Te Pūkenga - Senior Māori Capability Advisor

Barnardos; Wellington; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Barnardos Aotearoa is seeking a Te Pūkenga to lead Māori capability across the organisation. The role focuses on embedding te ao Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi throughout Barnardos’ work with tamariki and whānau.

The successful candidate will design and deliver engaging training, support staff in Māori contexts, and advance strategic plans for tangata Tiriti transformation across Aotearoa. This is a critical, values-driven senior advisory position.

Qualifications

• Fluent in te reo Māori with practical training delivery capability.
• Proven track record in cultural capability training and content creation.
• Deep knowledge of Tikanga Māori and regional variations.
• Strong understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in organisational contexts.
• Experience bridging te ao Māori and te ao Pākehā in service delivery.

Responsibilities

• Design and deliver tikanga-based training to Barnardos staff nationwide.
• Embed te ao Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi into service delivery models.
• Support staff to engage confidently and respectfully in Māori contexts.
• Lead cultural capability initiatives and guide strategy for Tangata Tiriti work.
• Collaborate across teams to ensure authentic Māori integration.

Skills

Te reo Māori fluency

Cultural capability training

Tikanga Māori knowledge

Te Tiriti o Waitangi understanding

Cross-cultural liaison

Facilitation and presentation

Collaborative change agent

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 16th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

• Ata Whakarongo

Are you passionate about Māori culture and committed to creating meaningful change for Māori? Do you have a strong command of te reo Māori and tikanga? Would you like to support us to help all tamariki shine?
Barnardos Aotearoa, New Zealand's leading children's charity, is looking for aTe Pūkengato support our Kaihautū.

About the Role:
This isn't just a job; it's a chance to transform how we work and help every child shine bright. As Te Pūkenga, you'll be key to embedding te ao Māori (the Māori world) throughout Barnardos. You'll move us beyond simply "checking boxes" to truly integrating Māori culture into everything we do, honoring our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

You'll be responsible for:

• Designing and delivering impactful training that builds Māori cultural capability and confidence for all Barnardos staff across New Zealand.
• Bringing te reo Māori and tikanga (Māori customs and practices) to life through practical application in our services.
• Helping our staff feel confident and safe when engaging in Māori contexts, ensuring interactions with tamariki (children) and whānau (families) are respectful and empowering.
• Supporting the gradual adoption of Māori worldviews in our service delivery models.
• Contributing to our strategic direction to ensure Barnardos continues to evolve as a Tangata Tiriti organisation.

Te Pūkenga (Ahurea Māori me te Tiriti o Waitangi)
Hara mai te Toki! Hui e! Taiki e!

E ngākau nui ana koe ki te ahurea Māori, ā, e ū ana ki te whakatinana i ngā kaupapa Māori whai take? He matatau ki te reo Māori me ngā tikanga? He hiahia nōu ki te āwhina i a mātou kia tiramarama ngā tamariki katoa?

Kei te rapu aBarnardos Aotearoa, te kaupapa mahi mōni mō te hunga tamariki nui rawa o Aotearoa, i tētahi Te Pūkenga ki te āwhina tā mātou nā Kaihautū.

Mō te Tūranga nei:
Ehara tēnei i te mahi noa iho; he whai kaupapa, he whai take tēnei kia āwhina i ia tamaiti kia tīramarama. Ko tā Te Pūkenga mahi, he whakaū i te ao Māori me Te Tiriti o Waitangi ki roto o Barnardos whānui. Ko tāu – kia pono te kōrero, he wāhi whakanui, whakatinana hoki i Te Tiriti ki ngā āhuatanga katoa o tā mātou mahi.

Ngā kawenga matua:

• Te waihanga me te tuku i ngā whakangungu whai pānga hei whakakaha i te āheinga ahurea Māori, me te whakamanawanui i ngā kaimahi o Barnardos puta noa i Aotearoa.
• Te whakaora i te reo Māori me te tikanga Māori.
• Te āwhina i ā mātou kaimahi kia mātātoa, kia haumaru hoki te noho i ngā horopaki Māori, kia whakanuia, kia whakapakari hoki ngā whakawhitinga ki ngā tamariki me ō rātou whānau.
• Te tautoko i te urunga ā-taurite o te ao Māori ki ngā tauira tuku ratonga.
• Te tautoko i te ahunga rautaki kia toitū tonu a Barnardos hei rōpū Tangata Tiriti.

