Kaihautū|Director Māori - MHAIDS


Location: Porirua 

Contract: Permanent, full-time (Monday - Friday)

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is dedicated to serving all New Zealanders. Through integration and collaboration, we’re building a health system underpinned by partnership, equity, sustainability, whānau-centred care, and excellence. 

About the Role 

The Kaihautū Director, Māori role supports the Executive Directors and the Senior Leadership team to develop, lead and transform the delivery of culturally responsive services within Mental Health, Addictions and Intellectual Disability Service (MHAIDS). The role is responsible for driving innovation in practice and improved equity and health outcomes. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, this role has shared accountability for the performance of MHAIDS.

The role is expected to operate autonomously in areas of significant complexity and strategic importance for MHAIDS, ensuring any new business undertaken has a strong alignment with Te Pae Amorangi and Taurite Ora. Developing partnerships with cultural leaders including mana whenua, iwi, marae and Kaupapa Maori organisations will be a vital part of this role. The salary range is $121,689 - $152,112.

About the Team/Service Location 

MHAIDS has over 1700 employees and is part of the wider Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley District. MHAIDS receives funding to improve, promote and protect the health of the people within Wellington, Porirua, Kapiti and Wairarapa region. We deliver health services directly and provide local, sub-regional, regional and national health services as well as community-based health, rehabilitation and support services. 

MHAIDS are led by a Senior Leadership Team of which the Kaihautū Māori Director will be a member. You will lead a small, close-knit team and also work closely with all MHAIDS teams - collaborating and influencing to lead our programmes that will leverage effort and accelerate the achievement of equitable health outcomes for Māori communities. 

We are a values based, pro-equity organisation with a strategic focus on improving health outcomes for Māori, Pacific peoples, and the disability community. We actively lead and support our staff to apply the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi to their practice. 

About you 

We are looking for an experienced leader who can fill this role. Reporting directly to the General Manager MHAIDS, the successful candidate will be a dynamic, results-driven professional who is a champion of change, growth and development. 

This role presents a unique opportunity to lead a significant change and improvement process across the District that has our Māori communities, whānau and their needs at its core. Therefore, the successful candidate requires advanced relationship and stakeholder management skills in order to engage and work with Māori and iwi as Treaty partners to achieve health equity and outcomes. The successful applicant will also provide professional advice to the Senior Leadership Team and the MHAIDS Executive Directors on matters impacting Māori.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

  • Relevant post graduate qualification in health, business or related field 
  • In depth and proven understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles and equity and the application of these in health settings
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Experience and skills of working with key Māori stakeholders within and across organisations
  • Experience in working NGO sector and other government agencies
  • Knowledge of funding mechanisms within the Māori health sectors
  • Knowledge of key national Māori health policy documents and quality standards
  • Knowledge and experience of applying equity considerations in service design and delivery

Working at Health New Zealand 

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is ‘the weaving of wellness’. We're dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of Aotearoa/New Zealand. 

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Health New Zealand are committed to being good employers and honouring our equal employment opportunity obligations. We embrace diversity and welcome application from all people, including all gender identities, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and disability. A workforce that is diverse and inclusive means that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We are pro-equity health organisation, with a particular focus on Māori, Pacific Peoples, and the Disability Community. 

How to Apply 

To apply please click “apply now.” All applications must be submitted through our online careers’ portal. If you have any questions about the role, please contact lucy.britland@tewhatuora.govt.nz

We will review applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process, before the closing date of this advertisement.

Apply now

Permanent/Full Time

Job no: SS162-25

Location: Kenepuru Hospital/Porirua

Closing Date: Sunday, 26 October 2025