- Shape the future of Māori education with national scale and impact
- Set direction and influence outcomes as part of the Executive Leadership Team
- Champion cultural capability and system transformation at the highest level
- Wellington location preferred (alternate locations considered)
Strengthening Education
The Ministry of Education plays a critical role in shaping New Zealand’s education system to deliver equitable and excellent outcomes for all learners.
Achieving excellence is about supporting every student to experience success at every stage of their learning journey from early learning and schooling, right through to tertiary, training and employment. A focus on equity is critical in the New Zealand context – it means recognising and responding to the diverse circumstances and needs of all our learners.
We are now reshaping the way the Ministry is organised so that we are better positioned to deliver on the goals of equity and excellence. This means being focused on our core role and doing it well; being deliberately outward-facing and forward-looking; utilising evidence and data to make informed decisions; and supporting a strong organisational culture.
As the stewards of our education system, the Ministry is looking for experienced and outstanding leaders who are driven, curious, open to different perspectives and adaptable to lead our people through system and organisational change.
About this role | Mō tēnei tūranga
The Hautū | Deputy Secretary, Te Pou Tuarongo | Māori Education provides the Ministry’s strategic leadership for Māori education across Aotearoa New Zealand. This role is responsible for driving change for equitable and excellent outcomes for Māori learners in alignment with Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the aspirations of Māori communities.
This role provides leadership across the delivery of Ka Hikitia - Ka Hāpaitia (the Māori Education Strategy) and Tau Mai Te Reo (the Māori Language in Education Strategy). This includes providing practice leadership and guidance to teams across the Ministry as well as developing and implementing activities with the sector and iwi partners to drive successful service delivery and initiatives for Māori learners in all settings; English medium settings, Māori medium settings, and Kaupapa Māori settings.
The Hautū | Deputy Secretary works collaboratively across government, education providers, and communities to influence system-wide change and uphold the Crown’s obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. They are responsible for strengthening relationships with iwi and Māori organisations, ensuring these are grounded in authentic partnerships and are responsive to the needs and aspirations of Māori learners and whānau.
About you | Mōhou ake
You will be a respected Māori leader with deep fluency in te ao Māori, tikanga, and te reo, bringing mana, authenticity, and credibility in both Māori and Crown contexts. Your experience will combine cultural competencies with proven executive leadership experience, and the ability to influence at the highest levels of government while staying grounded in the aspirations of whānau, hapū, and iwi.
Strategic and courageous, you will be driven to deliver measurable change for Māori learners. Collaborative and resilient, you can also navigate political complexity, build trust across diverse partners, and inspire your teams to lift performance and impact at scale.
You will bring:
- Recognised authority and mana, with deep fluency in te ao Māori, tikanga, te reo, and kaupapa Māori approaches.
- A proven track record of executive leadership in complex, high-profile environments.
- Credibility and confidence engaging with iwi, hapū, Māori organisations, Ministers, and sector leaders.
- Demonstrated ability to deliver system-wide transformation and embed Māori perspectives in policy, strategy, and delivery.
- Resilience and judgment to lead in politically charged, high-stakes environments.
- A collaborative leadership style that balances strong personal presence with genuine system stewardship.
- The ability and willingness to adhere to and promote the Public Service Standards of Integrity and Conduct.
About the group and team | Mātau rōpū ake
Te Pou Tuarongo | Māori Education is responsible for four areas.
- System Delivery: Ensuring there is an integrated approach to delivering on Ka Hikitia - Ka Hāpaitia and Tau Mai Te Reo.
- Relationships: Building and brokering relationships across the Ministry and with iwi, Māori Medium and Kaupapa Māori Education.
- Monitoring: Oversight of the Ministry’s approach to Māori education and outcomes for Māori learners, monitoring the delivery of Te Tiriti o Waitangi settlements and other Iwi-Māori agreements and the Ministry’s response to kaupapa inquiries and other contemporary issues.
- Capability: Building capability across the Ministry and sector to be a responsible and responsive Te Tiriti partner and give effect to strengthened educational outcomes for all ākonga Māori.
Are you ready to make a difference? | Kua rite koe mō tēnei mahi?
If this opportunity interests you, please submit your resume by using the ‘apply' button.
Alternatively, for further information, please copy and paste the below URL into your browser to access the candidate pack for this position. The lead consultant for this assignment at IN SIDE Recruitment is Scott King.
https://www.inside.co.nz/ministry-of-education--ds-maori-education
Applications close 5pm Wednesday 8th October 2025.
We want our candidates to feel valued for their unique qualities and have a sense of belonging. If you require assistance or adjustments to fully participate in the recruitment process, please let us know.