Ngā āhuatanga e hiahiatia ana:

• He matatau ki te reo Māori me te āheinga ki te whakahaere i te whakangungu mā te reo.
• Neke atu i te toru tau o te wheako ki te whakangungu ahurea, tae atu ki te waihanga hōtaka, me te tuku i ngā akoranga pārekareka.
• He mōhiotanga hōhonu ki te tikanga Māori me tōna whakamahinga tika, tae atu ki ngā rerekētanga ā-rohe.
• He mōhio whānui ki Te Tiriti o Waitangi me tōna whāinga ki ngā wāhi whakahaere me te hapori.
• He wheako ki te whakatere i waenga i te ao Māori me te ao Pākehā.
• He pūkenga whakahaere hui, whakaatu kōrero, me te whakawhitiwhiti kōrero.
• He hiahia nui ki te kawe i te panonitanga, me te āhua mahi ngātahi.

Ā mātou tuku ki a koe:

• He whai wāhitanga ki te waihanga i tētahi paenga tūturu mō te tini o ngā tamariki me ngā whānau puta noa i Aotearoa.
• He ara ki te ārahi, ki te whakapūmau hoki i te panonitanga ahurea i tētahi rōpū atawhai ā-motu.
• He taiao mahi tautoko, e arahina ana e ngā mātāpono pēnei i a Kotahitanga me te Mahi Tōtika.

Mō Mātou - Barnardos Aotearoa

Rima teka mā rima tau mātou o Barnardos Aotearoa e mahi tahi ana ki ngā whānau me ngā tamariki kia tīramarama! He nui ā mātou kaupapa, mai i te āwhina tangata, te whakawhanake mokopuna, me te tū tautoko i te mana tamariki me te oranga o te whānau. Koia rā ka tika te kī, ko ā mātou nā mahi, mai i te kunenga ki purehuroa, ā, ia te rā, ia te rā, he manaaki, he whāngai, he whakawhanake kia puāwai ai ngā tamariki!

Ko ngā Mātāpono o Barnardos ka pēnei:

• Kotahitanga
• Ata Whakarongo
• Māiatanga
• Kaikōkiritanga
• Mahi tōtika

Ko ngā Pou e Whā o Barnardos ko enei:

Ko tā mātou, he whakaū ki ngā mātapono e whā hei ārahi i ā mātou nā mahi, kia pono hoki ki te tirohanga whakamua:

• Kia ngākau tapatahi ki ngā tamariki me ngā whānau
• Kia ora ai te Tiriti o Waitangi:
• E tū! Kōrero mō te hunga kore reo!:
• Tū maia mō te kaupapa!

Te Pūkenga (Senior Māori Capability Advisor)
Make a Real Difference!

We're Looking For Someone Who Has:

• Fluency in te reo Māoriand the ability to conduct training in te reo.
• Significant experience (3+ years)in cultural capability training and education, including developing content and delivering engaging sessions.
• An in-depth knowledge of Tikanga Māoriand its appropriate application, including regional variations.
• A deep understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangiand how it applies in organisational and community settings.
• Experience navigating both te ao Māori and te ao Pākehā.
• Excellent facilitation, presentation, and communication skills.
• A strong drive to create transformative change and a collaborative approach.

What We Offer:

• The opportunity to make a real and positive difference in the lives of thousands of children and families across New Zealand.
• A chance to shape and drive cultural transformation within a leading national charity.
• A supportive and values-driven work environment guided by principles like Kotahitanga (Unity) and Mahi tōtika (Do the Right Things Well).

About Barnardos AotearoaFor over 55 years Barnardos has been shaping brighter futures together with children and families in Aotearoa. Our mahi across social services, early learning and advocacy for children’s rights and wellbeing means we're there for the whole childhood journey, and beyond.

Every day, we’re making a positive, long-lasting difference to children's lives.

Our Guiding Principles

• Kotahitanga –Unity
• Ata Whakarongo –Hear with Intent
• Māiatanga –Realise Potential
• Kaikōkiritanga –Progress with Purpose
• Mahi tōtika –Do the Right Things Well

Our Four Pou

At Barnardos, we uphold the strength and values of the Four Pou, which guide our strategy and ensure we remain committed to our vision:

• Keeping tamariki and whānau at the heart: We’re here to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families, ensuring their needs and aspirations guide our work.
• Living our tangata whenua / tangata Tiriti commitment: We honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi in everything we do, ensuring that all our relationships and practices reflect this commitment.
• Speaking out: We speak up for what is right, advocating for tamariki, whānau, and the communities we serve.
• Standing strong: We remain steadfast in our values, taking bold action to create a brighter future for all.