Principal Communications Advisor for Te Arawhiti | Wellington City
Te Haeata/The Opportunity
The Principal Communications Advisor for Te Arawhiti – The Office for Māori Crown Relations is a high-level strategic and specialist position within the Ministry of Justice's Communication and Ministerial Services team.
You will report directly to the General Manager Communications and Ministerial Services within the Ministry of Justice. However, through our shared services agreement, you will combine your skills and experience in thought leadership, media strategy, engagement, storytelling, and relationship management to support Te Arawhiti, a departmental agency hosted by the Ministry of Justice, in their mission of fostering strong Crown-Māori relations.
This is an exciting time for Te Arawhiti - the Office for Māori Crown Relations as the agency enters a new phase, taking on a new name, with a strengthened focus on completing historical Treaty settlements and supporting Takutai Moana determinations.
As the Principal Advisor, you will:
Lead strategic communications and provide thought leadership at a senior level.
Develop and implement media, engagement, and storytelling strategies.
Work closely with iwi, hapū, and whānau Māori to ensure culturally responsive communication.
Craft compelling content that tells the story of Te Arawhiti's mahi.
Play a key role in crisis and emergency response communications.
Mentor and support communications professionals within the Ministry of Justice's Communication team.
You will be responsible for shaping our public voice, providing big picture strategic advice and ensuring our messaging is clear, authentic and impactful. You will also manage and coach junior staff, fostering their growth and development while guiding them in developing and delivering communications strategies.
If you thrive on connecting people, shaping narratives, and making complex ideas accessible, this could be the perfect role for you.
Ō pūkenga/Skills and Experience
You will be a strategic thinker and relationship builder who has experience working in media outside government (preferably journalism) within and outside of:
Proven extensive experience in communications, media, and engagement.
Understands Te Ao Māori, Te Reo Māori, and tikanga Māori and can bring these perspectives into storytelling.
Can translate complex ideas into clear, compelling narratives.
Thrives in high-pressure situations and provides expert crisis communication advice.
Builds and fosters relationships with government agencies, media, and Māori communities.
Mō mātou/About us
At Te Tāhū o te Ture - the Ministry of Justice, we're committed to strengthening people's trust in the law of Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Our business unit provides internal and external communications advice and support. This includes advising and delivering on communication strategies and planning, media and social media management, graphics design, issues management, specialist engagement advice and oversight, and channels management.
Joining Te Tāhū o te Ture means you will become part of an organisation that welcomes and supports people of all gender identities, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, disabilities and religions.
Ngā painga o tēnei wāhi mahi/What's great about working here
We offer you a range of benefits to support your wellbeing and help make the Ministry a great place to be. These include:
4.4 weeks holiday leave
an online professional development portal
access to a variety of inclusive and proactive networks
See our full range of benefits here.
With a wide range of jobs, you also get the chance to gain a variety of skills and experience while developing your career.
Utu ā-tau/Salary
The appointing salary for this role will be between $128,129 and $179,192 based on skills and experience.
Tono mai/Apply
To apply, click the Apply button below to be directed to our Careers Website to complete an online application form by attaching your CV and cover letter.
Applications close on Sunday 2 March 2025; however, we will be reviewing CVs as they come in and inviting successful candidates to interview before the close date.
If you have any questions, please contact recruitment@justice.govt.nz
