Nau mai, Haere mai
Supporting and empowering whānau
Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari kē he toa takitini
My success should not be bestowed onto me alone; it was not individual success, but the success of a collective
Are you looking for interesting, responsible and fulfilling mahi (work) that makes a real difference to people’s lives? Come and join our kaupapa (purpose) of supporting whānau to uphold and express their mana motuhake (self-determination).
Our poumahi (staff) are as important as the whānau we awhi (support).
Join us if you want to:
- Be appreciated and rewarded for a job done well.
- Receive fair pay for important mahi that makes a real difference.
- Have work-life balance, and work flexibly.
- Have opportunities for professional and personal development.
- Get to know a disabled person and help them live a richer life.
- Work in a culturally diverse, inclusive and proudly Māori-led organisation with people who are skilled, empathetic and care about dignity, equity and human rights.
- Be part of a collective that values the wisdom of tikanga (system of values and practices) including manaaki (support, generosity, care), tika (doing the right thing, in the right way), pono (truth, honesty, genuineness, sincerity) and aroha (compassion, empathy, joy for others).
Ngā Tūranga e Wātea Ana – Current Vacancies
Pouārahi (Waiariki-Te Moana Nui a Toi)
- Covering the districts around Tauranga, Rotorua, Taupō and Whakatāne.
- Management and leadership role in a tikanga-led organisation supporting whānau who have experienced serious injury.
- Full-time (40 hours).
- $60-$90k per annum (depending on experience) + car.
- Must have a full driver licence.
- Applications close 5pm, 12 March 2025
He kōrero mō te mahi – About the role
In te ao Māori, a ‘pou’ is an upright support, commonly found at the centre of a whare tīpuna (ancestral meeting house), representing strength and stability. The kupu (word) ‘ārahi’ means to lead and drive a kaupapa (purpose). Like the beams that connect and strengthen the whare, Pouārahi bring unity and direction, creating pathways that empower whānau.
The term Pouārahi reflects both practical coordination and relational leadership, connecting people and guiding them toward shared goals with manaakitanga (care) and trust. This is a management and leadership role in Mana Ātea, responsible for ensuring our support to whānau consistently delivers on our purpose of mana motuhake.
A Pouārahi is responsible for overseeing, rostering and ensuring quality supports tailored to whānau needs and aspirations. They recruit, manage and nurture Pouāwhina (assistants) to provide high calibre awhi (assistance) to whānau, and work in close collaboration with wider whānau and other professionals. Pouārahi are responsible for ensuring we exceed expectations in accountabilities such as reporting, haumaru (health and safety) etc.
As part of the management team of Mana Ātea, Pouārahi play an important role in our organisation’s growth and are part of developing and delivering on a range of strategic initiatives.
Read the Pouārahi Muka Mahi – Job Description
He kōrero māu – about you
You are committed to supporting the mana motuhake (agency, self-determination) of whānau we awhi (assist).
You are a strategic thinker, collaborator and team leader. Highly organised, reliable and dependable, you are a metaphorical pou.
As a ‘people person’, building and nurturing relationships is where you excel. You’ve got great interpersonal and communication skills which you use to lead people to deliver excellence.
Essential Requirements
- Highly organised and demonstrated ability to manage a diverse case load, staff and accountability requirements.
- Some knowledge of the clinical care needs of people who have experienced serious injury.
- Excellent communication and relationship skills.
- Willingness to travel and work outside usual business hours when required.
- Strategic and creative thinking to drive innovation and excellence in operational delivery and organisational development.
- Commitment to upskilling and development, including in te reo me ōna tikanga (Māori language and customs).
- Entitled to work in Aotearoa New Zealand.
- Full driver licence.
Desirable Requirements
- Knowledge of te ao Māori.
- Familiarity with IT packages used in the sector.
- Knowledge of ACC systems and processes.
Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou – What we offer
- A meaningful job with purpose.
- Be part of an exciting time in a growing organisation that is tikanga-led and committed to excellence for whānau.
- A high-trust and supportive work environment.
- Professional and personal growth and development
Me tono mai – How to apply
Please complete the online application form and upload your CV.
For more information about this role, please contact Rangi on rangi@manaatea.nz or 027 201 7678.
Mana Ātea values diversity, inclusion and belonging. If there are ways we can enhance the accessibility of our application process, please don’t hesitate to contact us on admin@manaatea.nz.
You can find helpful tips about creating impactful CVs at Ahu Jobs Career Hub.
Applications close 5pm, 12 March 2025
Interested in being a Pouāwhina?
In te ao Māori, a ‘pou’ is an upright support, commonly found at the centre of a whare tīpuna (ancestral meeting house), representing strength and stability.
The kupu (word) ‘awhi’ means to support, assist and help. Awhi is part of showing ‘aroha’ (empathy, generosity and joy for others), and is one of the three fundamental principles of te ao Māori, along with ‘tika’ (just, fair and proper) and ‘pono’ (true, genuine, honest and sincere).
At Mana Ātea, Pouāwhina are the metaphorical pou driving our high-quality awhi, in tika and pono ways, that enable whānau to express and uphold their mana motuhake (self-determination) and live life to the fullest.
The whānau we support are at the centre of what we do. This means that it is the whānau who choose who will awhi them as their Pouāwhina, and they also decide what Pouāwhina will do, when they’ll do it and how they’ll do it.
We frequently recruit for Pouāwhina across the Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland), Waikato, Hauraki, Tauranga Moana and Te Moana Nui a Toi (Bay of Plenty) regions.
The mahi of a Pouāwhina varies greatly based on the whānau we awhi and their needs, goals and aspirations.
Depending on the whānau we are supporting, mahi can include:
Mana Tangata
Mana Whānau
- Facilitate contact with family, friends and associates.
- Kōrero with whānau we support, other Pouāwhina, wider and Pouārahi to ensure consistency and continuity of care.
- Mahitahi to remedy and find solutions to potential risks.
Mana Kotahitanga
Mana Mātauranga
Whare Atawhai - complex care
- Provide personal and complex cares in whānau homes.
- Includes elements of clinical health care and may include 24/7 and overnight care shifts.
- May need level 2, 3 or 4 qualifications depending on the care required.
- Travel time and mileage paid.
Whare Manaaki - support in the community
- Support and accompany whānau to pursue interests in the community and other goals that contribute to their quality of life.
- Mileage paid if transporting whānau in your vehicle.
Pouāwhina wages are based on the care and support workers’ pay equity settlement, including public holiday rates. The hourly rate is determined by qualifications and/or experience. For casual poumahi (staff), 8% holiday pay is added to this.
All Pouāwhina roles require you to:
- Be entitled to work in Aotearoa New Zealand.
- Undergo a Police check.
- If relevant, undergo a children’s worker safety check.
- Usually have a restricted or full driver’s licence and reliable transport.
- Complete Nau Mai, Haere Mai (our induction session) within a month of starting mahi.
- Complete first aid and rongoā (medication administration) training.
- Complete a whakatau and induction with whānau.
- Follow the whānau plans which outline tasks, goals and aspirations.
- Follow Ngā Paerewa (Health and Disability Service Standards), Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights, ACC’s Kawa Whakaruruhau Policy, and all Mana Ātea policy and record/note-keeping requirements.
- Participate in monthly hui with other Pouāwhina.
- Use our online apps to check the roster, make notes about your mahi, record hours worked and travel, apply for leave and access payslips.
- If relevant, complete any other training specific to the whānau you awhi (e.g. manual handling, pressure injuries).
