Kaiawhina - Breast and Retinal Screening

New Zealand Government Joba; Northland; On-site; NZD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora in Northland is seeking a Kaiāwhina (Māori/Pacific Navigator) to support Māori and Pacific patients and their whānau through their hauora journey. You will build trusting relationships, provide advocacy and practical support to access care, and work with Breast Screening and Retinal Screening teams to meet coverage targets.

You will travel across Northland, promote tikanga-based practices, and help remove barriers to improve health literacy and service delivery

Qualifications

• Experience working with whānau and building strong relationships.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and PMS/database navigation.
• Confident working across community and clinical settings.
• Excellent communication, organisational and time management skills.
• Experience supporting individuals or communities navigating health or social services.
• Willingness to travel throughout Northland and hold a valid full driver's licence.
• Knowledge of tikanga Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi in health settings.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional support to Breast and retinal Screening teams.
• Support Māori and Pacific patients through hauora journey and advocacy.
• Coordinate appointments and connect patients with community services.
• Promote tikanga-based practices and culturally safe, whānau-centred care.

Skills

Cultural capability

Relationship building

Communication

Time management

Community navigation

Travel ready

Tools

Microsoft Office

PMS/database navigation

Job description

Permanent, full-time role working 40-hours per week for Breast and retinal Screening

Make a real difference for whānau across Te Tai Tokerau

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to building a health system that serves all New Zealanders.

About the Role

As a Kaiāwhina (Māori/Pacific Navigator), you will play a vital role in supporting Māori and Pacific patients and their whānau through their hauora journey. You will build trusting relationships through whakawhanaungatanga, providing guidance, advocacy and practical support to ensure patients can access care and move confidently through the Breast and retinal Screening pathways.

You will provide professional support to the Breast Screening service and Retinal Screening teams to ensure that the 90% Ministry of Health coverage targets are met for the people living in Te Tai Tokerau.

In this highly rewarding role, you will work closely with Clinical Nurse Specialists, medical photographers, and the wider multidisciplinary team to remove barriers, improve health literacy, and ensure culturally safe, whānau-centred care. From coordinating appointments and connecting patients with community services, to promoting tikanga-based practices and improving service delivery.

About the Team/Service/Location

For more information on living and working in Northland click here

About you

As a Kaiāwhina, you bring strong cultural capability, compassion, and the ability to connect meaningfully with people. You will also have:

• Experience working alongside whānau and build strong relationships
• Proficient in Microsoft office suite and PMS/data base navigation
• Confidence working across community and clinical settings
• Proven communication, organisational, and time management skills
• Experience supporting individuals or communities navigating health or social services
• Available to travel throughout Northland and have a current full drivers licence
• Knowledge of tikanga Māori and an understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in a health setting

Working at Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of New Zealand. We embrace a workforce that is diverse and inclusive so that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.