Kaitohutohu Whakarae, Māori | Chief Advisor, Māori

Job Description

Kaitohutohu Whakarae, Māori | Chief Advisor, Māori

Location: Wellington

Organisation: Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ)

Mō mātou | About LGNZ

Local Government New Zealand’s (LGNZ) vision is to create the most active and inclusive local democracy in the world. To achieve that, we champion, connect and support local government.

LGNZ represents the national interest of councils across Aotearoa, advocates for local government on critical issues, decodes policy, makes submissions and develops thought leadership. We connect members through networks, sector events and a must-attend annual conference, SuperLocal, that brings everyone together, as well as promoting best practice in local government.

Te āhua o te tūrunga | The nature of the role

We’re looking for a strategic and culturally grounded leader to join our team as Kaitohutohu Whakarae, Māori | Chief Advisor, Māori. This is a pivotal role that will:

• Shape and lead LGNZ’s strategy with a te ao Māori lens, integrating Te Ao Māori and Te Tiriti principles across our mahi.
• Build strong relationships with iwi, hapū and Māori communities, councils, and Te Maruata (the Māori elected and appointed member network).
• Provide cultural and strategic advice to the Chief Executive, Leadership Team, Te Maruata and National Council (Board).
• Grow internal capability in te ao Māori, tikanga, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

You’ll be a trusted senior advisor and connector, working at the intersection of local government and Māori communities to influence positive change.

Ngā tino pūkenga me whai | Essential knowledge, skills and experiences

• Strong understanding of local and central government policy contexts and machinery of government (at least three years' experience)
• Deep understanding and application of tikanga Māori, mātauranga Māori, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi
• Experience working with Iwi, Māori organisations, and government.
• Political acumen and ability to navigate and manage complex relationships.
• Strong leadership, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Conversational or fluent Te Reo Māori.

Tā mātou e tuku |What’s on offer

LGNZ works hard to drive and maintain a positive, dynamic and collaborative work culture. LGNZ people say that they appreciate working in an environment that is supportive, flexible, creative, positive and fun. They’ve identified that the success of the team depends on feeling connected, appreciated, inspired, curious, optimistic and supported. These are real sentiments identified by the people who work for LGNZ.

Other benefits you will enjoy:

• 5 weeks of annual leave, plus 3 additional days per annum between Christmas and New Year
• A genuinely flexible working environment
• Modern offices in the Cuba Quarter
• Subsidised health insurance

Applications for this role close on Sunday 25 January 2026.  For a copy of the position description and more information please email jane.temel@nicherecruitment.co.nz. 

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WHAKATAIRANGA TŪRANGA

Kaitohutohu Whakarae - Māori

Takiwā: Te Whanganui-a-Tara

Tari: Te Kāhui Kaunihera o Aotearoa | Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ)

Mō mātou

Ko te whāinga nui o Te Kāhui Kaunihera o Aotearoa (LGNZ) kia ara mai te manapori kaunihera kaha katoa, kauawhi katoa i te ao. E taea ai te pērā, ko tā mātou he kōkiri, he tūhono, he tautoko mō ngā kaunihera ā-rohe te pai.

Ko LGNZ he māngai mō ngā hiahia o ngā kaunihera puta noa i Aotearoa, he kaitautoko i ngā kaunihera ā-rohe mō ngā take nui o te wā, he kaimatapaki kaupapahere, he kaituku tāpae, he kaiwhakawhanake hoki i te whakaaro nui o te rāngai ki tua. Ka honohono mātou i ngā mema i roto i tā mātou whakakao tangata, whakahaere hui pēnei me te hui ā-tau, arā, ko SuperLocal, e hui mai ai te marea. Ka whakatauira anō mātou i ngā tukanga papai rawa hei whai.

Te āhua o te tūranga

Kei te rapu mātou i te toa kōkiri rautaki, manaaki ahurea Māori, kia hono mai ki tō mātou tīma hei Kaitohutohu Whakarae - Māori. He tūranga tēnei ka:

• hoahoa, ka ārahi i te rautaki o LGNZ me tōna titiro ao Māori, māna e whakatō te reo Māori me ngā mātāpono o Te Tiriti ki roto i ā mātou mahi.
• whakapakari i ngā hononga ki ngā iwi, ki ngā hapū me ngā hapori Māori, ki ngā kaunihera me Te Maruata.
• kawe i te whakaaro nui o te ahurea Māori me te rautaki ki te Tumuaki, ki Te Rōpū Whakahaere, ki Te Maruata me te Kaunihera ā-Motu (arā, te Poari).
• whakangungu i ngā kaimahi ki te ao Māori, ki te tikanga, ki Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Kia poua koe hei kaitohutohu whakarae, hei kaitūhono koe, e mahi ana i te kauhanganui o te kaunihera ā-rohe me ngā hapori Māori, kia hua mai ko te pai.

Ngā tino pūkenga me whai

Me mārama rawa ki te āhua e puta mai ai he kaupapahere ki te kaunihera ā-rohe me te Kāwanatanga, tae atu ki ngā nekehanga o te Kāwanatanga (me toru tau, neke atu, te roa o te mōhio tēnei tūwheako).

• Me mārama rawa ki te hāpai i te tikanga Māori, i te mātauranga Māori, me Te Tiriti o Waitangi horapa katoa i ngā mahi kōkirikiri.
• Me whai wheako ki te mahi tahi me ngā iwi, ngā tari Māori, me te Kāwanatanga.
• Me whai māramatanga tōrangapū, me mōhio hoki ki te manaaki i te hononga matatini.
• Me whai pūkenga ārahi, whakawhiti kōrero, tuitui hononga me te tangata.
• Me rere, me mātanga rānei te reo Māori.

Tā mātou e tuku nei

Kei te mahi nui a LGNZ kia hāpai i te wairua papai, hihiri, mahi tahi i tō mātou tari. E mea ana ngā tāngata o LGNZ he pai ki a rātou te mahi ki te tari he tautoko, ngāwari, auaha, āhuareka, ngahau hoki te āhua. Kua kite mai rātou ko te angitu o te tīma mahi kei te kaha o ngā hononga, o te manaakihia, o te hihiri, o te mahira, o te whakaaro pai, o te tautoko kei te tari e mau ana. He whakakitenga pono ēnei nā te hunga e mahi ana ki LGNZ.

Ko ētahi atu hua ka paingia e koe:

• e 5 wiki whakamatua ā-tau, me te 3 rā anō ia tau mō te Kirihimete me te Tau Hou
• He tikanga mahi ngāwari
• He tari hou kei te Taiwhanga o Cuba
• He whakahekenga utu mō te inihua hauora

Ka katia ngā tono mō tēnei tūranga hei te Rātapu 25 Hānuere 2026.  Mō ngā whakamārama o te tūranga me ētahi atu kōrero, tuku īmēra atu ki jane.temel@nicherecruitment.co.nz.