Pou Whakahaere Tari - Senior Administrator | Te Rūnaka o Awarua

Permanent, Part-time | Based in Bluff, Motupōhue

30 hours per week, plus evening and weekend hours as required for hui and events.

We are seeking an experienced, capable Senior Administrator to support the General Manager, Executive and daily operations of the Awarua rūnaka office.

Working within our small, connected community, you will bring sound judgement, discretion and care to your interactions with whānau and the information you manage. You will be organised and dependable, able to think on your feet, anticipate what needs doing and follow tasks through to completion.

Reporting to the General Manager, you will communicate professionally with whānau, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, ngā rūnaka, mātāwaka, government agencies and other external organisations.

The role includes

• Coordinating calendars, appointments, travel and hui logistics.
• Preparing agendas and hui papers, taking accurate minutes, maintaining governance records and tracking agreed actions.
• Supporting Executive and whānau rūnaka hui, the Marae Komiti, and projects and events such as Waitangi Day celebrations.
• Drafting correspondence and documents, maintaining office records, welcoming visitors and responding promptly to telephone, email and text enquiries.
• Maintaining membership records in Tiki Database Systems and supporting registration processes, including liaison with the TRoNT Whakapapa Unit through authorised channels.
• Preparing pānui and Te Pānui Rūnaka contributions, supporting regular Facebook updates and E-Txt notices, particularly for kaumātua, and assisting with development and ongoing updates of the rūnaka website.
• Providing occasional cover for agreed Finance Lead duties during absences, with training and guidance provided.

Hours and availability

The proposed office schedule is Monday to Friday, 9am–3pm, with 30 ordinary hours per week. Additional evening and weekend hours are required for scheduled hui and events, including whānau rūnaka meetings. You will need to be available for these kaupapa and plan your workload and additional hours with the General Manager.

You will bring

• Proven experience in senior administration or a comparable role, with strong minute-taking and document preparation skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and confidence working across a wide range of relationships.
• Strong organisation, attention to detail and the ability to manage competing priorities calmly and efficiently.
• Initiative and practical problem-solving skills, with confidence working independently and alongside others.
• Integrity and discretion, with a clear understanding of confidentiality and professional boundaries.
• Confident, efficient use of Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams to prepare documents, maintain spreadsheets and manage digital records, along with the ability to navigate online systems and learn new software.
• A basic to intermediate level of te reo Māori, marae kawa and tikanga, including a commitment to accurate pronunciation and confident everyday greetings and telephone kōrero.
• A full driver’s licence.
• Experience with BoardPro and Tiki Database Systems is desirable.
• Experience supporting digital communications. Familiarity with Xero and PayHero would be useful for occasional finance cover; the Finance Lead will provide training for any assigned financial duties.

Appointment is subject to satisfactory police vetting.

This role will suit someone who values relationships and enjoys providing professional, caring support within a kaupapa Māori environment.

How to apply

Please email your CV and a cover letter outlining your experience and interest in the role to office@awaruarunaka.iwi.nz, addressed to Andria Cross, General Manager, Te Rūnaka o Awarua Incorporated.

For a copy of the job description or any enquiries, please contact Andria at the same email address.

Applications close at 5pm on Friday 23rd October 2026.