Te Manu Taki – Māori School Engagement & Partnerships Lead

Job Description:

Tēnei te karanga atu nei ki te hunga e mōhiotia ana i roto i o tātou Kura Māori o Tāmaki Makaurau tae atu ki ngā kaupapa Māori e whai pānga ana ki ngā Kura Aunoa o Tāmaki Makaurauo otirā o tātou hāpori Māori kia tonoa mai ki te tūranga nei.  He tūranga tūhonohono tēnei i waenga i Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makaurau me ngā Kura Māori, Hāpori Māori anō hoki i a Tāmaki Makaurau.   Me matatau ngā kaitono ki Te Reo Māori, ki ngā Tikanga Māori otirā ngā Kura Māori me o rātou mātāpono, kaupapa, āhuatanga motuhake anō hoki.  Kāti ko te tino whāinga ia, kia whai wāhi ai ngā tauira Māori nō roto mai i ngā Kura Māori ki Te Wānanga Aronui nei, Kura Kaupapa mai, Kura ā Iwi mai, Kura Reo Rua mai, Kura Hāpai Kaupapa mai. 

• Lead AUT’s strategic engagement with Kura Māori and Māori communities.  
• Drive co-designed, culturally affirming partnerships that support Māori student success.  
• Champion Te Aronui – AUT’s Te Tiriti Framework – across outreach and engagement initiatives.  
• Work in a collaborative, values-led environment committed to equity and inclusion 

Auckland University of Technology (AUT) is New Zealand's newest university and one of its most distinctive. Centred on students and grounded in knowledge that works, AUT is 5-star rated by QS, with more than 27,000 students and 4,000 staff based primarily across three Auckland campuses. It's a place of real opportunity, where the values of Pono, Tika and Aroha shape how talented, progressive people work together – and you'll feel that in the culture, in the collaboration and in the difference the work makes for students, communities and the world.

Our community is stronger because of the role Te Tiriti plays in how we operate, and because Māori and Pacific knowledge, leadership and contribution are central to who we are. We embrace diversity in all its forms and are proud to welcome people of all ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, religious and political beliefs, socio-economic situations and accessibility needs.

Brand and Marketing Services looks after how AUT shows up in the world – and why it matters. We’re the stewards of the brand and the engine behind campaigns that build reputation, spark interest and turn curiosity into connection.  

Working side by side with faculties and professional services, we combine insight, creativity and digital thinking to create joined‑up experiences that feel consistent and human. From first enquiry to enrolment, graduation and long after, we help people see themselves at AUT – and stay connected for the long run. 

AUT’s Office of Māori Advancement plays a pivotal role in shaping our future by championing Mātauranga Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi across the university. Working in close partnership with Māori staff, students, mana whenua, iwi, and Māori communities, the office provides strategic leadership to academic and professional divisions, supports research that delivers real benefits for Māori, and works with faculties to embed Māori pathways and perspectives. It also oversees the vibrant day-to-day operations of AUT’s Ngā Wai o Horotiu marae. Join a team that is deeply values led, community connected, and committed to advancing access, success, and progression for Māori staff and students. 

To learn more about our Māori at AUT and AUT’s commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, please click here: https://www.aut.ac.nz/about/maori 

The Opportunity | Te Whiwhinga mahi We are seeking a passionate and experienced leader to join AUT as Te Manu Taki – Kura Māori (Māori Schools) Engagement and Partnership Lead. This pivotal role sits within Brand & Marketing Services and the Office of Māori Advancement, and reports to the Director Future Student with a dotted line into Tu Pouhono.  Applicants will have a high level of familiarity with Kura Māori across Tāmaki Makaurau and beyond and will bring prior experience in engagement with Kura Māori and Hāpori Māori.  Importantly, this role requires Te Manu Taki to have existing relationships that will assist in strengthening connections between Kura Māori and AUT. 

You will lead exploratory and research-based engagement with Kura Māori, ensuring Māori voices shape AUT’s approach to school partnerships. Acting as a bridge between AUT and Māori education leaders, you will foster relationships grounded in reciprocity and mana-enhancement, co-design culturally responsive pathways, and develop insights that inform AUT’s long-term strategy for Māori student success. 

This is an exciting role offering the chance to make a meaningful impact on Māori education and AUT’s commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. 

What we offer | Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou

At AUT you’ll be part of a values-led university with a strong, caring culture, flexible working, generous annual leave and support to thrive in your role and career. We provide the tools, trust, recognition frameworks and cultural capability development programmes to help you make a meaningful contribution. Learn more about our competitive benefits tailored to all staffhttps://www.aut.ac.nz/about/careers-at-aut/working-at-aut/staff-benefits.

https://www.aut.ac.nz/about/careers-at-aut/working-at-aut/staff-benefits

About you | Ko wai koe 

As a professional staff member at AUT, you’ll help our university thrive by improving services, supporting students and staff and driving practical improvements across our campuses. We’re looking for people with energy, curiosity and openness to new ideas who bring a collaborative, adaptable approach and contribute to a positive workplace culture.

You’ll also bring cultural humility and respect for Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Indigenous peoples and diverse communities. Experience supporting Indigenous, equity or inclusion-focused initiatives is highly valued.

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• 7–8 years’ experience in Māori engagement, education, or partnership development. 
• Proficiency in Te Reo Māori and deep understanding of tikanga Māori and kawa. 
• Experience applying Māori models of facilitation and engagement (hui, wānanga, kaupapa-based co-design). 
• Strong relationship-building skills with kura, whānau, hapū, iwi, and Māori education networks. 
• Strategic thinking, research capability, and project management skills. 
• A commitment to equity, diversity, and AUT’s Te Aronui journey. 
• An undergraduate degree; additional qualifications in education, Māori development, or related fields are desirable. 
• A commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and supportive of AUT’s Te Aronui journey.

How to apply | Me pēhea te tuku tono 

Along with your CV, please submit a cover letter which a) explains why this role (and AUT) is of interest, and b) addresses how you feel you meet some, or all, of the key criteria listed above.

Please note - all applications must be submitted through the online application process on AUT’s careers website.

Further Information | Pārongo Anō

• Start Date: TBD
• Salary Ranges | Ngā Utu: $110,000 - $122,000 per annum (dependent on experience and qualifications)   
• For further information: please send us an enquiry or call 09 921 9499

Closing Date | Te rā aukati: 23 September at 10.30pm

Job Reference | Tohutoro Mahi: 95923

*Full-time denotes 37.5 hours per week

At AUT we strive to be a place where people love to work and learn. We are committed to te Tiriti, excellence and inclusivity and aspire to be the University of choice for Māori and Pacific communities. We welcome people of all ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, religious and political beliefs, socio-economic situations and accessibility needs.

Please note that all applications must be submitted through the online application process. For further information, please send us an enquiry here or call 921 9499. Please note we are happy to answer your questions but we do not accept applications by email. You will need to apply through the standard registration process.

Nā tō rourou, nā taku rourou ka ora ai te iwi.

With your food basket and my food basket, the people will thrive.