Pouwhakarite | Māori Strategy Support Advisor

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Join Waipapa Taumata Rau as Pouwhakarite, a key role supporting the Co-Director Māori and Leadership Team to advance Māori heart health equity. You will plan and coordinate Māori outreach, education and workforce development, and lead the Māori summer research programme while nurturing partnerships with researchers, students and communities. The ideal candidate has strong experience with Māori stakeholders, a solid understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and tikanga, and proven project and event leadership. This role until 31 December 2028 is based at Grafton Campus with regular travel. Apply online by 2 August 2026 with a CV and cover letter, and contact Linda Fotherby at [email protected] for a confidential chat; salary $77,101-$88,900 pro rata. Travel and campus events are required, including Waitangi Day, Polyfest and Te Matatini.

Company Description

Waipapa Taumata Rau | The University of Auckland

The University of Auckland is New Zealand's leading University. With over 6000 academic and professional staff supporting more than 46,000 students, we are one of New Zealand's largest employers. We have eight academic faculties and 11 service divisions, creating a diverse, dynamic, and collaborative environment where people are empowered to make a meaningful difference.

Pūtahi Manawa | Healthy Hearts for Aotearoa New Zealand Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE) brings communities together with research scientists, clinicians, and educationalists to disrupt the status quo and take action to achieve heart health equity. Pūtahi Manawa will have positive impact for all people in Aotearoa as we use a ‘business not as usual’ approach when creating research programmes, focusing on career development and engaging and involving communities in all aspects of the work we are doing. Business not as usual is about researching from within the worldview of the people that we want to have the greatest impact for. It is about moving away from the idea that the academics and clinicians are the only "experts". Pūtahi Manawa seeks to understand how to engage with communities to work together in meaningful andauthentic ways. Pūtahi Manawa is a relationship building enterprise through research, outreach and education to create meaningful change and collaboration - www.putahimanawa.ac.nz.

Job Description

Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity
We are looking for someone who is passionate about bringing our researchers, communities, whānau and rangatahi together in new and different ways to galvanise our efforts to bring equity to Māori heart health in Aotearoa. As our pouwhakarite, you will support the Centre’s Co-Director Māori and Māori Leadership Team in all aspects of their work; plan, promote and coordinate the Centre’s Māori outreach, education, workforce development and engagement activities and lead our Maori students’ summer research programme.

You will bring with you an understanding of Te Ao Maori and experience of building relationships in Māori communities and stakeholders including researchers, students, community groups, educational organisations and health organisations.

As a national centre, Pūtahi Manawa connects researchers and communities across the whole country. The role is based at the University of Auckland Grafton Campus. It requires regular multi-day travel around Aotearoa New Zealand and periodic engagement activities outside of normal working hours.

Key accountabilities include:

• Assist the Co-Director Māori in the implementation of Pūtahi Manawa’s Māori Strategy and initiatives as required.
• Support the development and maintenance of relationships with key stakeholders, internal and external, including Māori teams, organisations and communities that will support the CoRE’s mission of heart health equity for Māori.
• Organise and facilitate Pūtahi Manawa attendance at key events for Māori such as Waitangi Day celebrations, Polyfest and Te Matatini festival, ensuring all Māori engagement is carried out in a culturally appropriate manner.
• Manage the administration and logistics for all Pūtahi Manawa’s Māori events, programmes and engagement activities, ensuring they meet the Co-Director Māori’s requirements and are delivered within budget.
• Lead Pūtahi Manawa’s annual Māori summer research programme through the whole life cycle of the programme and maintain relationships with graduating tauira.
• Maintain relationships with Pūtahi Manawa Māori postgraduate scholarship recipients throughout their studies, cultivating a cohort of tauira and link them to support where needed.
• Provide ongoing support for the Te Korowai Pūtahi Manawa research teams.

This is a full-time role, 37.5 hours per week, fixed-term role until 31 December 2028. The remuneration is $77,101-$88,900 per annum (pro rata), depending on skills and experience.

Our standard working mode is working in the office most days with the option to work from home up to two days per week. However, we will consider applicants who wish to work remotely, if they can come to work in the office for an average of one day per week. This could be weekly, or two consecutive days per fortnight. In addition to this regular attendance, applicants would need to be able to come to the University campus for multiple days for events that they are involved in organising such as the summer programme celebration event. Employees must cover the travel and accommodation costs of coming to work on campus themselves.

For more detailed information, please refer to the Position Description.

He kōrero mōu | About you

You’ll have the ability to quickly pick up University systems, and you’ll be comfortable working independently or with others. Innovation and initiative will be your strengths, and you’ll be confident in contributing to our aim to disrupt the status quo.

You will have:

• Significant experience working with Māori stakeholders, including researchers, students, community groups, educational organisations and health organisations and relationship building in Māori communities.
• Understanding of equity issues in New Zealand, especially in relation to Māori.
• Thorough understanding of the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
• Good awareness and knowledge of tikanga and te reo Māori.
• Demonstrated experience in leading projects and events.
• Experience of working in and alongside teams and collaborating effectively.
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft suite of programmes.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Self-directed and able to carry out tasks with little supervision.
• Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines, with strong time management skills.
• A basic understanding of budgets.

Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou | What we offer

The University of Auckland is New Zealand’s leading university and maintains significant computational, laboratory and analytic facilities. Auckland itself is frequently rated as one of the world’s most liveable cities. 

The University is committed to providing an excellent working environment through:

• Flexible employment practices (including working from home, flexible hours)
• Up to 6.75% company superannuation scheme
• A competitive salary with five weeks’ annual leave

In addition, we also offer career development programmes, discounted car parking, a generous parental leave allowance, childcare, and several other discounts on internal and external services. 

For more information,please visit Staff Benefits.

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to apply
Applications must be submitted online, by the closing date of 2 August 2026 to be considered. Please include your cover letter and CV highlighting how you can meet the skills and experiences detailed above.
Please reach out to Linda Fotherby via [email protected] for a confidential conversation. Please note we are happy to answer your questions, but we do not accept applications by email.

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