Determines plasterboard layout and installs insulation and vapour barriers; measures, marks and cuts plasterboard, lifts and positions panels and secures them to walls, ceilings and battens; prepares corner beads and securing them in position; covers joins and nail holes with wet plaster and sealing compounds, and smoothes them using wet brush and sand paper; plumbs and straightens corners, angles and wall and ceiling surfaces; applies and finishes acoustic, insulating and fireproofing materials bonded with plaster, plastic cement and similar materials.

• Works indoors.
• Work in dirty and dusty situations, as well as with wet cement, stopping, sand and water. Interior plasterers also sand off excess dry stopping.
• Frequently work at heights – often on scaffold, ladders or other work platforms.

• The physical demand is in the medium to heavy range.
• Standing is constantly required. Walking is frequently required. Sitting is unlikely to be required.
• Stretching and reaching across is constantly required to fix plasterboard, for example.
• Squatting, crouching and/or kneeling is frequently required especially if working on horizontal surfaces or low level vertical walls.
• Twisting of the body or neck is occasionally frequently.
• Bending is a frequently required.
• Climbing ladders and work on scaffold is occasionally required when working at heights.
• Contact with water, cement, sand and abrasive hard materials is frequently required.
• Lifting and carrying supplies of plaster and equipment is frequent.
• Repetitive tasks are frequent to constant especially in the use of hands and arms.
• Driving to worksites is occasionally required.
• Employees use a range of hand and machine tools frequently including trowels, shovels, spreaders and sanding machines.
• Mental skills necessary include plastering, practical, organisational and problem-solving.

• A New Zealand Register Level 4 qualification or at least three years of relevant experience (ANZSCO Skill Level 3). In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification. For entry-level positions on-the-job training may be sufficient.
• Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP) licencing is required in order to undertake or supervise Restricted Building Work, unless supervised by another LBP.

There are opportunities for flexibility of movement but they are limited.