Maaori Partnerships Manager

He angituutanga: The opportunity 

Reporting to the Pou Aronui, you’ll provide senior leadership across IAWAI’s Maaori partnerships and engagement function. You’ll lead the development and delivery of IAWAI’s Maaori partnership strategy, ensuring Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles are woven through our infrastructure planning, investment decisions, and service delivery.

In this role, you’ll be a trusted advisor to executive leaders and governance, offering strategic guidance on Maaori partnership obligations, iwi and mana whenua engagement, and Treaty‑aligned infrastructure delivery. You’ll build and maintain high‑trust relationships with mana whenua across the Waikato, ensuring engagement is authentic, consistent, and grounded in long‑term partnership.

You’ll oversee Maaori engagement across IAWAI’s $3 billion infrastructure programme, ensuring Maaori perspectives, values, and maatauranga are meaningfully reflected in the planning, design, and delivery of essential water infrastructure. You’ll work closely with Aronui Tuuhono to integrate Maaori engagement into project planning and delivery, and with Aronui Paaoho to ensure Maaori‑related communications are accurate, culturally appropriate, and aligned with agreed partnership narratives.