Poutiaki Tātou Participation & Practice Lead

Te Paataka is a bi-lingual community hub that seeks to respond to the call of whaanau to create a place of value and belonging by weaving te ao Maaori through Te Paataka Koorero o Takaanini. 

Also known as The Takaanini Community Hub, the Paataka seeks to grow a culture of participation with the diverse communities of Takaanini by being grounded in indigenous knowledge and methodologies, to draw from and replenish the baskets of knowledge. 

This whare is a bold attempt to indigenise how we create space, how we manage resources, how we build teams, how we listen, how we act and how we serve. 

He angituutanga: The opportunity

Join us in a unique and meaningful leadership role that weaves te ao Māori across our facilities in the Papakura - Manurewa local boards. We’re seeking a visionary leader to foster a culture of inclusion, active participation, and shared purpose across our team and wider community.

In this role you’ll champion indigenous and participatory practices, embedding maatauranga Maaori into everyday operations. You’ll cultivate a strong foundation for community-led initiatives, support kaimahi in navigating complex social challenges, and strengthen meaningful partnerships that elevate the mana of our people.

This position bridges leadership, cultural insight, and deep community engagement—offering a chance to drive real change in wellbeing, equity, and collective aspirations.

He koorero moou: About you

You are a connector, leader, and advocate – confident in te reo Maaori and grounded in maatauranga Maaori and indigenous practice. You thrive in environments that are people-focused, kaupapa-led and shaped by hononga (relationships).

Ngaa aahuatanga kei a koe: What you’ll bring

•    A practice grounded in maatauranga Maaori and tikanga practices.
•    Proven experience leading community projects and mentoring others.
•    Strong relationship-building and intercultural communication skills.
•    Passionate about co-design, empowering whaanau, and uplifting identity.
•    Knowledge of local iwi and Taamaki Makaurau’s cultural landscape, with relevant qualifications or lived experience in community leadership.

Ngaa aahuatanga kei a maatou: What we offer

You will be working within a library and community hub whaanau that has a team culture strong in te reo and tikanga Maaori, a place where everyone can feel they belong. 

This is a permanent opportunity working 40 hours per week. Our library is open seven days a week and and this role currently works a Sunday to Thursday roster.

As part of our organisation, please view a range of our: benefits

Ehara taku toa, he takitahi, he toa takitini: My success is not mine alone, but the success of many.

If drawing on the wisdom of the indigenous world makes your heart sing, Apply Now!

This role closes on 12 November 2025

We are expecting to appoint the successful applicant at a salary of between $73- $86k per annum, depending upon experience.

To view a copy of the position description, click here

Auckland Council is an equal opportunity employer (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.
  
Auckland Council is committed to the protection and wellbeing of children.  This role is classified as a Children's Worker role under the Vulnerable Children Act 2014. As such applicants will be required to undergo police vetting prior to commencing employment.  This position is also deemed a safety sensitive position and will require pre-employment drug testing. Appointment will be subject to a satisfactory police check.