Opportunity from Waikato-Tainui
Principle Advisor – Mokopuna Ora
The role actively anticipates and navigates the political landscape, maintaining awareness of emerging government priorities, sector relationships, and potential political impacts on mokopuna, whaanau and Waikato-Tainui interests. Lead proactive horizon scanning across national and international care and protection developments, including legislation, inquiries, research, media narratives and system investigations.
Moo maatou | About us
Waikato-Tainui is a tribal organisation responsible for developing and implementing initiatives which improve iwi outcomes in the areas of education and training, employment, tribal preservation, marae development, health and wellbeing, environmental and resource management.
We exist to continually build the foundations which support every tribal member to exercise their mana motuhake and grow their confidence and capacity to shape and create their own prosperous futures
Moo te tuunga | About the role
The Principal Advisor – Mokopuna Ora provides strategic leadership to support the development of an iwi-led care and protection system aligned to Te Whakatupuranga 2050.
The role actively anticipates and navigates the political landscape, maintaining awareness of emerging government priorities, sector relationships, and potential political impacts on mokopuna, whaanau and Waikato-Tainui interests. Lead proactive horizon scanning across national and international care and protection developments, including legislation, inquiries, research, media narratives and system investigations. Provide timely, kaupapa-aligned advice that positions Waikato-Tainui ahead of sector shifts, mitigates risk, and strengthens the iwi’s strategic influence and decision-making.
Working closely with senior leadership, this role leads the development of the Mokopuna Ora strategy, work planning, and outcomes frameworks, and provides high-quality, evidence-based advice to support decision making.
The focus of the role is to:
- Focus on the development of an iwi-led care and protection system
- Develop strategy, workplans and outcomes frameworks
- Provide strategic advice to senior leadership
- Embed iwi-led aspirations, tikanga, and decision-making as core drivers of system design and delivery
Key responsibilities
- Lead strategic analysis and design input of Mokopuna Ora initiatives
- Develop and maintain strategy, workplans and reporting frameworks
- Provide trusted advice to support decision making
- Analyse data, policy and system insights to identify solutions
- Build strong relationships with iwi, government and stakeholders
- Carry out investigations on front line practice as/when required
- Translate complex information into clear, actionable outputs
Ngaa puumanawatanga oou | What you will bring
Key requirements of the role include:
- 8–10+ years’ experience in strategic advisory, policy or similar roles
- Strong analytical and critical thinking capability
- Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders
- Experience developing strategy, frameworks or work programmes
- Understanding of complex systems, ideally within the public sector
- Strong communication skills across a range of audiences
- Knowledge of the care and protection sectorv
Waikato-Tainui context:
- Awareness of Waikato-Tainui values, tikanga and aspirations
- Understanding of iwi governance structures is desirable
- Proficiency in, or willingness to develop, te reo Maaori
- Experience working within a Te Ao Maaori context is valued
Noou te rourou | What’s in it for you
In return, you will work for iwi committed to Kiingitanga, embracing ngaa tikanga of the tribe and contributing to initiatives that improve tribal health and wellbeing outcomes to enable mana motuhake.
You will be part of a supportive organisation that values its people and is driven by a strong sense of purpose. You will be an integral person supporting whaanau and mokopuna within the care and protection system.
This is a full-time, permanent role. Applicants must be legally entitled to work in New Zealand and willing to undertake relevant background checks.
Me peehea te tuku tono | How to Apply
To apply for this role, please submit your Curriculum Vitae and a tailored cover letter. Your cover letter should highlight your experience and provide examples that demonstrate your ability to operate at a strategic level and influence complex outcomes.
This will form an important part of the shortlisting process.
This position will remain open until a suitable candidate has been appointed.
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About Waikato-Tainui
That’s us! Waikato-Tainui is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest and most progressive iwi organisations, employing diverse teams across cultural preservation, environmental restoration, economic development, and community services to serve over 95,000 tribal members and 68 marae. As an employer, they offer meaningful careers that blend contemporary professional practice with maatauranga Maaori, providing opportunities to contribute directly to mana motuhake and the advancement of whaanau, hapuu and marae communities toward the Whakatupuranga 2050 vision.
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