Pou Arataki (Cultural Team Advisor) - Mental Health and Addictions Services

Pou Arataki (Cultural Team Advisor) - Mental Health and Addictions Services

Permanent, part-time role (0.6FTE) working 24-hours per week

Shape the future of Mental Health and Addiction Services in Te Tai Tokerau

Lead cultural excellence, influence system-wide change, and help achieve equitable outcomes for tangata whaiora and their whānau accessing Mental health and Addiction services across Northland

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to building a health system that serves all New Zealanders.

About the Role

As the Pou Arataki (Cultural Team Advisor) within Mental Health and Addiction Services, you will provide strategic cultural leadership that strengthens the delivery of equitable, culturally safe, and whānau-centred care across Te Tai Tokerau.

This influential position works in partnership with the General Manager, Clinical Director, professional and operational leaders, and Māori health partners.

The focus of the role is to ensure mātauranga Māori, tikanga, and kaupapa Māori principles are embedded throughout service design, workforce development, clinical governance, and service delivery. You will guide and support organizational change that advances Māori health outcomes, strengthens the Kaimahi Māori and Mataora-Niwareka workforce, and enhances the cultural responsiveness of Mental Health and Addiction Services.

This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of mental health and addiction services in Te Tai Tokerau while advocating for tangata whaiora, whānau, hapū and iwi aspirations. Your leadership will help to ensure services are culturally anchored, equitable, and reflective of the communities we serve.

About the Team/Service/Location

Mental Health and Addiction Services provides a comprehensive range of services across Te Tai Tokerau, supporting the wellbeing of individuals, whānau and communities throughout Northland.

Working as part of Te Mana Karereā (cultural governance roopu), Te Poutokomanawa, clinical and operational leaders, you will contribute to a service committed to achieving equity, strengthening cultural capability, and delivering high-quality, person-centred care.

About you

You will be an experienced Māori health leader who is passionate about advancing equitable health outcomes and strengthening culturally responsive mental health and addiction services. You’ll bring:

• A minimum of 7 years experience within Mental Health and Addiction Services, including experience providing cultural leadership
• Strong knowledge of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, mātauranga Māori, tikanga Māori, kaupapa Māori approaches, and their application within healthcare settings
• Proven ability to influence, collaborate and build trusted relationships across clinical, operational, iwi, community and executive leadership levels
• Experience in workforce development, cultural supervision, governance, quality improvement, strategic planning, and service development
• A commitment to growing Māori workforce capability and improving health outcome for Māori through culturally safe and equitable models of care

Working at Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of New Zealand. We embrace a workforce that is diverse and inclusive so that we are better positioned to understand and service our community.

How to Apply

To apply please click apply now. All applications must be submitted through our online careers portal by 4 October 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Michelle Apetera at NL-Jobs@TeWhatuOra.govt.nz

We will review applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process, before the closing date of this advert.