_{10th April, 2026}

Te Mātāwai leads the revitalisation of te reo Māori, working in partnership with iwi, Māori communities and the Crown through Te Whare o te Reo Mauriora.

Guided by the vision “Kia ūkaipō anō te reo”, Te Mātāwai focuses on strengthening deliberate intergenerational transmission of te reo Māori and building connected Māori language communities.

We are seeking an exceptional Tumu Whakarae (Chief Executive) to lead Te Mātāwai through its next phase of maturity, system leadership and long‑term impact.

TE ANGITŪ

This is a unique opportunity to lead a Kaupapa driven, investment‑focused statutory entity with national influence and deep accountability to Māori language communities.

As Tumu Whakarae, you will:

• Provide disciplined statutory, strategic and organisational leadership
• Give effect to the Board’s strategy, Statement of Intent and Maihi Māori, translating Māori aspirations into durable system‑level outcomes
• Act as the accountable officer for Te Mātāwai, ensuring robust stewardship of public funds, integrity of reporting, and effective risk management
• Lead within Te Whare o te Reo Mauriora, maintaining statutory independence while sustaining a principled Crown–Māori partnership
• Champion community‑led language revitalisation, upholding kāinga, hapori and iwi as rightsholders and enabling intergenerational transmission of te reo Māori

This role sits at the intersection of kaupapa Māori leadership, statutory accountability and national system influence.

HE KŌRERO MŌU AKE

You are a senior leader of mana and integrity, with the political maturity to operate confidently across Māori and Crown contexts while protecting mana motuhake.

You bring:

• A deep grounding in te ao Māori, tikanga and te reo Māori
• Proven senior executive leadership experience in complex, multi‑stakeholder or kaupapa Māori environments
• Strong governance literacy and experience working closely with Boards in statutory or public accountability contexts
• Demonstrated ability to lead strategy, investment and organisational performance over long horizons
• High level political acumen, with credibility engaging Ministers, senior officials, iwi leaders and sector partners
• A values driven leadership style that builds organisational capability, trust and succession.

TONO MAI

If you are ready to provide national leadership for the revitalisation of te reo Māori and deliver intergenerational impact grounded in kaupapa Māori, we welcome your application.

For a confidential kōrero or a copy of the position description, please contact: Carl Church Waea: 021 166 6441 | Īmēra: carl.church@nicherecruitment.co.nz

Applications close: 1 May 2026

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