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Posted 01 August, 2026

Kaitohutohu Matua, Kaupapa Here | Senior Policy Advisor, Whānau Ora

Te Puni Kōkiri
Wellington, WGN, NZ Full Time
Reference: 5f28efaaabb74da9

Job Description

An opportunity to take part in a pivotal mahi and help transform lives of whānau Work closely with senior leadership Full Time, Permanent opportunity based in Te Tari Matua, Pōneke | National Office, Wellington Our Whānau Ora Policy tīma is looking for a Kaitohutohu Matua | Senior Policy Advisor . Reporting to the Policy Manager, Whānau Ora, this role provides high-quality, evidence-based policy advice based on in-depth analysis and by working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders. Our Policy puni leads public policy advice on issues of specific importance to Māori. It also provides interdepartmental policy advice on matters most likely to impact directly on wellbeing and development outcomes for whānau, hapū, iwi and Māori. Working together with the other puni, Policy leads, influences, contributes to and supports policy thinking at multiple levels – from system-level strategic policy and frameworks, to specific, regionally located policy initiatives and proposals. The Policy puni is implementing new, agile ways of working to ensure we can adapt swiftly as priorities change. This includes a stronger focus on programme management, collective decisions about resourcing across teams, and the ability to form temporary cross-team or puni project teams, when work doesn’t fit within existing teams. This flexibility allows us to deliver priority work, ensuring that we can respond to unique or emerging challenges as they arise. Te whai wāhitanga | The opportunity Te Puni Kōkiri believes that there is opportunity to leverage the proven success of the Whānau Ora model to deliver further success for New Zealanders with distinct needs. A key kaupapa for the Whānau Ora Policy team is to deliver against Te Puni Kōkiri's strategic intention to see the public sector more widely adopt the Whānau Ora commissioning model. As a Policy Analyst you will. Provide credible, evidence-based advice anchored in the context of iwi, hapū, whānau and Māori as it applies to the aims of the Whānau Ora Policy team Conduct thorough and detailed analysis of complex policy issues to understand their implications and identify potential solutions Work collaboratively with peers at Te Puni Kōkiri and with external government agencies and NGOs. Apply and advise on te ao Māori and Te Tiriti based frameworks as they relate to policy Contribute to robust team discussion and promote a culture of continuous feedback. The likely appointment range is$105,100 - $116,777 based on skills and experience. The full grade for this role is $105,100 - $140,132 with a mid-point of $116,777. For more information about the skills and experience required for this position, please see the job description below. As an aspiring policy professional, you will have experience in a government policy shop and/or and understanding of te ao Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi frameworks as they apply to policy. You will: have the mix ofknowledge, skills, practices, and behavioursrequired by a modern policy practitioner to be able to deliver quality policy advice having experience in social policy is advantageous but not mandatory have a desire to continually learn and grow your policy skillset have the conceptual and analytical skills to provide solutions to ambiguous or complex problems. have highly developed communication skills, in particular written communication. Ideally you will have some competency in te reo Māori, or a willingness to learn be comfortable in an ao Māori environment and situations where tikanga is observed. have the confidence to engage with and build strong long-term relationships with key stakeholders. Tāu e whai ai | What you will get in return Te Puni Kōkiri is a diverse and rewarding working environment full of passionate kaimahi focused on creating solutions that will help our communities. We are guided by our values of te wero, manaakitanga, he toa takitini and ture tangata. There is more to life than just work and we encourage our kaimahi to maintain the right balance between mahi and their personal lives. Your whānau is just as important as you, so we're committed to providing incentives and opportunities that help our kaimahi and their whānau to thrive, including: A range of allowances including childcare, optical, hauora/wellbeing and te reo Māori proficiency Flexible working options Kaimahi development and career options, including study assistance Enhanced parental leave provisions Te Puni Kōkiri | Ministry of Māori Development We are committed to our vision of 'Thriving Whānau' - when whānau are thriving, so do their communities, hapū, iwi and all of Aotearoa. Te Puni Kōkiri leads policy advice to the Government on Māori development, and Iwi and Māori relations with the Crown. Our people are at the heart of the work we do – using our approaches to improve outcomes to, for and with Māori, and to drive our efforts to build an Aotearoa where whānau can all stand, thrive and belong. We invite applications from individuals of all backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. We believe that diversity fuels innovation and enriches our collective strength. Your unique perspectives, skills, and heritage contribute to our mission of advancing Māori aspirations and well‑being. We want to make sure any accessibility requirements you may have, are well supported so the selection process is equitable for everyone. Please let us know if there are any adjustments or support, we can offer to make our process more accessible to you by emailing:[email protected] #J-18808-Ljbffr

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