Pūkenga | Lecturer in Māori Studies

• Do you have a PhD (or are working towards a PhD) in Māori Studies or equivalent experience and demonstrated excellence in teaching?
• Are you an early career academic ready to shape and develop student learning in Te Reo?
• Are you ready to bring your knowledge to a collaborative and dynamic programme?

Kōrero mō te tūranga - About the role

He tūranga e tūwhera ana ki tō mātou tari, ki Te Kawa a Māui. Ko ngā momo pūkenga kei te rapua ko te tangata e mōhio ana ki te whakaako i ngā āhuatanga o te Māori me ōna tikanga. He whare tikanga Māori he whare reo Māori he whare toiora Māori hoki e tū ana i tō mātou marae a Te Tumu Herenga Waka.

Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington is currently recruiting a Pūkenga - Lecturer in Māori Studies to join Te Kawa a Māui - School of Māori Studies on a permanent full-time basis, commencing in July 2026. The successful candidate will coordinate and teach courses (primarily on-line).

Located at Te Iho, a purpose‑built hub of learning based within Pā Mataora and the Te Tumu Herenga Waka Marae, Te Kawa a Māui is a place where culture, scholarship, and community thrive. We proudly uphold our Te Tiriti responsibilities. This is an opportunity to make a significant and lasting contribution through Te Kawa a Māui in a leading tertiary institution. You will join a supportive team committed to excellence, innovation, and the promotion of Māori knowledge and language. Our programmes, staff, and students form a vibrant and active Māori community.

Kaupapa Matua - Key responsibilities:

• Teach a large online undergraduate course and potentially other core papers of our undergraduate majors.
• Supervise post-graduate students to completion.
• Develop and maintain rangahau that build mātauranga and contribute positively to te ao Māori.
• Publish, disseminate, and communicate your mahi to various audiences.
• Contribute to Hautūtanga/leadership responsibilities, administrative roles, strategic endeavours, and outreach to hapori.

Ō pūmanawa - About you

You are motivated, student-focused, and collegial. You are comfortable in tikanga and kaupapa Māori settings, including the marae, and you thrive in a reo Māori environment. Your research will contribute to te Ao Māori and complement the mahi of the school as Tiriti partners for the benefit of all students at Te Herenga Waka. Ideally, you will have a PhD or be working towards one, or have equivalent experience. You can think strategically, work collaboratively, take initiative and work independently, and you are value-and mission-driven. You thrive upon the various tasks and opportunities that academia has to offer.

To be successful in this role, you will demonstrate:

• A strong academic record in scholarship and research.
• Ideally experience in tertiary level teaching and curriculum development.
• A demonstrated deep commitment to the advancement and revitalisation of kaupapa Māori.

Our team is dynamic and friendly, and you will flourish intellectually in the whānau of Te Kawa a Māui and Te Herenga Waka. You’ll find satisfaction and reward from supporting tauira to thrive, learning with colleagues and being in collegial kaupapa Māori environment with the marae of Te Tumu Herenga Waka at its heart.

Role Description: Click here to see further information, including salary details.

If this link is not available, click 'apply' to view this on the University career's page.

Close date for vacancy: 15 June 2026.

Contact details for vacancy: If you have any questions regarding this role please get in touch with Dr Mike Ross, Tumuaki Te Kawa a Māui (mike.ross@vuw.ac.nz).

How to apply: Please ensure you are applying for this role directly on our careers page and not via email. Candidates must submit supporting documents along with their resume, such as a cover letter.

We can only consider applicants who are citizens or residents of New Zealand or Australia or on a current working visa. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and we may progress with suitable applicants prior to the application closing date. Applications from recruitment agencies are not accepted.