• Hei kaitiaki o te mātauranga Māori Ngāi Tahu mā ngā pūnaha tika
• Hei pou whakaoho i a Whiria Te Muka hei aratohu ora mō te hononga Tiriti
• Lead durable systems design embedding kaupapa Māori

Mō te Kaunihera Taiao ki Waitaha │ About Environment Canterbury

Waitaha Canterbury - our region - is like no other and we are proud to call it home. We have the privilege of working with Papatipu Rūnanga, stakeholders and our wider community to protect our environment, including water, land and air through regulation and planning. As a Regional Council, we're responsible for flood protection, public transport, civil defence, and more.

Together we're taking action to shape a thriving and resilient Waitaha Canterbury, now and for future generations. Toitū te marae o Tāne, toitū te marae o Tangaroa, toitū te tangata;  if the land is well and the sea is well, the people will thrive. 

Mō te Tūranga | About the Role

He kawenata tēnei mō Te Kaunihera Taiao ki Waitaha. I raro i a Tuia Te Herenga, ka honoa tēnei tūranga te mātauranga Māori o Ngāi Tahu ki ngā pūnaha a te Kaunihera, kia ū ai ngā mahi katoa ki Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

You’ll lead the activation and embedding of Whiria Te Muka across the organisation as a living framework that guides partnership behaviour, decision making, and assessment of Tiriti partnership maturity. Working closely with Papatipu Rūnanga, Ngāi Tahu entities, and senior leaders, you will design and influence systems and ways of working that protect and uphold mātauranga Māori while meeting statutory, regulatory, and governance obligations.

Key accountabilities

• Lead the activation and embedding of Whiria Te Muka across Environment Canterbury
• Design and influence organisational systems that uphold Ngāi Tahu mātauranga Māori and tikanga
• Provide trusted advice to senior leaders on Tiriti partnership practice and systems design
• Support organisational capability to operate confidently and consistently as a Tiriti partner

For more information on this role, please refer to the job description at the bottom of the advert.

Mōu │ About You

He tangata koe e mārama ana ki te taumaha me te tapu o tēnei mahi. E here ana tēnei tūranga i te tangata ki te whenua, ki te whakapapa, ki te mātauranga tuku iho, ā, ka kitea tōna pānga i roto i ngā pūnaha, ngā whanonga, me ngā whakatau. Me ū, me tika te tū kia mau ai te mana o te mātauranga Māori me te hononga Tiriti. Me matatau ki te reo rangatira.

You may be a great fit if you have:

• Demonstrated experience working with Ngāi Tahu, Papatipu Rūnanga, or Māori organisations in kaupapa Māori or partnership led roles
• Strong understanding of mātauranga Māori, tikanga, and principles of Māori data and knowledge sovereignty
• Experience leading or influencing systems design, organisational frameworks, or change initiatives in complex environments
• The ability to engage and influence senior leaders with sound judgement and cultural authority

• A deep understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its practical application within public sector and regulatory contexts
• Advanced proficiency in te reo Māori me ōna tikanga

Mātau ā-Wheako | Experience  

He taonga ō wheako, he hua nō te wā me te mahi ngātahi. Nā aua wheako koe i whakatipu hei tangata mōhio ki te tika, te kawenga, me te mana o te mahi i raro i Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

You have experience working in complex organisational or regulatory environments and are confident applying mātauranga Māori and tikanga within institutional systems. You understand the responsibility of influencing how organisations operate as Tiriti partners.

• Experience working with Ngāi Tahu, Papatipu Rūnanga, or Māori organisations in kaupapa Māori or partnership led contexts
• Experience engaging senior leaders and shaping organisational practice
• Strong understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its practical application in the public sector

Ngā hua o te mahi i te Kaunihera Taiao ki Waitaha | Working at Environment Canterbury  

Our mahi is underpinned by our values:

• Kaitiakitanga (stewardship)
• Pononga (integrity)
• Manaakitanga (people first)
• Whanaungatanga (collaboration)
• Māiatanga (can do)

We understand and embrace a diverse workforce; this diversity will enable us to better serve our people, our community, and our greatest taonga, the environment. We value everyone’s contribution, diverse thinking, and skills. 

We're on a journey to become a Tiriti partner of excellence, including incorporating te ao Māori into our work. We offer supportive opportunities to develop capability in this area and encourage our people to use kaupapa Māori, mātauranga Māori, and te reo Māori in our daily work. We welcome you with an open heart & mind, wherever you are on your personal te ao Māori journey.

Ko ētahi atu kōrero | Additional Information

For a confidential chat about this role, please contact Ivan Tava on 027 2791773

Applications close on Sunday, 15 February.  Applications will be reviewed as we receive them, and interviews may take place before the close date. We reserve the right to close advertising early.  

Short-listed candidates will be required to complete an interview process, reference checks, and a criminal check. Further background checking will be required when relevant to the role. 

We are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace. If you're excited about this role but don't meet every qualification in the job description, we still encourage you to apply.

Me mahi tahi tātou - Together we can