Kaupapa Māori Practitioner

The full salary range is $84,888 - $119,666 pa

• New position, exciting time to be part of the Māori Pathways Programme
• Kia Marama Special Treatment Unit (Rolleston Prison)
• Work with the men in our care to connect them to their culture

'Kotahi anō te kaupapa, ko te oranga o te iwi' - ‘There is only one purpose to our work : the wellness and wellbeing of our people.'

Ara Poutama Aotearoa is recognised as an international leader in the field of rehabilitation and are committed to providing high quality psychological approaches to the people in our care. Humanising and healing are one of the key principles of Hōkai Rangi, our over-arching strategic direction.

As part of Hōkai Rangi, we are committed to addressing the over-representation of Māori in our care and recognise the importance of working alongside Māori to change this. Guided by the Braided Rivers Approach (He Awa Whiria), this role will support the blending of both western approaches and Te Ao Māori into our practice and programmes.

Mō te tūnga | About the role

The Special Treatment Unit (STU) expansion is part of the overall Māori Pathways programme and includes the enhancement of our existing STUs, particularly with regard to Te Ao Māori. Part of the STU expansion is the establishment of these roles in each of our STU's across the motu. Based at Rolleston Prison, Kia Marama is a world class Special Treatment Unit (STU) for sexual offending.

A key focus for this role will be to work with the programme participants to support them to connect with their culture and to strengthen the cultural protocols and initiatives within the unit, working alongside therapy and custodial staff as well as local iwi.

You will be part of the therapeutic Community of Change and collaborate with all other cultural support positions (on site / regionally) to help with smooth transitions within the unit and seamless services for people in our care.

You will have a passion for working with the people in our care, enjoy building relationships, and being able to work independently or as a member of a close-knit team. It is necessary to have an established awareness of tikanga and knowledge of Te Ao Māori, as well as the ability to converse in Te Reo Māori.

You will use a Te Ao Māori lens to your approach, be active in the wider community, have knowledge and comprehension of current Māori Models of Health and be able to relate well to iwi.

Knowledge and experience within Corrections or a Social Service is preferred as is a suitable tertiary qualification.

Some of your key accountabilities will include :

The midpoint of the salary range is $98,88 per annum and the full range (85%-120%) is $84,055 - $118,666 per annum. Appointment and remuneration will reflect skills and experience relevant to the role.

Benefits include :

Join Ara Poutama Aotearoa - Department of Corrections, where your work will contribute to improving public safety, reducing re-offending, and address the overrepresentation of Māori in correctional facilities. As a values-led organisation, we use the principles of rangatira (leadership), manaaki (respect), wairua (spirituality), kaitiaki (guardianship), and whānau (relationships) to guide our work and achieve the goals of our Hōkai Rangi strategy.

We value inclusion and diversity in our workforce, and as a Public Service organisation we are committed to building a workforce that reflects the public we serve. We strive to make our recruitment process fair, and we encourage you to discuss reasonable accommodations with us if required.

To submit an application, please click the apply link and upload a tailored CV and a cover letter describing your motivation for joining the department, highlighting relevant skills and experience and the alignment to our work.

Applications close on : Wednesday, 22nd October 2025

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