Kaihautū Kaupapa | Programme Lead

Join the Founding Leadership Team | He Pikinga Waiora

Help build something that could change the future for tamariki, rangatahi and whānau.

He Pikinga Waiora is a new kaupapa Māori initiative delivered in partnership by Te Puawaitanga ki Ōtautahi Trust and Purapura Whetū Trust.

Funded through the Government's Social Investment Fund, this four-year pilot has been designed to strengthen outcomes for tamariki, rangatahi, and whānau experiencing complex and intergenerational challenges.

He Pikinga Waiora brings together one integrated multidisciplinary team working alongside whānau through mentoring, education, wellbeing, therapeutic support, practical life skills, and cultural connection. Support will be delivered from a purpose-designed community hub and in the homes and communities where whānau live.

This is more than a new service. It is an opportunity to help shape a new way of working.

We're looking for an exceptional leader to Join the founding Kaihautū leadership team and help establish this innovative kaupapa from the ground up.

Kaihautū Kaupapa | Programme Lead

Lead implementation. Build partnerships. Bring the vision to life.

The Kaihautū Kaupapa provides strategic, operational, and relational leadership across He Pikinga Waiora. This role brings people, priorities, and workstreams together to ensure the initiative remains connected to its kaupapa while moving confidently from establishment into delivery.

You’ll lead implementation, build strong relationships with partners and stakeholders, coordinate programme activity, and help navigate the complexity that comes with establishing an innovative new service.

This role will suit someone who enjoys building new initiatives, connecting people, solving complex problems, and leading through collaboration.

You'll bring

•Experience leading complex programmes, services, or multidisciplinary teams.
•Strong relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills.
•The ability to balance strategic thinking with practical implementation.
•A commitment to kaupapa Māori and whānau-centred practice.
•Confidence leading through change and uncertainty.

You’ll work alongside two other Kaihautū

He Pikinga Waiora operates through a unique three-way collaborative leadership model. As Programme Lead, you’ll work alongside the Kaihautū Tū Manawa Ora | Practice and Pastoral Lead, who supports integrated practice, kaimahi wellbeing and professional growth, and the Kaihautū Arotake | Quality Lead, who leads evaluation, continuous improvement and organisational learning.

Together, the three Kaihautū share responsibility for the direction, delivery and success of the kaupapa, bringing programme leadership, strong practice and continuous learning together.

Why join He Pikinga Waiora?

You'll be joining more than a new service. You'll be joining a kaupapa that has the potential to influence how integrated, kaupapa Māori support is delivered into the future.
You'll have the opportunity to:

•Be part of the founding leadership team.
•Help establish an innovative kaupapa Māori pilot from the ground up.
•Work collaboratively across two respected Māori organisations.
•Shape a service designed around whānau rather than systems.
•Influence a model with the potential to inform future investment and service delivery across Aotearoa.
•Lead alongside others in a collaborative leadership model where responsibility is shared and success is collective.

Salary is dependent on qualifications and years of experience.

Hours of Work

He Pikinga Waiora operates outside of standard business hours to ensure tamariki, rangatahi and whānau can access support when it suits them best. Kaimahi will work across a rotating roster that includes daytime, evening and Saturday shifts. While individual rosters will be agreed in advance, applicants need to be available to work within the service's operating hours.

Indicative hub operating hours:

Monday 12.30pm – 6.00 pm (rostered shifts)
Tuesday – Friday 10.00am – 8.30 pm (rostered shifts)
Saturday 9.30am – 3.30 pm (rostered shifts)

About our partnership

He Pikinga Waiora is delivered in partnership by Te Puawaitanga ki Ōtautahi Trust and Purapura Whetū Trust.
Together we bring decades of experience supporting whānau across Waitaha through kaupapa Māori approaches that strengthen wellbeing, belonging, identity, and opportunity. This partnership combines the strengths of both organisations to deliver a new, integrated model of support that places tamariki, rangatahi, and whānau at the centre.

To find out more about our organisations, please visit our websites:

Homepage - Te Puawaitanga ki Ōtautahi

Purapura Whetu, Kaupapa Māori Health & Social Services, Christchurch NZ

Applications

If you're excited by the opportunity to build something new, work collaboratively, and help shape the future of kaupapa Māori service delivery, we'd love to hear from you.

Please submit your CV and a cover letter outlining the role you're applying for. Let us know about your key strengths and what attracts you to He Pikinga Waiora. Applications need to be made via our website https://tepuawaitanga.maori.nz/job-opportunities/ 

For the full Job Description click here: PD - Kaihautū Kaupapa Programme Lead

For further enquires on this role, please contact [email protected]

Applications close 18 September 2026

We will be reviewing applications as they are received and progressing to interviews quickly. We reserve the right to close advertising early if the position is filled during the advertising period.