Programme Manager - Te Manawa Taki - Hauora Māori Service at Te Whatu Ora, Waikato

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Full-time, permanent position
• Based in Te Manawa Taki | Mid Central Region

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 Programme Manager who reports directly to the Regional Director provides programme and project management support to the regional leadership team.  This role ensures regional programmes are delivered on time, achieve intended outcomes and meet quality standards. 

About Hauora Māori Service

As the Hauora Māori Service of Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora (Health NZ) our core role as the specialist lead on hauora Māori and mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge and matters) for Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora. including: ​

• Day-to-day operations of regional Hauora Māori services, ensuring they are delivered in a way that is consistent with the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. ​
• ​Planning and funding for the delivery of services and whānau-centered models of care, in collaboration with national Performance & Funding functions. ​
• ​Connecting Hospital Services with Hauora Māori partners/providers. ​
• ​Providingsupport for the implementation of cultural standards. ​
• ​Working collaboratively with across Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Teams and Directorates to develop and deliver improved services that enhance Hauora outcomes for Māori, in relation to the way things are done both within the organisation and in the wider community​ Delivering for whānau.​
• Collective impact and ensuring accountability for Hauora Māori outcomes.​
• Sustainable and equitable resourcing.​
• The service monitors whether the health system is delivering equitable outcomes for Māori, ensuring accountability across national, regional, and local levels. System-wide performance oversight
  The service monitors whether the health system is delivering equitable outcomes for Māori, ensuring accountability across national, regional, and local levels.

About you

You are a hard working and experienced programme or project professional, your mātauranga and foundations in Te Ao Māori alongside working with Māori will bring a strong capability in coordinating and delivering programmes of work through a Māori Lense , As a senior leader you will be experienced in supporting and guiding others within your projects, and embedding best practice approaches, including the practical application of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. You are a confident and effective communicator, skilled at supporting senior leaders, enabling cross functional collaboration, and keeping programmes on track to deliver meaningful and measurable outcomes.

You will have:

• Minimum 5 -7 years' experience in programme or project management, preferably within large, complex organisations
• 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 10 April 2026. We will be interviewing suitable candidates as applications are received. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Zerissa Ong on zerissa.ong@tewhatuora.govt.nz

Whilst Health New Zealand is undergoing change affected kaimahi (staff) will be given preference and priority for this position.