Kaitiaki Reo Māori

JobsCloseBy Editorial Insights

The Kaitiaki Reo Māori at the University of Auckland is a permanent 0.6 FTE, onsite role within the Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor Māori, dedicated to revitalising te reo Māori across Waipapa Taumata Rau. The role emphasizes planning, coordination and relationship building to lead language development initiatives, resources and programme activity, rather than delivering teaching. You should bring credible te reo Māori and tikanga Māori, plus strong administrative and stakeholder-management skills to connect with Māori staff, professional and academic colleagues, and external contributors. Apply online by 9 August 2026 with a CV and cover letter that highlights language planning impact and alignment with Te Tiriti o Waitangi Kawea Ake, and be prepared for on-campus collaboration. For questions contact Michael Steedman.

Job Description

Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity

Ko te reo Māori te reo taketake o Aotearoa, te manawapou hoki o te ahurea me te tuakiri Māori. Ko tā te kaupapa tūranga here reo Māori e whai ake nei he hāpai ake i te whakarauoratanga o te reo Māori mā te whakarato i tētahi anga e ora ai te reo Māori i ngā kokoru katoa o Waipapa Taumata Rau

Working within the Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor Māori, the Kaitiaki Reo Māori will contribute to the University’s commitment to te reo Māori revitalisation, Māori success, and the aspirations reflected through Kawea Ake.

This role is suited to someone who brings credibility in te reo Māori and tikanga Māori, alongside the planning, coordination, and relationship skills needed to support University-wide language revitalisation mahi.

While confidence in te reo Māori is important, this is not primarily a teaching delivery role. A key focus will be coordinating, strengthening, and overseeing te reo Māori development initiatives, resources, relationships, and programme activity across the University.

This is a permanent, part-time role at 0.6 FTE, approximately 22 hours per week. The working pattern can be discussed, with a preference for regular on-campus presence in Tāmaki Makaurau to support relationships, programme activity, and team connection.

Mō tō mātou rōpū | About us

We are grounded in our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and to achieving equitable outcomes for Māori staff and students. Our marae are central to this commitment—serving as places of connection, identity, learning, and community.

He kōrero mōu | About you

This role is suited to someone with a strong grounding in te reo Māori, tikanga Māori, and te ao Māori, who is equally comfortable working in a planned, organised, and relationship-led environment.

You will bring:

• Credible capability in te reo Māori, with the ability to understand, assess, support, and advise on reo Māori language planning
• A strong understanding of tikanga Māori and the role of te reo Māori in strengthening identity, culture, belonging, and Māori success
• Experience or understanding of te reo Māori revitalisation, language planning, or Māori language development initiatives
• The ability to coordinate programmes, resources, events, and kaupapa from planning through to delivery=
• Strong administrative, organisational, and coordination skills, with attention to detail
• The ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and work across multiple stakeholders and Kaupapa
• Proven ability to build trusted relationships with Māori staff, professional staff, senior stakeholders, external contributors, and reo Māori experts
• Confidence to work independently while staying connected to the wider team, strategy, and kaupapa of the Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor Māori

You will bring maturity, sound judgement, and enough professional, community, iwi, hapū, marae, education, or lived experience to operate with credibility in a kaupapa Māori and te reo Māori revitalisation environment.

See more detail about this role in the Position Description.

Mō tō mātou rōpū | About the team

You will be part of the Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor Māori, working alongside a team committed to advancing Māori success, te reo Māori revitalisation, and the aspirations of Kawea Ake across Waipapa Taumata Rau.

The Office works across the University to strengthen Māori leadership, mātauranga Māori, tikanga Māori, te reo Māori, and equitable outcomes for Māori staff and students. In this role, you will work closely with kaimahi Māori, professional and academic staff, reo Māori contributors, programme leads, and wider University networks to support the growth and normalisation of te reo Māori across the University.

You will also contribute to a connected kaupapa Māori environment where relationships, manaakitanga, sound judgement, and collective responsibility are central to the way the mahi is carried out.

Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou | What we offer

The University of Auckland is dedicated to providing an excellent and stimulating environment for its employees which ensures a healthy work-life balance through.

• Five weeks’ annual leave per annum (pro-rated)
• Up to 6.75% employer superannuation contribution.
• 37.5 hours working week
• Hybrid working arrangements
• Discounted, onsite childcare, parking and various leisure and recreation services.

For more information on the benefits of working here, see our Staff Benefits page. 

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to apply

Applications should be submitted online, before the closing date of Sunday 9th August, 2026 and include a CV and cover letter outlining what strengths you will bring to this role.

Should we meet you for an interview, your whānau and support people are welcome to join you, and we welcome you to contact us to discuss any reasonable accommodations we can make throughout the recruitment process.

If you have any questions about this role, please get in touch with Michael Steedman, Kaiarataki on [email protected]

While we are happy to answer questions by email, we ask that applications are submitted online.

Additional Information

Equity

The University is committed to meeting its obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi and achieving equity outcomes for staff and students in a safe, inclusive, and equitable environment.  For further information on services for Māori, Pacific, women, LGBTQIATakatāpuiMVPFAFF+, people with disabilities, parenting support, flexible work and other personal circumstances go to www.equity.auckland.ac.nz