Kaiako Matua - Nga Kete o Te Ao Maori | Flexible Office Location - New Zealand

Job Description

1 x Permanent Position

Start May 2026

Full-Time 1.0 FTE (40 hours per week) 

2 Management Units (MU's) and 2 Management Allowances (MA's)

Based in any Te Kura tari (office): Wellington, Palmerston North, Masterton, New Plymouth, Hastings, Rotorua, Gisborne, Wairoa, Tauranga, Hamilton, Auckland, Whangarei, Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill or Queenstown

Ko wai mātou | About Us 

Nau mai, haere mai ki Te Kura

At Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu (Te Kura), our ākonga are always at the centre of what we do. For more than a century, we've supported learners across Aotearoa — evolving from lessons once delivered on horseback to today's future focused learning that can be done anywhere, anytime.

Ākonga at Te Kura choose subjects based on their passions and interests, accessing learning online supported by kaiako who guide, inspire, and drive engagement. Alongside this, kaiako provide pastoral care and connect with ākonga through regular huinga ako — online or face to face — where learners connect, receive guidance, and strengthen their sense of belonging.

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this position:

“Tuia te tamaiti ki ngā aka taumatua, kaua e tuia ki ngā aka taepa. Me aro ki te hā o te aka taumatua.”

Te Aka Taumatua is the team that leads our bilingual te reo Māori provision for full-time, and dual registered ākonga at Te Kura. Te Aka Taumatua is focussed on its role in the revitalisation of te reo Māori, to offer comprehensive options grounded in mātauranga Māori for ākonga and their whānau.

Te Aka Taumatua is a vine system that wraps around rākau. The vines carry the knowledge and wisdom of our people. It is a place that protects, nurtures and gives room to grow. One can come to seek shelter and safety and can then leave to go.

We are seeking a Kaiako Matua (Senior Teacher) to join our Ngā Kete o Te Ao Māori rōpū. In this role, you will be part of a collaborative leadership team, providing guidance and support for innovative and inclusive curriculum design across diverse mātauranga Māori learning contexts. Ngā Kete o Te Ao Māori delivers Te Reo Māori, Kaupapa Māori, and Te Ao Haka. This role offers an excellent opportunity to further develop your leadership capability, supported by fellow Kaiako Matua within your rōpū, Regional Leaders of Learning, and our National Leaders of Learning.

Ko koe tēnei | About you:

We are looking for a Kaiako who is passionate about supporting ākonga in culturally responsive contexts to further develop ways of knowing, being and doing that are steeped in Te Ao Māori, who is innovative, creative and responsive to the needs of individuals and groups of ākonga when designing learning, and who is excited at the opportunity to work in an environment where learning is highly personalised and flexible

The successful applicant will have:

• A New Zealand teacher registration and a current practising certificate
• Fluency in Te Reo Māori, with the ability to confidently teach, communicate, and lead learning through te reo
• Demonstrated understanding of Tikanga Māori and lived experience within Te Ao Māori contexts
• Ability to uphold and embed mātauranga Māori, kaupapa Māori values, and culturally responsive practice in everyday work
• Experience in providing opportunities for ākonga to engage in Māori culture, language and traditional practice 
• Experience in communicating culture, tikanga, and knowledge systems through connections with past, present and future
• Practical experience in effective assessment for learning
• Up-to-date curriculum knowledge, including national curriculum refresh and Review of Achievement Standards
• Established connections with other subject matter experts and subject associations, and
• A commitment to ongoing professional learning and personal growth.

Ngā Uara o Te Kura | Our Values

At Te Kura, we live by our values:

• Manaaki — showing respect, generosity, and care
• Whanaungatanga — building relationships and belonging
• Tika — acting fairly and honestly
• Ākonga at the Centre — guiding every decision we make

Hei whakautu | In return

You'll join a supportive, inclusive team where manaaki and whanaungatanga guide how we work. We offer flexible working options, professional growth opportunities, and the chance to make a meaningful difference for ākonga across Aotearoa.

If you're ready to bring our values to life and support learners in meaningful ways, we'd love to hear from you.

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to Apply

Excited to join our team? Click the Apply button and tell us your story—we'd love to hear from you!

Applications must be submitted through our careers portal. Applicants must have the legal right to reside and work in New Zealand.

E hiahia ana koe ki te mōhio anō? | Like to find out more?

For additional details, view the position description at the top of the page or contact Renee Davis, National Manager Te Aka Taumatua via email Renee.Davis@tekura.school.nz

If you encounter any issues during the application process, please email jobs@tekura.school.nz

🗓 Applications close 11:59pm on Thursday 30 April 2026