Kaitohu Matua | Senior Advisor, Te Pou Taiao - Full Time, Fixed term/ Secondment at Te Puni Kōkiri - Ministry of Māori Development, Wellington

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• If you're a policy professional looking for a short term assignment?
• If you have knowledge of government processes, analytical skills, and a passion for the kaupapa, we'd love to hear from you
• Full time, Fixed Term/ secondment opportunity based in Te Tari Matua/National Office in Pōneke Wellington

We are looking for a Senior Policy Advisor to join Te Pou Taiao, our policy team which focuses on environmental policy and sustainable development, ensuring the needs and aspirations of iwi, hapū and whānau are central to policy.

This role is a full time, fixed term/ secondment opportunity to backfill parental leave till mid November 2026.

Te Pou Taiao team leads public policy advice on environmental policy including impacts on whenua Māori & biodiversity, the impacts of climate change and participation in natural resource management.  We partner with other puni and agencies to influence system settings. We are informed by regionally grounded initiatives and advice to further influence settings that lift opportunities for whānau, hapū and iwi.

We work in agile, kaupapa aligned ways using programme management, shared resourcing across teams, and standing up cross puni project groups when mahi spans domains. This allows us to move quickly on priorities and respond to emerging opportunities and risks. 

Te whai wāhitanga | The opportunity

Senior Advisors lead larger or more complex projects providing guidance and mentoring to less experienced staff and supporting managers in building team capability.  As a senior advisor we would expect you to be able to:

• Lead and influence innovative policy development, ensuring high-quality advice and practice. Collaborate across Te Puni Kōkiri and government to create policies that support Thriving Whānau, including providing secondary advice to Ministers.
• Represent a Te Puni Kōkiri policy position in diverse and potentially politically sensitive contexts.
• Apply Te Tautuhi ō Rongo and other te ao Māori frameworks, contributing to their evolution as Treaty-anchored tools.
• Demonstrate sound judgment, analytical strength, and agility in complex, cross-sector environments.

The likely appointment range for this role is between $104,317(90%) and $115,907 (100%) per annum. The full salary range of the grade is $104,317(90%) and $139,088 (120%)

Mōu | About you

An experienced policy professional, you will have previous experience in a government policy shop where te ao Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi frameworks underpin your mahi. You will have:

• The mix of knowledge, skills, practices, and behaviours required by a modern policy practitioner to be able to deliver quality policy advice.
• Prior experience in a government policy making.
• Comfort working in an ao Māori environment and in situations where tikanga is observed.
• An understanding of, and ability to prioritise, the flow of information and manage complex policy issues.
• Highly developed communication skills, especially written communication.
• Experience in building key stakeholder relationships and the ability to explain complex issues clearly to diverse audiences, including non-technical experts.

Tāu e whai ai | What you will get in return

Te Puni Kōkiri is a diverse and rewarding working environment full of passionate kaimahi focused on creating solutions that will help our communities. We are guided by our values of te wero, manaakitanga, he toa takitini, and ture tangata.

We offer flexible working options as well as training and development opportunities, including in te reo Māori. 

Te Puni Kōkiri | Ministry of Māori Development 

We are committed to our vision of 'Thriving Whānau' - when whānau are thriving, so do their communities, hapū, iwi and all of Aotearoa. Te Puni Kōkiri leads policy advice to the Government on Māori development, and Iwi and Māori relations with the Crown. Our people are at the heart of the work we do – using our approaches to improve outcomes to, for and with Māori, and to drive our efforts to build an Aotearoa where whānau can all stand, thrive and belong.

Find out more about Our Story

We invite applications from individuals of all backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. We believe that diversity fuels innovation and enriches our collective strength. Your unique perspectives, skills, and heritage contribute to our mission of advancing Māori aspirations and well-being.    

Tono mai | Apply Now!  

Ka aukati ngā tono hei te Rāpare 2 Paengawhāwhā 2026 ā te 11.55pm | Applications close on Thursday 2 April 2026 at 11.55pm.   

Tukuna mai tau tono ā-ipurangi | Please submit your application online. 

Nau mai rā ko ngā tononga i te reo Māori, te reo Pākehā, te reorua rānei | We welcome applications in te reo Māori, English, or both.  

Īmēratia vacancy@tpk.govt.nz me he pātai āu | Email vacancy@tpk.govt.nz with any pātai. 

We want to make sure any accessibility requirements you may have, are well supported so the selection process is equitable for everyone. Please let us know if there are any adjustments or support, we can offer to make our process more accessible to you by emailing: vacancy@tpk.govt.nz