_{18th June, 2026}

Mō Te Puni Kōkiri | About Te Puni Kōkiri

Te Puni Kōkiri leads policy advice to the Government on Māori development and on Iwi and Māori relations with the Crown. To do this effectively, Te Puni Kōkiri is strengthening its monitoring and mentoring functions and ensuring the wider public sector delivers for, to, and with Māori.
Our vision is Thriving Whānau.  When whānau are thriving, so do their communities, hapū, iwi, and all of Aotearoa. Two key approaches underpin our work:

• Whānau-centred, locally led, government enabled – a delivery approach that puts whānau at the centre.
• Te Tautuhi ō Rongo – a public policy framework ensuring government effort aligns with evidence-based approaches that work for and with Māori.

Mō te Kaupapa | About Whānau Ora

Whānau Ora is a culturally grounded, holistic, and strengths-based approach to improving the wellbeing of whānau. It puts whānau at the centre of decision-making and supports them to achieve their aspirations, a unique model that enables decisions to be made by those they impact most.

Over the past year, Te Puni Kōkiri has been working to strengthen the foundations of Whānau Ora through five key shifts: greater service reach across Aotearoa; a strengthened evidence base to drive broader adoption; data-driven investment planning; improved frontline workforce development and retention; and strengthened risk management. This is about a more targeted, evidence-informed, and system-wide approach that builds on what works for whānau.

Mō te Tūranga | About the Role

As Manager, Whānau Ora Delivery, you will be a key member of the Investments management team, sharing responsibility for the delivery of the Whānau Ora work programme. You will hold primary responsibility for the oversight and contract management of Whānau Ora funding, ensuring it is managed appropriately and that outcomes are realised for whānau across the motu.

You will lead and inspire a dedicated team while managing significant external relationships across government agencies, Commissioning Agencies, and other key entities. You will ensure the Whānau Ora work programme is strategically aligned, well-connected across Te Puni Kōkiri and the wider public sector, and that operational insights inform and strengthen the broader Investments group.

In this role, you will:

• Lead and manage the Whānau Ora Delivery team, driving performance, engagement, and capability
• Oversee contract management and funding oversight across Whānau Ora programmes
• Manage cross-agency coordination and represent Te Puni Kōkiri in key forums
• Identify, manage and escalate programme risks to the General Manager
• Ensure strategic alignment of the work programme with Te Puni Kōkiri's vision and priorities
• Support the Minister for Whānau Ora through reporting and high-quality advice

Mōu | About You

You will bring proven leadership experience, a connection to kaupapa Māori, and a track record of delivering in multi-stakeholder environments. You will have demonstrated success in people leadership and programme delivery, alongside the ability to work collaboratively across the Ministry, across government, and externally. Your experience in stakeholder management and strategic work planning will be complemented by a history of successful participation in cross-sectoral forums, capturing commitment across stakeholders, public sector agencies, and development organisations.

You will hold a broad understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi from both Māori and Crown perspectives, and feel at ease operating in an ao Māori environment where tikanga is observed. You will also bring a sound understanding of the machinery of government and the political environment in which Te Puni Kōkiri operates.

This is an opportunity to lead at the heart of a kaupapa that is transforming how government works with and for whānau and to leave a lasting legacy for Aotearoa.

Me pēhea te tono | How to Apply

This search is being managed by Rothley Partners on behalf Te Puni Kōkiri. To apply please submit your CV and covering letter through SEEK or alternatively for a kōrero in confidence or a copy of the position description please email info@rothley.co.nz.

Applications close 5 July 2026. 

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