Kaupapa Māori Practitioner

## About this role* 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.**Mōu | About you**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 lense 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:* Promotion of Te Ao Māori within the service* Support the weaving of Te Ao Māori and psychological approaches within the programmes and service* Develop and support staff to understand Te Ao Māori healing processes, knowledge and cultural protocols towards embedding these into the practices, processes and policies* Early and continuous whānau involvement in their rehabilitation and reintegration* Expanding opportunities to engage with Te Ao Māori such as Te Reo, tikanga, kapa haka and whakairo* Engaging external partnerships with iwi, Māori organisations, community agencies or individuals where support is required* Support the strengthening and sense of identity and belonging of the people in our care through policy design and support* Identifying opportunities to support engagement and partnering with Iwi* Appointment and remuneration will reflect skills and experience relevant to the role**Ngā painga | The benefits**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.* Free use of onsite gym facilities* Fitness Passport offering discounted gym membership (subject to availability in the area)* Eye exam & eyewear reimbursement for eligible staff (conditions apply)* Access to EAP & Staff Support Networks* Subsidised medical insuranceJoin 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 strategy.We value 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.**Tono ināianei | Apply Now**To submit an application and view the position description, click the apply link. All applications must be submitted through our careers site to ensure transparency – applications received via email will not be considered.When applying, submit 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**If you have any questions or want to learn more about a career with us, contact southernrecruitment@corrections.govt.nz, or visit **careers.corrections.govt.nz.**| Location: | Canterbury (Waitaha) || Attachments: | (PDF, 371KB) Position Description | #J-18808-Ljbffr