NZ Māori Council Communications - Part time
NZ Māori Council
NZ Māori Council – Communications Role
Call for Expressions of Interest 22 JANUARY 2026
Tēnā koutou The NZ Māori Council is calling for expressions of interests for a part time Communications role for the Council.
This panui provides information about the interests of the NZ Māori Council, and the Communications position, with a call for expressions of interest in the role.
The NZ Māori Council is seeking to elevate the public profile of the Council, in the media in general, and across Māori networks and communities. The Council and many of its members are leading or participating in a range of activities that are not well known, and this role is an opportunity to ‘shine the halo’ of the Council by profiling matters of note.
Along with significant work in the Waitangi Tribunal across both historical inquiries and Kaupapa inquiries, and other legal cases, the Council is active in community development and provides training courses in Māori leadership and resource management. Māori give great priority to access to water, and restoring waterways, and for tino rangatiratanga authority to be fully recognized and enabled.
The Māori Community Development Act 1962, which mandates the NZ Māori Council, provides for all areas of Māori wellbeing and self government in health, education, employment, housing/papākainga, justice, environment, and culture.
Over the years, the Council has provided significant thought-leadership in areas of corporatization, water governance, constitutional arrangements, tikanga and customary law , te reo Māori - this will be an area for media interest.
The Council is seeking a person with skills in accessing the media and communicating in a style that is well informed and inspirational. The Council is not being prescriptive about the type of media to be opened up. The options may include several avenues of broadcasting media, online and social media, and both general public and Māori media and networks. This can be discussed with the person in the role, and within the scope of the contract.
The Council is interested in creative proposals for this role, via an Expression of Interest.
Scope of NZ Māori Council Communications role and Job Description
Scope of the communications role: This is a part time contract position, from 1 March – 30 November 2026– that is 8 months. A contract with terms and conditions will be provided to the successful applicant.
The remuneration is $24,000+ gst. Payment of $3000+gst per month will be paid on invoice, on 20th each month.
The hours are approximately 40 hours per month or 10 hours per week. The emphasis will be on achieving communications in the media, and being responsive to matters of significance to the Council and to Māori, rather than on weekly hours worked prescriptively.
The Communications person will work with, and be accountable to the NZ Māori Council Communications Committee. This Committee of the NZ Māori Council will advise on media content. Care must be taken for media content to be approved by the NZMC Communications Committee. Additional approval from the i NZ Māori Council Chairs, may be required in respect of sensitive material.
The Communications person will report to the NZ Māori Council via the Chair of the Communications Committee, by the 20th of each month.
Job Description
The focus of the Communications role is to provide and an outward facing media profile for the NZ Māori Council
The NZ Māori Council is seeking a person with profound capability in Te Ao Māori, with high competency in media skills who will elevate the profile of the NZMC in the public arena.
This outline of the role is not intended to be prescriptive, but to provide information to support your expression of interest. There will be provision for flexibility and creativity in interpreting how to give expression to the role.
The role is to cover a range of activities of the NZ Māori Council. The person appointed to the role will be supported to become familiar with the Council:
- the Māori Community Development Act 1962, which is the governing statute
- the Districts and Māori Committees which form the structure of the Council
- Legal work, and Waitangi Tribunal inquiries
- Policy interests across health, education, housing/papakāinga, justice, environment; involvement with submissions
- Community development activities
- NZQA credentialed training courses in Māori leadership and resource management
- Participation in significant events
The NZMC Communications Committee will have oversight of the Communications role, in particular feeding in matters of interest and providing guidance on media messaging. That being said, the initiative and creative ideas for developing a media profile for the Council by the Communications person will be appreciated and supported.
All media products must be signed off by the Communications Chair or one of the CoChairs of the Council
Media material will be posted on the Council website by the Communications person.
Use of visuals, including photos is encouraged, observing ethical permission guidelines
The Communications person will report to the NZMC Communications Committee by the 20th of each month, and this will be share with the Executive.
Expressions of Interest.
Please prepare your expression of interest and send to Dr Betsan Martin by 20th February 2026. Please send to betsan@nzmaoricouncil.org.nz
Your expression of interest will be 1-2 pages, and please include your CV.
Please share
1. Your name, address and contact information
2. Your interest in the position, and any involvement you may have with the NZ Māori Council
3. The skills you will bring to the position including your experience of communications, including through print, radio and TV, social media,
4. Your ideas for the communications role.
Two or three applicants will be selected for interview by NZ Māori Council leadership, and all will be notified of the decision for the appointment of the NZ Māori Council Communications position.
Hei konā i roto i ngā mihi
Ann Kendall and George Ngatai
Co-Chairs, NZ Māori Council
