Kaiwhakahaere Maori - Equity Lead

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Permanent, full-time role based in Whangārei
• Join Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Te Tai Tokerau and youll quickly discover youre more than part of the team you belong to our family.

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to building a health system that serves all New Zealanders.

About the Role

We are seeking a Kaiwhakahaere Māori Equity Lead to join our supportive team within our Māori Health Directorate, Te Poutokomanawa. In this role, you will provide effective and appropriate stewardship / kaitiakatanga over the delivery of healthcare within the Rohe o Te Tai Tokerau through Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Te Tai Tokerau.

This role encompasses the following major functions or key result areas:

• Te Tiriti o Waitangi is imbedded within the strategic planning of all services within Health New Zealand Te Tai Tokerau
• Develop clinical strategies to achieve organisational elimination of inequity in healthcare goals
• To identify and prioritise Key Clinical Objectives and Strategic Priority areas as identified in Te Pae Ora to address health inequity within all services within Te Tai Tokerau, e.g. Maternal and Child eaHeHealth, Diabetes, Cancer and others as determined
• Actively contribute to the strategic decision-making process ensuring an equity lens is taken into consideration on any key work streams, projects or new ventures, i.e. population health reports and data
• Proactively identify any equity gaps and provide solutions to target and engage specific population groups to project or service operational managers

Click here to view the position description.

About the Team/Service/ Location

The overall focus of the Māori Health Directorate Te Poutokomanawa is to work on Te Tiriti based solutions that lead to equitable Māori health outcomes and the positive advancement of Māori within the health sector. This is achieved through a targeted strategy approach, by building strong Iwi / Māori / whānau and patient relationships, ensuring quality system improvements, Māori workforce planning through the Affirmative Action Plan and a Te Tiriti approach to equity across our organisation.

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About you

To be successful in this role you will be 100% committed to eliminating inequities and achieving the best outcomes for Māori, have confidence and fluency in Te Reo me ona Tikanga Māori o Te Tai Tokerau. You will:

• Have a tertiary qualification in social or health or equivalent (minimum of 3 years) experience and/or training in relevant discipline social, business or health management
• Have a minimum of 3 years working within health and/or Māori health development role
• Have demonstrated established networks with Māori communities, stakeholders and organisations
• Have Te Ao Māori fluency or working towards
• Emergent to competent in Te Reo me ona Tikanga Māori
• Hold a current an unencumbered New Zealand drivers licence

A postgraduate degree in leadership / management or education in change management strategies and/or frameworks is desirable but not essential.

Working at Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of New Zealand. We embrace a workforce that is diverse and inclusive so that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.

How to Apply

To apply please click apply now. All applications must be submitted through our online careers portal by 26 November 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Michelle Apetera at NL-Jobs@TeWhatuOra.govt.nz

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