Kairuruku Hinengaro - Māori Mental Health Practitioner - Tongariro Prison

About this role

• Lead Māori mental health care with mātauranga and manaaki
• Empower oranga through te ao Māori and integrated support
• Champion Hokai Rangi values in transformative care

Mō te tūnga | About the role

In line with Ara Poutama and the commitment to transformative change we are actively seeking to expand our team of Kairuruku Hinengaro - Māori Practitioners who work in our Mental Health teams across various locations nationwide. As a Kairuruku, you will hold a crucial position within our Mental Health team, collaborating closely with the Intervention and Support Practice team.

Our team is committed to delivering te ao Māori intervention to support the mental health for the most vulnerable people in our care. You will work as part of an integrated care system providing mātauranga Māori expertise to elevate the mauri, mental health and oranga of those in our care.

Central to your responsibilities will be the assessment of the oranga needs of our clients, considering their whakapapa, hinengaro, wairua, and overall well-being. Utilising your momo, pukenga, mātauranga Māori you will effectively triage, assess, and implement interventions, considering mana whenua tikanga. You will also provide your cultural expertise to guide the team, including coordinating Māori initiatives and operations to support the oranga of the people we work for and with.

This role is ideal for a Kairuruku who demonstrates a firm dedication to mentoring culturally safe practices and fostering partnerships and relationships. Leveraging your expertise in te reo Māori, tikanga, mātauranga Māori, and rongoā Māori, you will enable mauri ora, wai ora, whanau ora pae ora for services provided to our clients.

Our teams are deeply committed to exemplifying expert practice and upholding the principles of Hokai Rangi, Humanising, and Healing, which prioritise the respect for the human dignity and inherent mana of all individuals under our care and their whānau.

Mōu | About you

We are seeking applications from individuals who are willing to work and embrace this kaupapa and who can demonstrate their suitability through a comprehensive cover letter addressing the following requirements:

• Experience and proficiency in te reo me ona tikanga and is well versed in mātauranga Māori, understands Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its relevance to the role, the work, including the impact of colonisation on health and has experience working Māori models and frameworks.
• You will have knowledge/experience of working in mental health or health services or be willing to learn.
• You will have knowledge/experience of the Mental Health Act, the National Mental Health Sector Standards or be willing to learn.
• Experience, qualifications, and registration in New Zealand is preferred. Qualifications required include a relevant tertiary qualification, with preference given to those who have completed a Level 4 or higher Mental Health or Community Support qualification.

Ngā painga | The benefits

The full salary range is $70,956 - $91,307. Appointment and remuneration will reflect skills and experience relevant to the role.

Mō mātou | About us

Join 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 Hōkai Rangi strategy.

We value inclusion and diversity 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: 11pm Sunday, 22nd February 2026