He Maunga He Tangata Assistant

He Maunga, He Tangata Assistant - Māori Design Programme

• Architecture or Landscape Architecture Masters study programme through Te Whare Wānanga o Wairaka/Unitec with tuition fees paid
• Based within the Māori design rōpu at Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau/ Auckland Council
• Studio experience contributing to Isthmus, an award-winning Aotearoa design practice
• Placement with Toi Tuhono, Ngāti Whātua Orākei

He angitūtanga: The opportunity

He Maunga, He Tangata is a unique initiative available to Māori candidates who are studying for an under-graduate degree in built environment design and are interested in continuing into post-graduate studies in Landscape Architecture or Architecture in Tāmaki Makaurau.

Offered by Isthmus Group, Te Whare Wānanga Wairaka - Unitec Institute of Technology, Ngāti Whātua Orākei and Te Kaunihera Tāmaki Makaurau - Auckland Council, this 20 hours per week - 24-month programme provides the opportunity to be placed within a unique busy local government design environment, and to be part of a leading design team and an influential tribal entity.

The name He Maunga, He Tangata, adopted for this initiative, speaks to the immutable connections established by whakapapa, which connect Māori to their environment and tūupna across time. With these connections and ancestral landscapes standing strongly, Māori can stand and flourish to become all that they can be, as Māori.

This will be the fourth time this internship opportunity has been offered, and if successful, you will become part of a whakapapa of Māori design leaders that this initiative is helping to develop.

For a copy of the position description please click here

Ngā wahanga o te kaupapa

For the Te Kaunihera component of the programme, the successful candidate will be placed in the Māori Design rōpu which is part of Council’s Tāmaki Makaurau Design Ope for The role of the rōpu is to promote excellence in Māori design within a Tāmaki Makaurau context, with a particular focus on Te Kaunihera.

For the Isthmus component, the successful candidate will undertake a four week

placement for each of the two years in the Tāmaki Makaurau studio and work shoulder to shoulder with talented designers on a mix of design and research projects across the landscape, urban and architectural realms.

At Unitec, alongside undertaking their study towards a master’s degree, the successful candidate will be expected to contribute to the academic environment. This may include participation on relevant committees, sharing learning and mentoring junior students to broaden and reinforce the learning opportunity.

Within the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei placement, the successful candidate will undertake a 2-week placement and offer learnings into a busy post-settlement tribal entity, with a primary focus on tangata whenua design and taiao practice areas.

He kōrero mōu: About you 

We are looking for someone who is currently studying for undergraduate degree in a design-focussed discipline or is in their final year of study in the field of landscape architecture, architecture, spatial design, or urban design. As a talented and highly motivated person you are keen to continue your academic development and pursue a Master’s programme at Unitec (tuition fees covered) in either Architecture or Landscape Architecture, whilst undertaking periods of paid placement with Te Kaunihera, Isthmus Group and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei (details of placements available on request).

To register your interest in the position 

If you are interested in the role and would like to know more prior to submitting an application please contact Mei Hill, Māori Design Lead email mei.hill@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Applications close by Sunday 23 November 2025 at 11:59 pm

Tell us about yourself, why you are interested in this opportunity, your current field of study or work, a current CV and a portfolio which demonstrates your thinking and practice. We will invite people with the required experience and attributes to attend an interactive group workshop with our He Maunga, He Tangata partners – whanau support is welcomed at interviews. These will take place in Tāmaki Makaurau at an agreed time.

If you are passionate about leading and influencing the outcomes for Māori and are interested in helping us make the collective move from Auckland to Tāmaki Makaurau, apply now – nau mai, haramai!

Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau, Isthmus Group, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and UNITEC are equal opportunity employers (EOE), and we are committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of application to assist you through the recruitment process.