Pou Whakahaere Tuarua Māori - Deputy Chief Executive Māori (Wellington)
Pou Whakahaere Tuarua Māori | Deputy Chief Executive Māori
Whakatairangatia ngā kete o te mātauranga ki te ao mārama! E te tai whakarunga, e te tai whakararo, nau piki mai, nau kake mai ki te Mana Tohu Mātauranga o Aotearoa.
May the baskets of knowledge be brought into the world of light. We welcome one and all to join us at the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.
Mana Tohu Mātauranga o Aotearoa ensures that New Zealand qualifications are credible, trusted and recognised both nationally and internationally. We work across schools, kura, wānanga, tertiary providers, and the wider education system to support equitable and meaningful outcomes for learners.
The Deputy Chief Executive Māori is NZQA's senior Māori executive and a member of the Strategic Leadership Team. This is an executive leadership opportunity to shape NZQA's strategic direction, strengthen our organisational relationship with Māori, and work alongside Māori providers and other partners to help ensure the education system delivers equitable outcomes for ākonga Māori.
The role leads the Office of the Deputy Chief Executive Māori and provides leadership across NZQA on te ao Māori, mātauranga Māori, Māori learner success and Māori–Crown relationships. It also plays a critical role in strengthening NZQA's cultural capability and ensuring Māori perspectives are reflected across strategy, systems, qualifications, quality assurance and assessment.
This is a permanent role based at NZQA National Office in Wellington.
Mō te tūranga | About the role
You will provide te ao Māori leadership across NZQA and contribute to enterprise-wide strategy, performance and stewardship. You will work closely with the Chief Executive, Board, Deputy Chief Executives and senior leaders to ensure NZQA is responsive to Māori in ways that are effective, credible, mana-enhancing and future-focused.
You will lead NZQA's engagement with Ngā Kaitūhono, iwi, kura, wānanga, Māori organisations and other strategic stakeholders, and work across the public sector to influence system settings that improve outcomes for Māori learners. In this role, you will:
Provide executive leadership on te ao Māori, mātauranga Māori and Māori learner success across NZQA
Lead the Office of the Deputy Chief Executive Māori, setting strategic direction, priorities and delivery expectations.
Partner with NZQA Divisions and Offices (especially with other DCEs, Chief Advisors Māori in Quality Assurance Division (QAD) and Assessment Division (AD), and Managers of Quality Assurance Māori and Ngā Poutoko Aromatawai Māori), in mahi related to ākonga Māori achievement and mātauranga Māori, and support engagement with kura, Wānanga and Māori private training establishments as needed.
Champion the protection, promotion and integrity of mātauranga Māori, including within Māori standards, qualifications and credentials and assessment systems.
Provide high-quality strategic advice to the Chief Executive, Board, Strategic Leadership Team and Ministers
Lead and maintain trusted relationships with Māori stakeholders, iwi, sector leaders and government agencies
Influence system-level conversations and decisions that support equitable outcomes for ākonga Māori
He āhei āu | What you'll bring to the role
We are seeking an experienced and credible executive leader with deep expertise in te ao Māori and a strong understanding of public sector leadership, system influence and Māori education advancement.
You will bring the judgement, presence and relational capability to operate effectively in complex environments, build trusted partnerships, and provide strategic leadership. To be successful in this role, you will have:
Proven success in a senior executive or senior leadership role within a complex organisation, or regulatory environment, and experience providing trusted, high-quality advice to executive leaders, governance bodies and Ministers.
Authenticity and grounded connection to te ao Māori, including strong capability in te reo Māori, tikanga Māori and mātauranga Māori
A strong and practical understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its application in public sector and organisational leadership contexts
Strong experience leading and developing people, building capability, and creating inclusive, values-based environments
Strong relationships and credibility with iwi, Māori stakeholders, senior public sector leaders and education sector partners, with the ability to influence across systems, align effort across functions and lead significant priorities in complex environments
Demonstrated success leading significant change programmes across complex public sector or system settings and be comfortable navigating complex issues and work constructively across NZQA priorities, sector perspectives and stakeholder expectations.
Ngā Painga o NZQA | Why choose NZQA
Join NZQA and help lift quality and trust across Aotearoa New Zealand's education system through world‑class assessment, quality assurance and qualifications. We are passionate about ensuring learners' achievements are recognised, allowing people to fully participate in employment, society and their communities.
NZQA is committed to lifelong learning and the diverse communities we serve. We welcome people from all backgrounds and provide a supportive environment for Māori and Pacific staff, including active networks that help guide and strengthen our strategic direction.
Discover more about what we offer: NZQA Staff Benefits.
Pēhea te tono mai | How to apply
For more information about this role and NZQA please refer to the job description, NZQA's Customer Charter and Organisational Values. If you are applying/viewing through Seek, please click ‘apply now' to access these links.
If you would like to discuss further or have any questions about the role, please contact Nigel Huddleston in our People Team at nigel.huddleston@nzqa.govt.nz.
To apply, please include your CV and cover letter, prior to or latest by 11:59pm 12 July 2026.
You must have the right to live and work in Aotearoa New Zealand to apply for this role.
NZQA is committed to developing a diverse workforce and an inclusive workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities and welcome applications from everyone who can meet the requirements of the role.
