Education Tutor - Whanganui Prison at Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections), Manawatu-Whanganui

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Education Tutor

Are you looking for a new start and a fresh challenge in 2026?
Do you want to make a real difference in people's lives and help shape brighter futures? If that sounds like something you're interested in, read on to learn about this exciting opportunity.

• Full-time, permanent opportunity
• Based at Whanganui Prison
• Join a values-led organisation doing mahi that matters!

“He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata.”
What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people.

Mō te tūnga | About the role

Education Tutors support and work with people in prison to improve their educational outcomes and prepare them for employment and further learning. You'll assess individual learning needs, develop tailored education plans, and guide learners through a range of programmes and industry training opportunities. This is a unique and rewarding role where you'll coordinate and deliver diverse education programmes and activities, helping learners build essential literacy, numeracy, and vocational skills, empowering them to achieve recognised qualifications and unlock future opportunities.

We also appreciate different skill sets within our team from different backgrounds, cultures, education, and experience as we all share the ability to motivate and work alongside one other to support learner in our care to make positive changes in their lives.

Mōu | About you

We're looking for people who are passionate about education and committed to supporting rehabilitation. Do you have the ability to influence, inspire, and motivate learners, particularly those who may be reluctant or face barriers to learning?

Are you highly organised and adaptable, open to working collaboratively within a team setting, and eager to contribute to positive change? Do you have strong communication skills, both written and verbal, along with confidence using computer applications and learning platforms?

Do you bring cultural capability and understanding, combined with a strengths-based approach that embraces manaakitanga and whanaungatanga? Above all, do you have integrity, cultural awareness, and a genuine commitment to reducing re-offending and improving outcomes for learners?

If this sounds like you, this could be the opportunity you've been looking for!

Skills and experience

To be successful in this position you will need:

• Proven ability to successfully work with young people and adults with high needs, including those with diverse worldviews
• Sound knowledge of the New Zealand Qualifications Framework
• Proven capability to support education and training programmes and resources to meet a variety of learner needs
• Proven ability to increase Māori engagement and achievement
• Experience embedding literacy and numeracy into learning
• Competency in using computer applications and learning platforms (e.g., Microsoft Office, TEC Literacy and Numeracy Adult Assessment Tool (LNAAT), Pathways Awarua)
• Well-developed written and oral communication skills
• A broad understanding of Tikanga Māori and Pasifika cultures
• Proven ability to engage and motivate reluctant learners
• A genuine desire and commitment to rehabilitation and reducing re-offending
• A clean, full New Zealand Driver's license
• The legal right to work in New Zealand, without restriction, for a minimum of 24 months

Qualifications:

• A tertiary qualification and/or a qualification in Adult Education is required
• Desirable: National Certificate in Adult Literacy and Numeracy Education

Ngā painga | The benefits

The salary range for this position is from $77,841 to $86,152. Appointment and remuneration will reflect skills and experience relevant to the role.

Mō mātou | About us

Join Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections) where your work will contribute to improving public safety, reducing re-offending, and addressing the overrepresentation of Māori in correctional facilities. As a values-led organisation, we use the principles of rangatira (leadership), manaaki (respect), wairua (spirituality), kaitiaki (guardianship), and whānau (relationships) to guide our work and achieve the goals of our Hōkai Rangi strategy.

We value inclusion and diversity in our workforce, and as a Public Service organisation we are committed to building a workforce that reflects the public we serve. We strive to make our recruitment process fair, and we encourage you to discuss reasonable accommodations with us if required.

Apply Now

To submit an application and view the position description, click the Apply link. All applications must be submitted through our careers site to ensure transparency. Applications received via email will not be considered.

When applying, submit a tailored CV and a cover letter describing your motivation for joining the department, highlighting relevant skills and experience and your alignment to our work.

Applications close: Sunday 1st February 2026.

If you have any questions or want to learn more about a career with us, contact LNRRecruitmentSM@corrections.govt.nz or visit careers.corrections.govt.nz