Principal Advisor - Hauora Māori Practice & Improvement - Hauora Māori Service at Te Whatu Ora, All Locations

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Permanent, full time position 
• Work from any Health New Zealand office location nationwide

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is the country's largest employer, delivering universal public healthcare to 5 million New Zealanders.

We provide essential hospital, specialist, and community health services across 80+ locations — from large urban centres to rural towns and remote communities.

Our goal is to improve health outcomes for all New Zealanders by delivering equitable, accessible and innovative care.

About the Role

The Principal Advisor Hauora Māori Practice and Improvement is a senior leadership role responsible for providing strategic direction, oversight, and quality assurance across key portfolios within the Hauora Māori Service. The role champions Pae Ora excellence in care and values‑based leadership while supporting system improvement for Māori health outcomes.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing strategic leadership, oversight, and quality assurance across Practice and Improvement portfolios
• Representing the Group Manager in hui and senior forums as required
• Working collaboratively across the Hauora Māori Service and wider Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora teams
• Independently identifying, escalating, and managing risks and issues, and proposing solutions
• Building and maintaining agile working relationships in a dynamic organisational and community environment
• Leading and mentoring junior staff within the Practice and Improvement team
• Championing Pae Ora excellence in care and values-based leadership as part of the national Hauora Māori Service clinical team

About the Team/Service

As the Hauora Māori Service of Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora (Health NZ) our core role is to ensure New Zealanders have better and more timely access to health care.  The Clinical team provides Māori clinical leadership and fosters strong collaboration with Hauora Māori Chief Clinical Officers, National Directors, and partners to drive health gain and development. Their role includes planning, oversight, and professional advice to enable a whole-of-system approach for high-quality care for Māori.

About you

You bring expertise in quality improvement frameworks, system processes, and clinical governance, underpinned by a strong understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its application in health. You demonstrate culturally responsive leadership that aligns with Māori health aspirations and Pae Ora outcomes. With exceptional relationship‑building skills, you provide confident senior leadership across cross‑sector initiatives, policy development, and system improvement, influencing change and guiding others in complex environments.

You will have:

• A minimum of 8 years' experience in advisory or related roles, with demonstrated experience operating at a senior leadership level
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare high‑quality governance papers, reports, and briefing materials
• Strong knowledge and practical experience in applying Mātauranga Māori and Kaupapa Māori approaches within complex environments
• Proven analytical and problem‑solving capability, with experience within the health sector considered advantageous

Working at Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of New Zealand. We embrace a workforce that is diverse and inclusive so that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.  

How to Apply

To apply please click “apply now.”  All applications must be submitted through our online careers' portal by 26 October 2026.  If you have any questions about the role, please contact Zerissa Ong on zerissa.ong@tewhatuora.govt.nz

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