other professionals or local iwi
• ensure project proposals comply with council district plans and liaise with the council to deal with any issues
• prepare resource consent applications, including environmental impact assessments.

Shortage of surveyors increases employment chances

Chances of getting a job as a surveyor are good as there is a shortage of workers. Reasons for this include:

• many surveyors have left the industry or moved overseas
• an increase in the number of building and construction projects, such as KiwiBuild
• ongoing infrastructure projects.

As a result, surveyor appears on Immigration New Zealand's long-term skill shortage list and Immigration New Zealand's construction and infrastructure skill shortage list. This means the Government is actively encouraging skilled surveyors from overseas to work in New Zealand.

According to the Census, 2,241 surveyors worked in New Zealand in 2018.

Demand for surveyors highest in Auckland

Demand for surveyors is highest in Auckland due to an increase in construction and infrastructure projects because of the city's population growth. 

Types of employers varied

Surveyors may work for:

• private surveying practices
• government agencies such as Land Information New Zealand
• land developers
• construction and engineering consultancies.

University of Otago School of Surveying

(03) 479 7585 - surveying@otago.ac.nz - www.otago.ac.nz/surveying

Surveyors may progress to set up their own surveyor business, or move into management roles.

Surveyors may specialise in areas such as:

Cadastral Surveyor

Cadastral surveyors define and mark property boundaries.

Engineering Surveyor

Engineering surveyors work in the civil engineering industry to help map and plan new structures such as buildings, roads and bridges.

Hydrographic Surveyor

Hydrographic surveyors map and monitor the bottom contours of bodies of water such as seas, streams, rivers and lakes.

Mine Surveyor

Mine surveyors undertake surface and underground surveys designed to produce information for the construction of mines.

Map Maker

Map makers, also called cartographers, use aerial photographs and photogrammetric processes to create and revise maps.

Surveyors need to be:

• patient and precise, with an eye for detail
• adaptable, as they may work on different types of projects
• able to work under pressure and to deadlines
• comfortable working in an office and outdoors
• methodical and precise when taking measurements
• good at problem solving
• skilled communicators and relationship managers.