Senior Adviser Kaupapa Māori Supervision at Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections), Wellington (Te Whanganui a Tara)

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Lead kaupapa Māori supervision that shapes wellbeing outcomes for Māori 

• Influence national practice through Te Ao Māori leadership 

• Build relationships with leaders and practitioners to drive change   

Mō te tūnga | About the role 

In this role, you will help shape how rehabilitation programmes are designed, delivered and evaluated, ensuring Kaupapa Māori elements are authentically applied and achieving meaningful wellbeing outcomes for Māori. You will be a trusted advisor to Ara Poutama Aotearoa, guiding the use of Māori methodologies and frameworks across training and practice. Strong relationships with stakeholders and internal teams will be central to your success, allowing you to influence change at both strategic and operational levels. 

As the Senior Advisor Kaupapa Māori Supervision you will lead Te Ao Māori worldviews and ensure Māori centred practice is embedded, protected and elevated across programme delivery. You will work alongside programme facilitators, psychologists and senior leaders to provide high quality Kaupapa Māori supervision that upholds tikanga, integrity and cultural safety. 

You will play a key role in advancing Te Ara Tauwhaiti, maintaining its integrity through quality assurance while also investing in your own ongoing cultural supervision and development. This position offers the opportunity to lead improvement, contribute to service innovation, support special kaupapa Māori projects, and shape the future direction of Kaupapa Māori Supervision nationally. If you are passionate about Māori leadership, systems change, and creating lasting impact for Māori communities, this role offers both purpose and influence.  

Mōu | About you  

This role is for someone motivated by purpose, whakapapa and leadership — someone committed to strengthening Te Ara Tauwhaiti, supporting frontline practitioners, and shaping the future of Kaupapa Māori practice at both a strategic and operational level. 

You lead with mana, humility and accountability, and are motivated by kaupapa rather than position. You are comfortable influencing at senior levels, supporting others to grow, and holding firm to cultural integrity while working within public sector systems. You value collective success, continuous learning, and the responsibility that comes with shaping culturally safe and effective practice.   

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience 

To be successful for this role you will need: 

• Extensive experience/training in programme facilitation, Māori cultural supervision, counselling, social work, or other social service-related field  

• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality and manage sensitive information  

• Excellent Interpersonal, Communication, organisational and relationship management skills  

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills 

• Ideally you will have a relevant Wānanga/Tertiary qualification or proven practical experience in Te Ao Māori 

Ngā painga | The benefits 

The midpoint of the salary range is $123,511 per annum and the full range (85%-120%) is $104,985 - $148,214 per annum. Appointment and remuneration will reflect skills and experience relevant to the role. 

Mō mātou | About us  

Join Ara Poutama Aotearoa - Department of Corrections, where your work will contribute to improving public safety, reducing re-offending, and address the overrepresentation of Māori in correctional facilities. As a values-led organisation, we use the principles of rangatira (leadership), manaaki (respect), wairua (spirituality), kaitiaki (guardianship), and whānau (relationships) to guide our work and achieve the goals of our Hōkai Rangi strategy. 

We value inclusion and diversity in our workforce, and as a Public Service organisation we are committed to building a workforce that reflects the public we serve. We strive to make our recruitment process fair, and we encourage you to discuss reasonable accommodations with us if required.   

Tono ināianei | Apply Now 

To submit an application and view the position description, click the apply link. All applications must be submitted through our careers site to ensure transparency – applications received via email will not be considered. 

When applying, submit a tailored CV and a cover letter describing your motivation for joining the department highlighting relevant skills and experience and the alignment to our work. 

Applications close on: Sunday 10th May 2026 

If you have any questions or want to learn more about a career with us, contact maria.papp@corrections.govt.nz, or visit careers.corrections.govt.nz.