Private Secretary (Administration) - Hon Potaka

Department of Internal Affairs; New Zealand; On-site; NZD 71,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A New Zealand Government Office seeks a Private Secretary (Administration) to support Hon Tama Potaka. You will manage correspondence, assist with diary management, and engage with stakeholders, ensuring a smoothly run Ministerial office. Ideal candidates are experienced administrators with strong communication skills and attention to detail. The role offers a salary range of $71,767 - $89,310 per annum, starting late November 2025.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in administration, secretarial, or reception roles.
• Ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders.
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage Ministerial correspondence and diary.
• Support the Senior Private Secretary with travel arrangements.
• Draft responses to Official Information Act Requests.

Skills

Basic Te reo Māori

Administration experience

Proficiency in Microsoft Office

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Tools

SharePoint

Adobe Acrobat

Job description

Overview

Private Secretary (Administration) to the office of Hon Tama Potaka

Hon Tama Potaka is seeking an initiative-taking and detail-oriented Administrator to join his office as a Private Secretary.

Hon Tama Potaka, Minister of Conservation, Minister for Māori Crown Relations, Minister for Māori Development, Minister for Whānau Ora, Associate Minister of Housing and MP for Hamilton West is seeking a self-motivated and detail-oriented administrator to join his team as a Private Secretary (Administration).

Based in his Ministerial Office at Parliament, you\'ll be a key member of his close-knit, energetic, and trusted team, supporting him throughout the 54th Parliament.

Key Responsibilities

• Be the welcoming and friendly face of the office by greeting manuhiri (visitors)
• Respond to portfolio related pātai (questions) via email & phone with care and professionalism
• Manage Ministerial correspondence involving process-driven administrative tasks such as logging invitations and meeting requests, hard-copy correspondence, and responding to stakeholders’ requests and invitations.
• Support the Senior Private Secretary with managing the Minister\'s diary, travel arrangements, and daily schedule
• Draft and respond to Official Information Act Requests
• Support with written and oral Parliamentary questions
• Liaise with the Electorate office to keep the Minister informed of local developments
• This is an events-based position based on the parliamentary term. The salary band range for this role is $71,767- $89,310 per annum, with starting salaries reflecting relevant skills and experience, as well as internal parity.

What we\'re looking for

We welcome applications from experienced administrators who is looking for a unique and meaningful role where no two days are the same.

Essential Skills

• Ability to communicate in basic Te reo Māori
• Proven experience administration, secretarial, and/or reception roles
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, SharePoint, Adobe Acrobat and speedy typing skills
• Excellent attention to detail and organisational skills
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment
• An ability to work and problem solve at pace, with maturity, proactiveness and an elevated level of resilience.

Desirable Attributes

• An understanding of the machinery of government, OIAs, and Written or Oral Parliamentary questions would be advantageous
• Experience or interest in Minister Potaka’s portfolios would be advantageous
• Demonstrated experience or genuine interest in social media engagement and content creation
• A positive attitude and approach to your work
• A good sense of humour with the ability to have a laugh and work both closely with your team.

Additional Information

This role will not commence until late November 2025.

About us

Ministerial Resourcing is the team within the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) responsible for ensuring Ministers’ offices are suitably resourced with a range of highly skilled staff, who, in turn, provide a high level of support to the Minister, and ensure the smooth day to day running of their office.

As a Ministerial office staff member, you will be employed by DIA and supported by our dedicated team of Portfolio Managers. Our purpose is to serve and connect people, communities, and Government to build a safe, prosperous, and respected nation. In other words, it is all about helping to make New Zealand better for New Zealanders.

Interested? Apply today!

Please note applicants must be Permanent Residents or NZ Citizens and are required to obtain and maintain a national security clearance at a confidential level or above. Prior to applying please assess your eligibility status using the Protective Security Requirements tool found here: [redacted].

Applications close 5pm, Friday 24 October 2025, however, we will be assessing and interviewing suitable applicants throughout this period – early applications are encouraged. For more information, please contact [e-mail]

To review the full job description, please review the full description in the application portal.