Project Manager Māori - Kaihautū Matua Kaupapa Whānui Māori

Auckland City Mission - Te Tāpui Atawhai; Auckland; On-site; NZD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A community service organization in Auckland is seeking a Project Manager Māori Kaihautū Matua Kaupapa Whānui Māori. This role involves providing leadership across Māori development projects, implementing Te Tiriti Strategy, and fostering cultural understanding within the organization. Candidates should have a relevant tertiary qualification and a strong foundation in te ao Māori. The position offers meaningful work and career growth opportunities in a supportive environment.

Benefits

5 x ‘Mission leave’ days

Access to EAP & external supervision

Access to kapahaka and weekly waiata

Ongoing training and development

15% discount at Op Shops

Access to low-cost, farm-fresh produce

Close to public transport

Discounted parking at SkyCity

Career progression opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience in leading Māori development projects.
• Must exhibit significant cultural understanding and application of mātauranga Māori.

Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation of the Te Tiriti Strategy.
• Contribute to strategic planning, ensuring alignment with Māori aspirations.
• Support deepening understanding of mātauranga Māori across the organisation.

Skills

Tertiary qualification in business administration

Equivalent experience in senior project leadership

Culturally grounded and confident in te ao Māori

Diplomatic and emotionally intelligent

Resilient, adaptable and solution-focused

Education

Tertiary qualification in project management or similar

Job description

• Full Time
• Application Closes 12 Nov 2025
• Auckland - Auckland
• Manager

Project Manager Māori Kaihautū Matua Kaupapa Whānui Māori

About The Role

The role of the Kaihautū Matua Kaupapa Whānui Māori is to provide strategic and operational leadership across Māori development projects and initiatives that give life to the Mission’s Te Tiriti o Waitangi commitments and Te Ao Māori aspirations.

We value team development and our peoples career growth; we will mentor you on your unique journey to do meaningful work in a supportive environment.

Duties

• Work under the direction of the Manutea / GM Māori to lead the implementation of the Te Tiriti Strategy, ensuring equity, cultural safety, and cultural capability are embedded across all organisational practice.
• Lead and support initiatives and plans to embed Te Ao Māori, te reo Māori me ōna tikanga, and mātauranga Māori across all Mission practices in alignment with Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
• Support the change management processes required to embed Te Tiriti-based approaches into policies, systems, and decision-making.
• Contribute to strategic planning, analysis, and reporting, ensuring outcomes align with Māori aspirations and the Mission’s organisational goals.
• Support teams across the organisation to deepen their understanding and application of mātauranga Māori, fostering an environment of continuous cultural learning and practice.

Skills

• Tertiary qualification in business administration, project management, Māori development, or a related discipline.
• Equivalent experience in senior project leadership or organisational development may be considered in place of formal qualification.
• Culturally grounded and confident in te ao Māori, able to lead and make decisions that uphold mana and equity.
• Diplomatic and emotionally intelligent, maintain calm and mana-enhancing relationships in complex or high-pressure situations.
• Resilient, adaptable and solution-focused, able to manage multiple demands and maintain clarity under pressure.

Skills, experience and knowledge may also be obtained from a number of different experiences. For example, from paid work, voluntary work, work undertaken within your Church, Marae, or from specific iwi/whānau responsibilities.

Benefits

• 5 x ‘Mission leave’ days, additional to annual and sick leave.
• Access to EAP & external supervision.
• Access to kapahaka, and weekly waiata.
• Ongoing training and development.
• 15% discount at Auckland City Mission Op Shops.
• Access to low cost, farm fresh produce on a weekly basis.
• Close to public transport.
• Discounted parking at SkyCity.
• Career progression opportunities.

About The Organisation

Auckland City Mission - Te Tāpui Atawhai supports Aucklanders in greatest need. Our services have evolved as the city’s social needs have changed, and we respond to these needs with care and compassion while advocating for a reality where there are: enough suitable homes, enough money for nutritious food, and easily accessible health care for all. Since our doors opened more than 100 years ago, this has been our ‘why’. Today, we operate across 9 sites in Tāmaki Makaurau. We offer support for however long and in whatever way is needed – for some people, that’s simply accessing one of our many services, for others, it’s a complex journey with our full support.

Over the past 12 months, the Mission has provided 200 people with permanent homes, conducted over 20,000 consultations at the Calder Health Centre in HomeGround, cared for 462 people in our residential social detox facility in HomeGround, distributed almost 50,000 food parcels to families and individuals, and served over 80,000 warm meals in our community dining room, Haeata.

Last year we were proud to win the Nga Āhuatanga o Te Tiriti Tohu (Award), and the Supreme Award at the 2023 Diversity Awards. These awards recognise our mahi to create a workplace which empowers Māori, and where Māori solutions can be developed and offered to the people who we support. If you are interested in this role, please apply with your resume and a cover letter outlining your interest in the role and the Auckland City Mission.

• Project-Manager-Māori-9.10.25.doc