Kaiārahi - Māori Success Advisor in Canterbury

Help shape Māori learner success through kaupapa and mātauranga Māori. Work with leaders, teams, ākonga and whānau to improve learner outcomes. Support equity-focused, Te Tiriti-led initiatives that create meaningful change.

Ready to make a real impact for Māori learners? Bring your passion, expertise and kaupapa Māori lens to Ara and apply today! Passionate about empowering Māori learner success and creating meaningful change through education? Join Ara Institute of Canterbury as a Kaiārahi - Māori Success Advisor and play a key role in embedding kaupapa and mātauranga Māori across the organisation.

Working alongside ākonga, whānau, kaimahi and community partners, you'll help shape culturally responsive practices, champion equity, and support initiatives that improve engagement, retention and success for Māori learners. This is an opportunity to make a lasting impact while contributing to Ara's vision of transforming lives through education.

We are looking for someone who is passionate about advancing Māori success and bringing kaupapa and mātauranga Māori to life in practical, meaningful ways. You will bring experience supporting positive outcomes for Māori, along with the ability to build strong relationships, influence through collaboration, and work alongside others to create lasting change.

Equally comfortable engaging with ākonga, whānau and kaimahi, you will have a thoughtful and evidence-informed approach, using insight, data and feedback to support continuous improvement and strengthen learner success. Most importantly, you will be motivated by making a difference and be committed to helping Ara realise its aspirations as a Tiriti-led institution.

Ideally, you will also bring:

• A degree in a relevant field, or equivalent skills and knowledge gained through experience
• Proven experience supporting Māori success within an education environment
• Good understanding of research methods and data analysis
• A continuous improvement mindset, able to identify better ways of working and implement effective solutions
• Experience promoting and supporting the use of te reo Māori, tikanga and mātauranga Māori in the workplace
• Hono, Hihiri and Aroha - embraces Ara values
• Mā tō rourou mā taku rourou, ka ora ai te iwi - works collaboratively and cooperatively, contributes to teams

We recognise that people bring a range of experiences, perspectives and pathways to this work. If you are passionate about Māori learner success and believe you can make a meaningful contribution to this role, we encourage you to apply and share the strengths, knowledge and lived experience you would bring to Ara.

Ara Institute of Canterbury is the South Island's largest provider of tertiary vocational education and home to one of New Zealand's premier trades training environments. At Woolston campus, you'll work in modern, industry-standard workshops built for carpentry, plumbing, electrical, painting and more. Our tutors bring deep industry experience, and students work on real projects, including constructing houses that are sold and moved.

We offer tangible benefits:

• Income protection for permanent kaimahi over 15 hours
• Fee discounts on Ara courses for staff
• Professional development leave and funding
• Generous leave provisions and an annual Christmas closedown to enjoy time with whānau and friends
• Free parking and on-site food options

Guided by our values Hono - Connect, Hihiri - Inspire and Aroha - Respect, we're committed to equity, inclusion and Te Tiriti o Waitangi. If you're looking for work that matters, Ara could be your next chapter.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and interviews may take place prior to the close date. This means we reserve the right to close a job ad before the advertised close date.