Kaiako Matua | Head Teacher (Certificated ECE)

Mauri Centre of Innovation; Whangarei; On-site; NZD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Mauri Centre of Innovation in Whangārei Te Terenga Paraoa seeks a fully certificated ECE leader with strong teaching practice and sound organisation. The role combines teaching, pedagogical leadership and day-to-day operations, guiding curriculum, planning, assessment and evaluation while building relationships with tamariki, whānau and community.

You’ll coordinate enrolments and occupancy, maintain records, and support licensing, health and safety, ERO and Ministry requirements.

Qualifications

• Fully certificated ECE leader with strong teaching practice.
• Willingness to learn te reo Māori and engage with whānau.
• Ability to lead curriculum and guide planning, assessment and evaluation.

Responsibilities

• Lead curriculum alongside a small team.
• Model intentional practice and mentor kaiako.
• Coordinate enrolments, occupancy and centre records.
• Support licensing, health and safety, ERO and Ministry requirements.

Skills

Leadership

Curriculum planning

Mentoring

Community engagement

Education

ECE qualification

Job description

Wanted: A unicorn.

Mauri: Centre of Innovation is a reo rua early learning centre in Whangārei Te Terenga Paraoa.

"Kia tupu te mauri, kia rangatira ai te whānau" is our kaupapa. We offer an authentic, whānau-centred environment where our people are encouraged to learn, question and make mistakes in order to grow and improve.

This hands-on kaiako matua role combines teaching, pedagogical leadership and day-to-day operations. You’ll lead curriculum alongside a small team, model intentional practice, mentor kaiako, guide planning, assessment and internal evaluation, and build relationships with tamariki, whānau, hapū, iwi and community.

You’ll coordinate enrolments and occupancy, maintain some centre records and systems, and support licensing, health and safety, ERO and Ministry requirements.

Purpose-designed spaces support movement, science, art, sensory exploration and outdoor learning. Our place-based curriculumdraws on Te Whāriki - Te Ara Māori and Kōwhiti Whakapae. We use the public bus system to attend community events. Our current He Whakaputanga inquiry has so far involved whānau feedback on rangatiratanga, haerenga to Waitangi and Whangāroa and is developing several changes to our practice. Tamariki contribute to their scrapbook style portfolios including printing their own mahi and have named our robot vacuum "ngōngō".

Kura kaupapa graduates bring reo strengths that support tamariki and certificated kaiako on their reo journeys.

We’re curious about human-AI collaboration. Using AI thoughtfully for suitable routine tasks while kaiako bring the relationships, professional judgement and creativity.

We’re looking for a fully certificated ECE leader with strong teaching practice, sound organisation and a willingness to keep learning te reo Māori. Fluency is not required. You may be an accomplished leader ready for a fresh opportunity, or a strong kaiako ready to stretch into leadership.

The role is advertised full-time, but we’re open to discussing part-time hours or shorter days for the right person.