_{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 Principal Advisor, Whānau Ora Delivery, you will provide technical and analytical leadership on complex issues, developing new frameworks and approaches where needed. You will play a key role in leading the development of Whānau Ora operational policy, understanding the wider and long-term implications of the work, and engaging relevant stakeholders at an early stage.

You will contribute across a broad range of activities within the Whānau Ora Delivery team from contract management and investment planning to ministerial servicing and data reporting. You will bring an understanding of the strategic context in which Te Puni Kōkiri operates, and help connect day-to-day mahi with high-level strategic objectives.
Key areas of focus include:

• Stakeholder management – building and maintaining relationships with Commissioning Agencies, internal partners, and the Executive Team
• Contracting & contract management – contributing to negotiations, monitoring performance, and supporting best practice contract management
• Investment planning – advising on fund performance, reviewing funding proposals, and supporting investment initiative design
• Operational & strategic policy – contributing to the Whānau Ora Policy Framework with agility as priorities evolve
• Data management & reporting – analysing and interpreting data to provide robust measures of investment effectiveness and inform stakeholder reporting
• Ministerial servicing – producing high-quality briefings, aide memoires, and correspondence for the Minister for Whānau Ora.

Mōu | About You

You will bring strong technical and analytical capability, a connection to kaupapa Māori, and the confidence to work across complex, multi-stakeholder environments. You will have excellent written communication skills and the ability to produce clear, high-quality advice for a range of audiences including Ministers and senior decision-makers. You will be proactive in identifying and managing issues and risks, and bring strong interpersonal skills that enable you to operate effectively within a diverse and flexible team.

You will hold a broad understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi from both Māori and Crown perspectives, and feel comfortable 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 apply your skills in a role where your work directly shapes outcomes for whānau, hapū, and iwi across 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 5th July. 

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