Kaihautū: Digital-First Leader for Māori Public Broadcasting

Amy Tea Consulting Limited; Howick; On-site; NZD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Whakaata Māori, New Zealand’s Indigenous public broadcaster, seeks an experienced Kaihautū to lead strategic direction and digital transformation in a kaupapa Māori environment. Reporting to the Board, you will balance commercial performance with cultural obligations and steer a high-performing leadership team.

You will drive editorial integrity, oversee financial performance, build trusted Crown and iwi relationships, ensure regulatory compliance, and guide the organisation through its next

Qualifications

• Demonstrated organisational leadership across a large entity with commercial, cultural and social objectives.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen; experience in media, digital, or consumer sectors is advantageous.
• Commitment to revitalisation of te reo Māori and the role of media in language preservation.
• Established networks across iwi and the Māori media sector; able to operate in a kaupapa Māori environment.
• Capability in te reo Māori and tikanga Māori; fluency desirable.
• Judgement and courage to navigate relationships with Government, Board, iwi and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic and business planning with the Board, reflecting trends in media, digital platforms and Māori development.
• Lead the next phase of digital transformation at Whakaata Māori, ensuring platforms, technology, data, content and capability evolve with audience behaviour.
• Oversee financial management and commercial performance, ensuring long-term sustainability.
• Lead, develop and inspire a high-performing executive team and wider staff, embedding te reo me ngā tikanga Māori across the organisation.
• Maintain editorial integrity and manage editorial risk across all content and platforms.
• Build and sustain trusted relationships with the Crown, Te Mātāwai, iwi, funders and the wider broadcasting and Māori media sector.
• Ensure compliance with all statutory and regulatory obligations, including the Māori Television Service Act.

Skills

Leadership

Financial acumen

Strategic planning

Governance

Te ao Māori fluency

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

Whakaata Māori, New Zealand’s Indigenous public broadcaster, seeks an experienced Kaihautū to lead strategic direction and digital transformation in a kaupapa Māori environment. Reporting to the Board, you will balance commercial performance with cultural obligations and steer a high-performing leadership team.

You will drive editorial integrity, oversee financial performance, build trusted Crown and iwi relationships, ensure regulatory compliance, and guide the organisation through its next