Kaioranga Hauora (Cultural Worker) at Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora Southern, Otago

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Kaioranga Hauora (Cultural Worker)

Wakari Hospital, Dunedin

Salary - $79,014 - $110,290 + Kiwisaver

• Exciting opportunity in a supportive environment
• Fulltime, permanent position
• Work as part of clinical teams leading cultural support to tangata whaiora and whānau.
• Are you passionate about improving Māori Health outcomes?

The Kaupapa Maori Mental Health service provide support to patients who are experiencing moderate to severe mental illness. Te Oranga Tonu Tanga is based in Dunedin works alongside clinical teams to provide mental health and cultural support to consumers.

Te Oranga Tonu Tanga service comprises of Kaioranga Hauora Māori / Cultural Workers and Kaumatua who provides cultural expertise to support tangata whaiora and whānau who experience moderate to severe mental illness.

Mō te tūranga | About the role

As a Kaioranga you will work towards improving the health status and access of Māori and reduce health inequalities by providing a tikaķa best practice holistic nursing service.  The Kaioranga will provide interventions which are recovery focused, safe, culturally and clinically appropriate within SDHB Maori Health Services and SDHB Mental Health, Addictions and Intellectual Disability Services. The Kaioranga will work from a Kaupapa Maori philosophic framework, promoting wellness and recovery, working alongside whanau in collaboration with clinical services to ensure that services meet their needs.

Kaioranga Hauora Māori will provide cultural assessment / action plan and interventions which will be developed in partnership with tangata whaiora and their whanau that is recovery focused and promotes good health and wellness. The Kaioranga Hauora Māori will work in partnership with other Te Oranga Tonu Tanga team members and other Southern DHB MHAID staff.

Mōu ake | About you

We are looking for a motivated person who has a passion for and knowledge of Māori Health and mental health. You must have the ability to work collaboratively with teams in Otago and work alongside Mental Health Addictions and Intellectual Disability Services to ensure cultural aspects are recognised, acknowledged and incorporated into all assessments and interventions.

In this role you will be expected to understand Tikanga Whakaaro (cultural assessment), Maioha Hou (Treatment Plan and review) whilst enhancing the wellbeing of Whanau, Iwi through Tikanga Maori and restoring balance of Hauora Maori.

You will bring an understanding and an active approach to the use of Te Reo Maori, Tikanga and Whakawhanaungatanga, as well as passion for working alongside teams to consumers and their family within this specialist mental health service.

You will have excellent organisational, communication and computer skills. You will have the confidence to build successful working relationships with those around you, the ability to work independently or within a multidisciplinary team environment.  You will be competent with Te Reo, have a relationship within the Māori community and a clean driver's license.

The individual we are seeking with have knowledge of tikanga Māori to join our team of health professionals who provide Hauora Maori interventions to Māori who enter into Mental Health Addictions and Intellectual Disability services.  You will be required to complete cultural assessments, provide support and involve Māori and whanau in decision making, hospital treatment and discharge planning to achieve the best possible health outcomes.

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 Sunday 9 August 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact: james.boyd@tewhatuora.govt.nz

We will review applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process, before the closing date of this advert.