Senior Advisor | Kaitohutohu Matua, Te Pae Arataki Ture, Policy - Fixed Term/ Secondment

Te Puni Kōkiri; Wellington; On-site; NZD 105,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Childcare allowances

Optical subsidy

Hauora/wellbeing benefits

Te reo Māori proficiency

Job summary

Te Puni Kōkiri is seeking a Senior Policy Advisor to join a small, high‑performing team on a fixed term/secondment. You will lead policy development, mentor junior staff, and collaborate with government partners to deliver high quality advice that supports Māori development and Crown–Māori relations.

You will work in an ao Māori environment, applying tikanga and prioritising complex policy issues, with strong written communication and stakeholder engagement as core requirements.

Qualifications

• Experience in a government policy shop underpinning mahi with te ao Māori and Te Tiriti.
• Ability to deliver high‑quality policy advice and to work across multiple teams.
• Strong written and oral communication skills for diverse audiences.
• Capable of coaching and mentoring junior staff and building team capability.
• Comfort working in an ao Māori environment with tikanga observed.

Responsibilities

• Lead and influence innovative policy development with cross‑government collaboration.
• Represent Te Puni Kōkiri policy positions in diverse, potentially sensitive contexts.
• Coach kamahi to upskill knowledge of legislation and Crown–Māori relations.
• Demonstrate sound judgment and analytical strength in complex policy issues.

Skills

Policy development

Stakeholder relations

Analytical thinking

Coaching/mentoring

Job description

Senior Advisor | Kaitohutohu Matua, Te Pae Arataki Ture, Policy - Fixed Term/ Secondment

• Provide high-quality policy advice influencing Māori Development and Māori–Crown Relations
• Small, high‑performing team, your capability is uplifted through coaching and mentoring
• If you have knowledge of government processes, analytical skills, and a passion for the kaupapa, we'd love to hear from you
• Full time, Fixed Term/ Secondment opportunity until early October 2027 based in Te Tari Matua/National Office in Pōneke Wellington

Te Pae Arataki Ture (Policy & Law Reform) tima focuses on leading policy on Māori Development legislative reform to ensure mechanisms are fit-for-purpose and reflect Te Tiriti, Māori aspirations, and government priorities.

Our Policy puni leads public policy advice on issues of specific importance to Māori. It also provides interdepartmental policy advice on matters most likely to impact directly on wellbeing and development outcomes for whānau, hapū, iwi and Māori. Working together with the other Te Puni Kokiri puni, the Policy puni leads, influences, contributes to and supports policy thinking at multiple levels – from system-level strategic policy and frameworks, to specific, regionally located policy initiatives and proposals.

The Policy puni is implementing new, agile ways of working to ensure we can adapt swiftly as priorities change. This includes a stronger focus on programme management, collective decisions about resourcing across teams, and the ability to form temporary cross-team or puni project teams, when work doesn’t fit within existing teams. This flexibility allows us to deliver priority work, ensuring that we can respond to unique or emerging challenges as they arise.

We work in agile, kaupapa aligned ways using programme management, shared resourcing across teams, and standing up cross puni project groups when mahi spans domains. This allows us to move quickly on priorities and respond to emerging opportunities and risks.

Te whai wāhitanga | The opportunity

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Policy Advisor to join this small, dynamic, professional team on a Fixed Term/ Secondment basis.

Senior Advisors lead larger or more complex projects providing guidance and mentoring to less experienced staff and supporting managers in building team capability. As a senior advisor we would expect you to be able to:

• Lead and influence innovative policy development, ensuring high‑quality advice and practice. Collaborate across Te Puni Kōkiri and government to create policies that support Thriving Whānau, including providing secondary advice to Ministers.
• Represent a Te Puni Kōkiri policy position in diverse and potentially politically sensitive contexts.
• Coach and mentor junior kamahi to upskill their knowledge of legislation and Crown‑Māori Relations
• Demonstrate sound judgment, analytical strength, and agility in complex, cross‑sector environments.

The likely appointment range for this role is between $105,100(90%) and $116,777 (100%) per annum. The full salary range of the grade is $105,100(90%) and $140,132 (120%)

An experienced policy professional, you will have previous experience in a government policy shop where te ao Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi frameworks underpin your mahi. You will have:

• The mix ofknowledge, skills, practices, and behavioursrequired by a modern policy practitioner to be able to deliver quality policy advice.
• Prior experience in a government policy making.
• Comfort working in an ao Māori environment and in situations where tikanga is observed.
• An understanding of, and ability to prioritise, the flow of information and manage complex policy issues.
• Highly developed communication skills, especially written communication.
• Experience in building key stakeholder relationships and the ability to explain complex issues clearly to diverse audiences, including non-technical experts.

Tāu e whai ai | What you will get in return

Te Puni Kōkiri is a diverse and rewarding working environment full of passionate kaimahi focused on creating solutions that will help our communities. We are guided by our values of te wero, manaakitanga, he toa takitini, and ture tangata.

There is more to life than just work and we encourage our kaimahi to maintain the right balance between mahi and their personal lives. Your whānau is just as important as you, so we're committed to providing incentives and opportunities that help our kaimahi and their whānau to thrive, including:

• A range of allowances including childcare, optical, hauora/wellbeing and te reo Māori proficiency
• Flexible working options
• Kaimahi development and career options, including study assistance
• Enhanced parental leave provisions

Te Puni Kōkiri | Ministry of Māori Development

We are committed to our vision of 'Thriving Whānau' - when whānau are thriving, so do their communities, hapū, iwi and all of Aotearoa. Te Puni Kōkiri leads policy advice to the Government on Māori development, and Iwi and Māori relations with the Crown. Our people are at the heart of the work we do – using our approaches to improve outcomes to, for and with Māori, and to drive our efforts to build an Aotearoa where whānau can all stand, thrive and belong.

We invite applications from individuals of all backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. We believe that diversity fuels innovation and enriches our collective strength. Your unique perspectives, skills, and heritage contribute to our mission of advancing Māori aspirations and well-being.

We want to make sure any accessibility requirements you may have, are well supported so the selection process is equitable for everyone. Please let us know if there are any adjustments or support, we can offer to make our process more accessible to you by emailing: [e-mail]