Te Puni Kōkiri | Ministry of Māori Development

Te Puni Kōkiri leads policy advice to the Government on Māori development, and Iwi and Māori relations with the Crown. To do this effectively we must position ourselves to elevate our monitoring and mentoring responsibilities and emphasise our role in holding other agencies to account for delivery of public services to, for and with Māori.

Our Governance and Ministerials tīma is looking for a Apōrei, Tapatahi | Principal Advisor, Governance. This role is permanent, full-time and based in Te Tari Matua, Te Whanganui a Tara | National Office, Wellington.

Te Whiwhinga Mahi | The opportunity

Are you an experienced Principal Governance Advisor passionate about helping whānau thrive? 

In this pivotal role, you will be at the forefront of our secretariat and governance practices at Te Puni Kōkiri, leading our internal governance work programmes and delivering effective and efficient governance services.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Providing expert secretariat and governance services to the Executive Leadership team and its committees, and significantly influencing internal decision-making and boosting operational effectiveness.
• Spearheading the development and execution of our governance work programmes, ensuring it aligns seamlessly with our Ministry’s overarching priorities and objectives and delivers value to our Minister.
• Serving as a key leadership team member, collaborating effectively with two other Principal Advisors to allocate work and enhance ministerial and governance services.
• Championing continuous improvement and innovation in governance practices, promoting and implementing best practices throughout Te Puni Kōkiri.
• Leading team capability development, coaching and mentoring staff to deliver high-quality governance and value-adding services.
  
  

The likely appointment range is $128,798 - $150,720 based on skills and experience. 

For more information about the skills and experience required for this position, please see the job description below. 

Ko wai koe | About You

You are an energetic, self-motivated Principal Advisor and governance practitioner, known for your agile approach and exemplary customer service in the public sector.

• Proven Leadership: Demonstrated success in leading strategic initiatives and projects in governance sets you apart. Your leadership goes beyond tasks/projects before you; you inspire and uplift your teams to achieve excellence.
• Governance Expertise: With a legal background or relevant tertiary qualifications in law, corporate governance, or business, you provide expert advice and top-notch secretariat services. You skilfully shape significant decisions and navigate complex governance landscapes.
• Strong Collaborator: Recognised for your ability to build and maintain strong professional relationships, you ensure that governance practices are seamlessly integrated and supported across the organisation.
• Innovative Thinker: Constantly seeking ways to enhance processes, you introduce innovative solutions that improve governance practices. Your keen eye for identifying areas for improvement and your proactive initiative in implementing changes are invaluable.
• Skilled Developer of Talent: Your passion for mentoring and developing others is well-known. You enhance the capabilities of your team and cultivate a robust governance culture that can endure into the future.

Tāu e whai ai | What we offer

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 are 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
• Medical insurance discounts
• Flexible working options
• In house te reo Māori training
• Kaimahi development and career options, including study assistance
• Enhanced parental leave provisions  
• Te Puni Kōkiri | Ministry of Māori Development
  
  

Tono mai | Apply Now! 

Ka akiākina koe kia tukuna mai tō tononga i tēnei rangi tonu, kia whakapāngia rānei tētahi Ringa Taritari e kōrero ai mō ngā painga o tēnei whai wāhitanga, me tōna hāngai ki ō whāinga ā-umanga. Nau mai rā ko ngā tononga i te reo Māori, te reo Pākehā, te reorua rānei.

We encourage you to apply today or get in touch with one of our Recruitment Partners to discuss how this great opportunity will fit with your career goals. We welcome applications in te reo Māori, English, or both.Tukuna mai tau tono ā-ipurangi | Please submit your application online. 

Īmēratia vacancy@tpk.govt.nz me he pātai āu | Please email vacancy@tpk.govt.nz with any pātai.

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 that we can offer to make our process more accessible to you by emailing: vacancy@tpk.govt.nz

Ka aukati ngā tono hei te Rātapu, 16 Whiringa-ā-Rangi 2025 ā te 11.55pm | Applications close on Sunday, 16 November 2025 at 11.55pm.