Kaiarahi Matua - Cultural Practitioner Lead
Kaiarahi Matua - Cultural Practitioner Lead
Provides tuakana/teina guidance, mentoring, and daily support to Kaiārahi, helping to build cultural confidence, trauma-informed practice, and consistent service delivery.
About the role
The Kaiārahi Matua is a senior cultural and practice leadership role within Te Whare Hīnātore. The position provides tuakana/teina guidance, mentoring, and daily support to Kaiārahi, helping to build cultural confidence, trauma-informed practice, and consistent service delivery. It also helps ensure tikanga, mātauranga Māori, and reo are part of daily routines, group work, and everyday interactions with wāhine, supporting a safe, calm, and culturally grounded whare environment.
We value learning and growth. You will be supported on your unique journey through mentoring and on the job development as part of the wider Mission community committed to meaningful, values-led work.
This role is a great starting point where you can learn on the job and work towards a longer-term career at Auckland City Mission.
What you will be doing
- Support wāhine using a kaupapa Māori, trauma-informed approach that upholds safety, dignity, and mana.
- Work with wāhine to develop cultural assessments, care plans, safety plans, and wellbeing goals through a te ao Māori lens.
- Strengthen cultural capability across the team by sharing knowledge, providing guidance, and supporting the integration of te ao Māori practice.
- Work collaboratively with cultural workers, clinicians, and kaimahi to ensure wāhine receive coordinated and holistic support.
- Strengthen relationships with community organisations, housing providers, and service partners to support positive outcomes for wāhine.
What we are looking for
- Relevant qualification or equivalent experience in kaupapa Māori practice, health, social services, or community work.
- Capacity to demonstrate through actions commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the Mission’s values of Manaakitanga, Atawhai, Rangapū and Mana Tika, Mana Ōrite.
- Strong knowledge of te ao Māori, tikanga, and mātauranga Māori, with confidence applying these in daily practice or be prepared to upskill or seek professional development in this space.
- Experience supporting others to grow their cultural capability through guidance, mentoring, or role-modelling.
- Full New Zealand Driver Licence.
We recognize that skills, experience and knowledge can be gained in a number of ways. This may include paid or voluntary work, experience undertaken through your church, marae, iwi or whānau responsibilities, or other community roles.
What we offer
- Opportunities to strengthen cultural connection through weekly Kapa Haka, waiata, and monthly romiromi.
- Access to EAP & external supervision.
- “Mission Leave” provides an opportunity to focus on wellbeing along with annual and sick leave.
- Tangihanga leave.
- Access to sick leave from your 1st day of employment.
- Ongoing training and development.
- Staff discounts at Auckland City Mission Op Shops and Pharmacy.
- Access to low cost, fresh produce through the Mission Grocer.
- Convenient access to public transport and discounted parking options.
- Opportunities for career progression within the Mission.
About the Organisation
Auckland City Mission – Te Tāpui Atawhai works alongside people in Tāmaki Makaurau facing poverty, homelessness, hunger, and isolation.
With over 100 years of service, we deliver integrated support across housing, food, health and recovery, supporting tens of thousands of Aucklanders every year. Our work is grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi and guided by our values; Manaakitanga, Rangapū, Atawhai, and Manatika/Mana Ōrite.
We believe in people, collective responsibility, and hope - and invite those who share our values to join us.
Applications for this role will take you to the advertisers site.
