Pou Tūhono - Christchurch

About this role

• Be part of a multidisciplinary team focused on rehabilitation & reintegration
• Help women in prison connect with their culture & whānau
• Based onsite at Christchurch Women's Prison

‘Kotahi anō te kaupapa, ko te oranga o te iwi'

‘There is only one purpose to our work:  the wellness and wellbeing of our people.'

Mō te tūnga | About the role

Pou Tūhono provide cultural support within our women's prisons. They work as part of a multidisciplinary team focussed on rehabilitation and reintegration and play an integral role in Ara Poutama Aotearoa's Women's Strategy, Wāhine – E rere ana ki te pae hou (women rising above a new horizon).

Wāhine – E rere ana ki te pae hou is focused on providing a distinct approach for women.

The key priorities are:

• Providing women with interventions and services that meet their unique risks and needs
• Managing women in ways that are trauma informed and empowering 
• Managing women in a way that reflects the importance of relationships to women

Part of the strategy includes developing a dedicated cultural pathway for women. As the Pou Tūhono, you will support the goals of women in prison in relation to reconnecting with their culture and their whānau, thus enhancing their connections in society on release. A key focus will also be reintegration, so women have support on their release. 

Mōu | About you 

To be effective in this position you will present with:

• Ability to use Māori principles, values or conceptual frameworks when working with people in prison and their whānau.
• Proven ability and experience in using tikanga Māori and practices such as Karakia, powhiri, karanga, mihimihi, kapa haka, tangihanga and koha.
• Demonstrated ability to network and build effective relationships with local and other iwi.
• Can operate effectively in a Māori cultural setting.
• Effective communication skills, including being able to communicate with a wide range of people in a variety of settings.
• Effective written skills, including the ability to write clear and concise whānau plans for a variety of audiences.
• Displays understanding of professional standards (confidentiality, informed consent, maintaining boundaries, etc.).

This position is based at Christchurch Women's Prison in Templeton, Christchurch.

Utu ā-tau | Salary

The salary range effective 1 July 2025 is $76,136 - $90,305 and is split across 3 steps. Appointment and remuneration will reflect skills and experience relevant to the role.

Mō mātou | About us

Ara Poutama Aotearoa is a name that has been gifted to us and is our commitment to improving the oranga and safety of the people, whānau, and that of the communities we serve across the motu.

As a values-led organisation, we use the principles of rangatira (leadership), manaaki (respect), wairua (spirituality), kaitiaki (guardianship) and whānau (relationships) to shape how we work and deliver the outcomes in our strategy - Hōkai Rangi (https://corr.nz/hr).

It is an exciting time to join us, and we continue to seek out talented individuals who are committed to an inclusive, vibrant workplace. We recognise and celebrate the uniqueness of individuals, and that of the collective talent in our whānau. 

We welcome applications from disabled and neurodiverse communities, all cultures, faiths, and rainbow communities, as we appreciate the richness of experience that diversity brings to our organisation. We strive to make our recruitment process fair and inclusive, and we encourage applicants to discuss reasonable accommodation with us if required at southernrecruitment@corrections.govt.nz.

Tono ināianei | Apply Now

If you have any questions please contact: southernrecruitment@corrections.govt.nz

To view the job description, click 'apply' and you will be taken through to our careers site, where you can view this.

To apply, please submit a tailored CV and a cover letter describing your motivation for joining the department highlighting relevant skills and experience. Alignment to our kaupapa is critical to our success - we ask that you provide examples which reflect and demonstrate our organisation values. 

Applications close on: Wednesday, 18th June 2025

Please note we will be reviewing and screening applications as they come through and not waiting until the close date to review applications.

All applications must be submitted through our careers site to ensure transparency. Applications received via email will not be considered. 

If you want to find out more about a career with us, visit careers.corrections.govt.nz or email our team at  southernrecruitment@corrections.govt.nz.