Whanau Ora Housing Specialist

Rukuhia Te Mahi; Whakatāne; Hybrid; NZD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Te Puna Ora Group in Whakatane region is seeking a Whānau Ora Housing Specialist to help whānau navigate housing options from emergency to public housing. You will coordinate referrals, advocate with housing providers and agencies, and support whānau to secure safe, stable homes.

The role focuses on kaupapa Māori approaches, building strong relationships with Kāinga Ora, MSD and community providers, and delivering timely funder reports while managing a caseload with resilience.

Qualifications

• Experience in housing, homelessness, whānau ora, social services or community development.
• Good understanding of Kāinga Ora, MSD and housing pathways.
• Strong relationship-building, advocacy and communication skills.
• Ability to produce high-quality, timely funder reports.
• Able to effectively manage a caseload.
• Works well under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Navigate housing options from emergency and transitional housing through to public and private housing.
• Coordinate referrals and applications.
• Advocate with housing providers and agencies.
• Support whānau to overcome barriers and move towards safe, stable and sustainable housing.
• Build strong relationships with Kāinga Ora, MSD, housing providers, iwi and Māori providers, landlords and community services.

Skills

Relationship-building

Advocacy

Communication

Caseload management

Housing sector experience

Job description

Ngati Awa (Whakatane and surrounding areas)

Housing & Homelessness Services (Community Services & Development)

Full time

Te Puna Ora Group is the leading regional Māori health and wellbeing provider in the country. Established in 1991, Te Puna Ora Group delivers an integrated range of community health, general medical, homebased, and social services within the Mataatua rohe, mai Ngā Kuri a Whārei ki Tihirau.

He aha te tūnga I About the role

Our Whānau Ora team is committed to supporting whānau to achieve their housing goals and build stronger, more sustainable futures. We work alongside whānau to understand their needs, strengths and aspirations, and connect them with the right support and housing pathways.

As our Whānau Ora Housing Specialist, you’ll work alongside whānau to navigate housing options, from emergency and transitional housing through to public and private housing. You’ll coordinate referrals and applications, advocate with housing providers and agencies, and support whānau to overcome barriers and move towards safe, stable and sustainable housing.

You’ll build strong relationships with whānau, Kāinga Ora, MSD, housing providers, iwi and Māori providers, landlords and community services, while coordinating responses where whānau have complex housing needs. If you’re passionate about supporting whānau, kaupapa Māori approaches and helping whānau achieve their housing aspirations, we’d love to hear from you.

For this role, we are looking for someone who:

• Has experience in housing, homelessness, Whānau Ora, social services or community development
• Has a good understanding of Kāinga Ora, MSD and housing pathways
• Has strong relationship-building, advocacy and communication skills
• Produce high-quality, timely funder reports.
• Effectively manage a caseload.
• Works well under pressure.