Senior Advisor, Te Ao Marama

Ministry of Justice (New Zealand); Wellington; On-site; NZD 113,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

4.4 weeks holiday leave

Flexible work hours where possible

Online professional development portal

Inclusive networks and communities of

Travel opportunities

Job summary

The Ministry of Justice is seeking an experienced Senior Advisor Te Ao Mārama to lead embedding across the District Court, based in Wellington or Hamilton. You will provide high-quality strategic advice, lead workstreams, and build strong relationships with iwi, hapū and communities to support evidence-based decision making and improved outcomes.

Join a collaborative team dedicated to culturally responsive, accessible justice, working across sectors to shape practice and policy in Aotearoa New

Qualifications

• Proven strategic advisory capability in large organisations or public sector.
• Experience building and maintaining strong stakeholder relationships.
• Experience working with iwi, hapū or Māori organisations and kaupapa Māori.
• Experience in justice/public sector or similarly complex environments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication for senior audiences.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality strategic advice on complex, evolving issues.
• Lead projects and workstreams that support Te Ao Mārama implementation.
• Build relationships with iwi, hapū, Māori organisations and communities.
• Support capability development and communities of practice across courts and tribunals.
• Monitor outcomes, identify improvements, and support evidence-based decisions.
• Prepare briefings, reports, and advice for senior leaders and governance groups.
• Support nationally consistent practice while enabling local approaches.

Skills

Strategic advisory

Stakeholder management

Kaupapa Māori approaches

Public sector / justice experience

Communication skills

Job description

Te Haeata/The Opportunity

This role is based in Wellington or Hamilton. We are seeking an experienced and motivated Senior Advisor Te Ao Mārama to help lead the ongoing implementation, embedding and sustainability of Te Ao Mārama across the District Court. Te Ao Mārama is the District Court's response to longstanding calls for change to the justice system.

This is a unique opportunity to help shape the future of justice in Aotearoa New Zealand — one that reflects the aspirations of iwi and communities and enhances justice for all. More information about Te Ao Mārama is available here. As Senior Advisor‑Te Ao Mārama, you will play a key role in advancing a nationally significant Kaupapa that is reshaping the delivery of justice in Aotearoa. You will navigate complex and sometimes ambiguous issues, connect national direction with local practice, and translate evidence, operational insights and kaupapa Māori approaches into practical frameworks, advice and improvements.

You will have the opportunity to:

• Provide high-quality strategic advice on complex and evolving issues
• Lead projects and workstreams that support Te Ao Mārama implementation and continuous improvement
• Building strong relationships with iwi, hapū, Māori organisations and community partners
• Supporting capability development and communities of practice across courts and tribunals
• Monitoring programme outcomes, identifying opportunities for improvement, and supporting evidence-based decision making
• Preparing briefings, reports, presentations and advice for senior leaders and governance groups
• Supporting nationally consistent practice while enabling local approaches that reflect community needs

This is an opportunity to make a practical and enduring contribution to a justice system that is more accessible, inclusive, culturally responsive and effective for everyone in Aotearoa.

Ō pūkenga/Skills and Experience

To be successful in this role, you will bring proven strategic advisory capability, sound judgement and experience working in large, complex organisations. You will be confident providing advice on complex issues, working through ambiguity, and establishing and maintaining strong relationships with the internal kaimahi, the judicial, iwi, and the community.

Your experience will include:

• Working with iwi, hapū, Māori organisations or communities, and applying kaupapa Māori approaches appropriately
• Experience providing high-quality strategic advice in a public sector, justice sector, or similarly complex environment
• Experience leading or contributing to significant projects, programmes, or organisational change initiatives
• Strong relationship management and stakeholder skills including experience with participative design
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including preparing advice for senior audiences

You will be a natural collaborator who works effectively as part of a team, across the wider Ministry and with sector partners. You will also bring, or be able to quickly build, a strong understanding of the machinery of government, the courts, the judiciary and the broader justice sector.

We know that no candidate will meet every requirement. If your experience looks a little different from what we have outlined, but you believe you can bring value to this role and kaupapa, we would like to hear from you.

Mō mātou/About us

At Te Tāhū o te Ture - Ministry of Justice, we are committed to strengthening people's trust in the law of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Te Ao Mārama is designed to support a more accessible, inclusive and effective justice system for all. Led by the judiciary and sitting at the heart of operational delivery, Te Ao Mārama brings together the expertise of the judiciary, iwi and communities within the District Court system.

As part of Operations and Service Delivery, you will work alongside dedicated teams who are committed to delivering modern, people-centred justice services, continuous improvement and partnership with the communities we serve.

Joining Te Tāhū o te Ture means you will become part of an organisation that welcomes and supports people of all gender identities, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, disabilities and religions.

Ngā painga o tēnei wāhi mahi/What's great about working here

We offer you a range of benefits to support your wellbeing and help make the Ministry a great place to be. These include:

• 4.4 weeks holiday leave
• flexible work hours where possible
• an online professional development portal
• access to a variety of inclusive and proactive networks

With a wide range of jobs, you also get the chance to gain a variety of skills and experience while developing your career.

Utu ā-tau/Salary

The appointing salary for this role will be between $112,766 and $145,388 based on skills and experience.

Applications close on 8 October; however, we may review CVs as they are received and invite suitable candidates to interview before the close date.

If you have any questions, please contact [e-mail].