Kaitohutohu Kaupapa | Advisor Policy - Te Piringa -Tūmatakōkiri | Wellington

Job Description

Mō te tūranga mahi | About the role   

Do you want a role where upholding Te Tiriti and strengthening the Māori Crown relationship is at the forefront?

Te Piringa (the Treaty Commitments team) is responsible for negotiating Treaty settlement redress and co-ordinating the Ministry's participation in Treaty-related claims in the Waitangi Tribunal and Courts. Te Piringa also leads and supports engagement with Māori, including the National Iwi Chairs Forum, Te Tai Kaha and Post-Settlement Governance Entities.

This role requires a motivated policy advisor to work as part of a fast-paced, focused team.  You will work with Senior Advisors, Principal Advisors, Team Leader and Manager to deliver the work programme and join dots across multiple domains, work areas and workstreams.

You will be exposed to a wide range of policy issues through applying transferable, core skills, where you will get the opportunity to work across various Te Piringa workstreams.

Depending on your skills and experience, you may progress from undertaking supporting tasks and research as part of a broader work programme to taking responsibility for tasks of medium complexity which will usually have a clear problem and a well-defined scope. Your work may be stand-alone or as part of larger or more complex policy issues led by senior or principal advisors.

We hire a range of skill and experience levels for our policy advisor roles, and this position description reflects that we recruit from entry level to skilled advisors.

Ko tāu e whakarato ai – what you'll deliver

• Deliver high-quality, accurate products (such as drafting briefings and talking points for Ministers) to support the delivery of the Ministry's and Governments objectives.
• Take responsibility for quality assurance of papers and advice, including official correspondence, Ministerials, and OIA requests you produce or contribute to.
• Carry out analysis of material (like evidence submitted to the Waitangi Tribunal) to inform decision making.
• Contribute to meeting Ministry reporting and accountability requirements, including team business and workplans and delivery of the Ministry's strategic priorities.
• Ensure the inclusion of te ao Māori in your work.

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience   

• Knowledge of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, in particular, the Treaty settlement process, Māori rights and interests, and/or the Māori Crown relationship.
• Experience in engaging with Māori on complex matters.
• An ability to set priorities and to achieve deadlines and project and programme outputs. 
• Experience working across complex projects or programmes of work.
• Understanding and experience with machinery of government processes, systems and tools.
• Strong written and oral communication skills and developing skills in policy analysis and development.
• Capable of liaising and building relationships across the Ministry.
• Excellent Microsoft and word skills, including sharepoint and excel.
• Excellent attention to detail.

Whānuitanga Utu ā-Tau | Salary range  

Salary range for this role is $79,598 to $96,372 pa.  Appointment within this range will be based on skills and experience.  

Ngā hua ka puta i te mahi ki MfE | Benefits of working at MfE  

• a flexible working approach to embrace a healthy work-life blend 
• agile ways of working, allowing you variety and challenges across the organisation as we work as ‘One MfE' 
• active employee networks including Māori Rōpū, Asian Network, Neurodivergent and Disability Networks, Women's Network, Tagata Moana (Pacific Peoples' Network), and Rainbow Network 
• opportunities for development and education.           

Check out other benefits of joining us and hear what our people say about Working at MfE | Ministry for the Environment.  

Tono ināianei | Apply now  

Apply directly by completing the online application form and submit your CV and cover letter.  Note: your cover letter will be a key part of our assessment process, so please highlight how your experience relates to the key skills required for this role.     

If you require further information about this position please contact Ngaire.howes@mfe.govt.nz.  The position description is available via our careers centre www.mfe.govt.nz/jobs.  

We are committed to providing equal opportunities and actively strive to be a diverse organisation with an inclusive culture.  We actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply.  We are proud to be a Rainbow Tick and Gender Tick certified organisation and are committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for everyone.   

We want to ensure any accessibility needs you may have are well supported, so the recruitment process is fair and equitable for all.  Therefore, please let us know if there are any adjustments or support we can offer to make the recruitment process more accessible to you.  Please contact us at vacancy@mfe.govt.nz if you would like to discuss any accessibility needs you may have.  

You must have the right to live and work in New Zealand to apply for this role.  

Rā Katinga | Applications close:   Monday, 14 July 2025