Kaitiaki Navigator at Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections), Bay of Plenty (Te Moana a Toi)

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Te Whānau ā Apanui Kaitiaki / Justice Sector Navigator

Kōkā pūpū, kōkā kina.

Fixed term position until June 2026

• Do you have a deep knowledge and applied understanding of tikanga and Te Ao Maori concepts?
• Can you support the provision of cultural leadership, support, and guidance?

Mō te tūnga | About the role.

The High Impact Innovation Programme is a cross-justice sector programme which is hosted at Ara Poutama Aotearoa.  The Apanui Justice Programme was established in 2020 via partnership between Te Whānau ā Apanui (a Bay of Plenty iwi) and representation from Ara Poutama Aotearoa, NZ Police and Ministry of Justice (Crown).  The High Impact Innovation Programme has led on the programmes co-design via Programme Leads and two Iwi representatives.  The Kaitiaki/Justice Sector Navigator will play an integral role in connecting and supporting Te Whānau ā Apanui whānau and hapu to navigate the justice sector and develop positive outcomes which are led by whānau.  The Operations team will support this role alongside the Programme Leads and Iwi Representatives.

As the Kaitiaki Navigator in the Apanui Justice programme, you will play a crucial role in supporting the delivery of the programme strategy through the provision of cultural leadership, support, advocacy and guidance. You will work closely with the operational team, Programme Leads and Iwi

This role carries significant importance, and your broad range of experience will be essential in fulfilling its responsibilities. 

You will:

• Develop and maintain working relationships with key Crown justice sector partners including but not limited to Ministry of Justice, NZ Police, Ara Poutama Aotearoa, Oranga Tamariki (Youth Justice)
• Develop and maintain working relationships with non-Government and Iwi Social Services providers primarily across Bay of Plenty to support connectivity coverage within the immediate reach of Te Whānau ā Apanui tribal rohe (boundary)
• Develop working relationship with the Service Connector, Systems Administrator, Programme Leads and Iwi Representatives, Kāhui Pakeke, the Apanui Justice Programme High Impact Innovation Programme.
• Attend hui, wānanga where relevant to develop further understanding of the justice sector environment to maintain a broader view of key issues impacting this area eg District Court, Community Corrections (Community & Prisons)
• Maintain the mana motuhake of Te Whānau ā Apanui who engage with the navigation service

Ngā pūkenga e kimi ana mātou | Skills we look for:

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Builds and maintains rapport with others, has the ability to collaborate with others to achieve mutually agreed goals
• Ability to be clear about one's role and boundaries to evaluate the purpose of taking a particular action
• Experience in (but not a necessity) social and community work
• Understanding of the justice and social sector environment
• Understanding and awareness of Te Whānau ā Apanui and their needs in relation to navigating the justice sector environment in an effective and efficient manner
• Able to develop and maintain working relationships with key stakeholders
• Able to work confidently in a Crown and Iwi landscape
• Demonstrated ability to work in collaborative peer and other stakeholder relationships
• Confidence in facilitating workshops and managing requirements from multiple parties, mediating conflicting priorities when required
• An ability to elicit and interpret stories from data
• Ability to constructively challenge and influence decisions
• Well-developed written and verbal communication skills and effective interpersonal skills
• Calm professional demeanour, with the ability to maintain performance under stress
• Effective organisation, planning and time management skills
• The ability to manage sensitive and confidential information in an appropriate manner

Qualifications

• A relevant formal qualification would be considered, however experience of work in a kaupapa Māori environment, community and social sector space would be advantageous.

Mō mātou | About us

In June 2019 Te Whānau a Apanui (TWAA) and Justice Sector Agencies (Ministry of Justice, Department of Corrections, NZ Police) signed an Agreement in Principle to enter an enduring cross-sector relationship agreement. One expectation for this agreement was for justice sector agencies and Te Whānau a Apanui to co-design, co-decide and co-implement a joined work programme. In response, the Apanui Justice Programme was established in 2020, parallel and complementary to Te Whānau a Apanui Treaty negotiations.

The first phase of the Apanui Justice programme (July 2021-June 2023) consisted of 6 workstreams which focused on:

• Stocktake: services, service gaps, victims' legislation
• Research: qualitative and quantitative data for Te Whānau a Apanui living within or outside of iwi territories
• Relationship building: hapū chair forum, iwi representatives, mahi group wānanga, joint governance, Regional Crown Agency Leads, Police Te Pae Oranga Leads
• Enabling infrastructure: multi-purpose hub whare with video-conferencing units

The focus on this next phase (July 2023-June 2026) will shift to acting on the facts and main issues identified while building upon the established infrastructure and working relationships. A new programme structure was arrived at in close collaboration with iwi representatives, taking into consideration what was heard in hui and wānanga with Te Whānau a Apanui living within or outside of iwi rohe and in joint governance hui:

1. Taha Mataara: Awareness, alert, mitigate risk; (prevention and early intervention initiatives)
2. Taha Hononga: Form links, network, connect (between services and iwi and between iwi with each other)
3. Taha Oranga: Grow skills, knowledge wellness (reintegration, rehabilitation, therapeutic initiatives)

The programme's first and second phases sit within a larger kaupapa of Te Whānau a Apanui with timeframes to achieve initiatives, projects or changes being described as pae tata – short and medium term and pae tawhiti – long term.

This role will be hosted within Ara Poutama Aotearoa and resources and support will be provided by Ara Poutama for this work within the Apanui Justice Programme.

Tono ināianei | Apply Now

To apply, please submit a tailored CV and a cover letter (PDF) describing your motivation for applying for this vacancy highlighting relevant skills and experience. Alignment to our kaupapa is critical to our success - we ask that your examples to reflect and demonstrate our organisational values. 

Applications close on 11th December 2023

All applications must be submitted through our careers site to ensure transparency. Applications received via email will not be considered.  Should you need any assistance with your application, or have questions please email john.devoy@corrections.govt.nz