Aporei, Te Raukaha Māori | Principal Advisor, Māori Capability at Te Puni Kōkiri - Ministry of Māori Development, Wellington

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Provide Māori capability leadership with a focus on te reo me ngā tikanga
• Support Te Puni Kōkiri's credibility as the Government's principal advisor on Māori development
• Based from Te Tari Matua, Pōneke | National Office, Wellington 

Te Puni Kōkiri leads policy advice to the Government on Māori development, and Iwi and Māori relations with the Crown. To do this effectively we must position ourselves to elevate our monitoring and mentoring responsibilities and emphasise our role in holding other agencies to account for delivery of public services to, for and with Māori.

We’re looking for a Aporei, Te Raukaha Māori | Principal Advisor Māori Capability. This role will work directly with the Secretary for Māori Development and their Executive Leadership Team, providing organisation-wide leadership on te reo me ngā tikanga.

Te whai wāhitanga | The opportunity 

Cultural capability is a critical organisational function and priority. This role will act as the pou tikanga support for the Secretary for Māori Development and their Executive Leadership Team, and support the organisation in key events that are significant to enabling effective Iwi and Māori relations with the crown.

You will provide tikanga Māori advice and assurance, at a senior level, and leverage your influence to lift the organisation's overall cultural practice and protocols. Through influence, credibility and sound judgement, you will help shape strategic decision-making, provide cultural risk management and assurance, and demonstrate strong cultural stewardship.

The likely appointment range is $138,046 - $165,657, based on skills and experience. The full grade for this role is $124,242 - $165,657, with a mid-point of $138,046.

For more information about the skills and experience required for this position, please see the job description.

Mōu | About you 

You will have significant experience providing te reo me ngā tikanga leadership and cultural support and advice, at a senior level and to executive leaders, preferably within a public sector environment. You will be fluent in te reo Māori and have significant experience providing advice on tikanga Māori. You will also have experience in building and developing organisational Māori capability, within the public sector, through the utilisation of effective frameworks, its integration with our role as a government agency and its alignment with the goals of Te Puni Kōkiri, as well as with the expectations of whānau, iwi and hapū. You’ll be a confident communicator, with both Māori and non-Māori, with well-developed relationship management skills to work with a broad range of people including senior management, other agencies, service providers and external contractors. You’ll bring a strong understanding of The Treaty of Waitangi and Te Tiriti o Waitangi and recognise the importance of the Treaty from both Māori and Crown perspectives.

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.   

There is more to life than just work and we encourage our kaimahi to maintain the right balance between mahi and their personal lives. Your whānau is just as important as you, so we're committed to providing incentives and opportunities that help our kaimahi and their whānau to thrive, including: 

• A range of allowances including childcare, optical, hauora/wellbeing and te reo Māori proficiency
• Medical insurance discounts
• Flexible working options
• In house te reo Māori training 
• Kaimahi development and career options, including study assistance  
• Enhanced parental leave provisions  

Te Puni Kōkiri | Ministry of Māori Development 

Te Puni Kōkiri is committed to our vision of 'Whānau Taurikura' - 'Thriving Whānau'. We consider that when whānau are thriving, so do their communities, hapū, iwi and all of Aotearoa. This underpins everything we do. Our people are at the heart of achieving this vision and it is our people who contribute to supporting Māori collective success. They do this by creating and maintaining relationships with iwi, hapū and whānau Māori and government at both a local and national level. It is this that enables Māori participation and success as Māori, and it is our people who will create a future where all whānau can thrive.   

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!  

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

Ka aukati ngā tono hei te 9 Ākuhata 2026 ā te 11.55pm | Applications close on 9 August 2026 at 11.55pm.