Job Description

At the National Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, we connect people with the stories, taonga, ideas and experiences that make Aotearoa unique.

This is an opportunity for a highly organised and relationship-focused Executive Assistant to support our Deputy Chief Executive (DCE) Kaupapa Māori and the Kaupapa Māori directorate. This is a pivotal role at the centre of a busy and dynamic directorate that supports the embedding of whakaaro Māori across Te Papa and strengthens relationships with iwi, hapū, whānau, marae, hāpori, mana whenua, Māori organisations and communities.

Working closely with the DCE and Kaupapa Māori Senior Leadership Team, you'll provide proactive executive and administrative support that enables the directorate to achieve its strategic and operational objectives. You'll play a key role in managing priorities, supporting governance and engagement activities, coordinating events and helping deliver important kaupapa, including Te Papa's Karanga Aotearoa Repatriation Programme.

Your days will involve managing complex diaries and correspondence, coordinating hui and events, preparing reports and briefing materials, monitoring priorities and actions, providing manaakitanga for manuhiri and stakeholders, and supporting initiatives that strengthen Te Papa's engagement with Māori communities throughout Aotearoa and beyond.

If you enjoy working in a role where no two days are the same, thrive in a kaupapa-driven environment, and take pride in helping others succeed while contributing to meaningful outcomes for Māori and the wider nation, we'd love to hear from you.

What Success Looks Like

In this role, you'll be successful when you:

• Provide highly effective executive support that enables the DCE to focus on strategic priorities and organisational outcomes.
• Build trusted relationships across Te Papa and with external stakeholders, including iwi, Moriori, community groups and key partners.
• Anticipate needs, manage competing priorities and ensure commitments, actions and deadlines are delivered on time.
• Coordinate high-quality hui, events, engagements and administrative processes that support effective organisational delivery.
• Provide exceptional manaakitanga to visitors, stakeholders, kaumātua, kuia and dignitaries.
• Contribute positively to the operational success of the Kaupapa Māori directorate and Karanga Aotearoa Repatriation programme.

You will work in a way that reflects manaakitanga (care and respect), builds whanaungatanga (strong relationships), and encourages auahatanga (creativity).

What We're Looking For

You will be someone well-versed in Te Ao Māori who enjoys bringing structure to complexity and can confidently manage competing priorities while maintaining attention to detail. You're proactive, resourceful and highly organised, with the judgement to anticipate needs and the initiative to make things happen.

You'll bring:

• Experience providing executive support to a senior leader or leadership team in a complex environment, ideally within a Māori context.
• Strong knowledge of tikanga Māori and an intermediate level of te reo Māori.
• Advanced administrative and coordination skills, including diary management, meeting coordination and executive support.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strong written communication skills and the ability to prepare high-quality reports, presentations, briefings and correspondence.
• Excellent networking and relationship management skills with a wide range of stakeholders, including iwi and Moriori.
• Sound judgement, discretion and professionalism, including the ability to manage confidential and sensitive information.
• Advanced Microsoft 365 skills and confidence using a range of business systems and governance tools.
• A genuine commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Mana Taonga and ongoing learning within Te Ao Māori.

Why Join Te Papa?

This is an opportunity to work at the heart of one of New Zealand's most recognised cultural institutions, supporting a directorate that strengthens Te Papa's relationships with Māori and helps embed Te Tiriti and whakaaro Māori across the organisation. You will contribute to significant kaupapa including the Karanga Aotearoa Repatriation Programme, and meaningful partnerships with iwi, hapū and whānau throughout Aotearoa.

We offer:

• A supportive and values-driven team environment.
• Meaningful work that contributes to the Mana Taonga principle.
• A workplace committed to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Māori-Crown partnership.
• Comprehensive benefits including onsite kindergarten, subsidised parking, café and store discounts, and on occasion free entry to paid exhibitions.

This is a part-time position (32 hours per week) based on-site at Te Papa Tongarewa, 55 Cable Street, Wellington.

For more details, please refer to the attached Position Description.

If you are viewing this advertisement on a website other than the Te Papa job board, the Position Description may not be accessible. In this case, please visit jobs.tepapa.govt.nz to view the Position Description and apply.

Applicants must have the legal right to work in New Zealand. Pre-employment checks will be undertaken.

We offer a competitive salary and benefits package that reflects the skills, experience and contribution you will bring to this important role. The starting salary is likely to be offered within the range of $62,194 - $81,000.

How to Apply

Please submit your CV and cover letter via jobs.tepapa.govt.nz

Applications close: Tuesday 17 November 2026

Questions?

For any enquiries or a confidential discussion, please contact the Recruitment Team at recruitment@tepapa.govt.nz