Kaitohutohu Māori | NZCTU | Wellington

Closing date: Thursday 3 September 2026

The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi is the peak body of New Zealand’s trade union movement, representing working people by highlighting key issues, supporting campaigning, and advancing worker-friendly policy. We recognise Te Tiriti o Waitangi as Aotearoa New Zealand’s founding document. Alongside Te Rūnanga o Ngā Kaimahi Māori o Aotearoa, NZCTU represents more than 60,000 Māori workers and is committed to advancing kaupapa Māori and elevating the union movement within Te Ao Māori.

1. Position Details

2. Role Purpose

The Kaitohutohu Māori provides kaupapa Māori leadership and advice across NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi and the wider union movement, helping ensure our work and culture are grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, tikanga Māori, mātauranga Māori, and strong relationships with Māori workers, Te Rūnanga o Ngā Kaimahi Māori o Aotearoa, affiliate rūnanga, hapū, iwi, and other Māori stakeholders.

3. Key Responsibilities

• Develop and support implementation of a Te Ao Māori strategy in support of the strategic goals of the NZCTU and NZCTU Rūnanga
• Ensuring NZCTU work programmes begin with Te Tiriti and kaupapa Māori
• Providing direction and advice during the conception and planning of campaigns, policy, communications, and events to ensure that Te Tiriti and Kaupapa Màori are integral to the campaign.
• Review project plans, documents, resources, and other outputs, providing direction and guidance from a Te Ao Māori and Te Tiriti perspective.
• Provide operational support to Te Rūnanga o Ngā Kaimahi Māori o Aotearoa, including planning, coordination, communication, and follow-up.
• Support NZCTU kaumātua to lead tikanga Māori processes internally and externally.
• Advise and support officers and staff to strengthen cultural competence, tikanga Māori, te reo Māori capability, and confidence within Te Ao Māori.
• Build and maintain strong relationships and networks with affiliate rūnanga, hapū, iwi, Māori organisations, and other key Māori stakeholders.
• Contribute to NZCTU’s movement-building work by supporting affiliates to strengthen their engagement with Māori workers and kaupapa Māori priorities.
• Provide advice on employment relations and union issues affecting Māori workers, helping ensure NZCTU’s advocacy reflects the experiences and aspirations of Māori workers.

4. Key Relationships

• Internal: National Secretary, President, Officers, NZCTU staff, NZCTU kaumātua, Te Rūnanga o Ngā Kaimahi Māori o Aotearoa, National Affiliate Council, affiliate unions and affiliate rūnanga.
• External: Hapū, iwi, Māori organisations, allied organisations, government officials, Members of Parliament, and other stakeholders relevant to advancing kaupapa Māori and the interests of Māori workers.

5. Person Specification

• Commitment to the values of NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi, including a strong commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, equity, inclusion, and the wider trade union movement.
• Expert knowledge of Te Ao Māori, tikanga Māori, mātauranga Māori, and te reo Māori, with the ability to provide confident and practical advice in organisational settings.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and engagement skills in both English and te reo Māori.
• Experience working with Māori organisations, hapū, iwi, rūnanga, or other Māori stakeholders, and the ability to build trusted and enduring relationships.
• Knowledge of, and competence in, employment relations and unionism, including an understanding of issues affecting Māori workers.
• Ability to provide sound strategic and operational advice across policy, campaigning, communications, events, and organisational development work.
• Ability to support others to build cultural capability and apply Te Tiriti, tikanga Māori, and kaupapa Māori approaches in practical and respectful ways.
• Strong organisational skills, including the ability to coordinate work programmes, manage competing priorities, and follow through on agreed actions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence, advise, and present complex ideas clearly.

General note: This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected in the role. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties and may be reviewed and updated by agreement to reflect organisational priorities.

Requirement: Applicants require permanent work rights for NZ with no restrictions.

To Apply: Please send an up-to-date CV and a covering letter that addresses the points raised in the position description to suew@nzctu.org.nz

Applications close Thursday 3^rd September 2026.

Contact person: Sue Windsor