Street/Park Cleaner
Kaitahitahi Papa Rēhia/Huarahi
Alternative titles for this job
Street/park cleaners clean and maintain public areas such as streets, parks and buildings.
Pay
Street/park cleaners usually earn
$23-$26 per hour
Source: City Care, 2020.
Job opportunities
Pay
Pay for street/park cleaners varies depending on experience and the type of work they do.
Street/park cleaners usually earn between minimum wage and $26 an hour.
Source: City Care, 2020.
- PAYE.net.nz website - use this calculator to convert pay and salary information
- Employment New Zealand website - information about minimum wage rates
(This information is a guide only. Find out more about the sources of our pay information)
What you will do
Street/park cleaners may do some or all of the following:
- collect rubbish and empty bins
- sweep and clean paved areas, by hand or with a streetsweeper vehicle
- clean restrooms and other public facilities
- mow lawns and take care of gardens
- clear gutters and unblock drains
- clean and maintain tools, equipment and vehicles.
Skills and knowledge
Street/park cleaners need to have knowledge of:
- how to use and maintain tools and equipment
- how to operate vehicles, including streetsweepers
- health and safety regulations
- environmental standards.
Working conditions
Street/park cleaners:
- Usually do shift work that may include nights, early mornings and weekends
- work in public areas in the community
- work in all weather conditions, and in messy or smelly conditions.
Entry requirements
To become a street/park cleaner, you usually need to have a Class 1 driver's licence.
If you drive streetsweeper trucks, you need to have:
- a Class 2 driver's licence
- previous experience driving trucks.
- New Zealand Transport Agency website - getting a Class 1 driver's licence
- New Zealand Transport Agency website - getting a Class 2 driver's licence
Secondary education
There are no specific secondary education requirements to become a street/park cleaner.
Personal requirements
Street/park cleaners need to be:
- able to work alone
- organised
- reliable and hardworking.
Useful experience
Useful experience for street/park cleaners includes:
- driving heavy vehicles
- cleaning
- any work involving manual labour.
Physical requirements
Street/park cleaners need to have a good level of fitness. They also need to have good eyesight (with or without corrective lenses) if they operate vehicles.
Check out related coursesWhat are the chances of getting a job?
Few opportunities for street/park cleaners
Opportunities for street/park cleaners are limited because:
- people tend to stay in the role for a long time, so vacancies are rare
- the occupation is declining.
According to the Census, 177 street/park cleaners worked in New Zealand in 2018.
Types of employers varied
Street/park cleaners may work for:
- private companies that have contracts with local or central government
- city councils.
Sources
- City Care, 'Autumn's Essential Street Cleaning', 3 May 2020, (www.citycare.co.nz).
- City Care, careers.govt.nz interview, September 2020.
- Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, 'Cleaners and Caretakers', accessed September 2020, (occupationoutlook.mbie.govt.nz).
- New Zealand Herald, 'Keeping Streets Tidy for 20 Years', 23 Aug 2018, (www.nzherald.co.nz).
- Stats NZ, '2018 Census Data', 2019.
(This information is a guide only. Find out more about the sources of our job opportunities information)
Progression and specialisations
Street/park cleaners may progress to set up their own business, or move into management roles.
Last updated 3 April 2023