Maaori Partnerships Manager

Hamilton City and Waikato District Councils have formed a publicly owned, Council-controlled Organisation (CCO) to deliver water services across Hamilton city and Waikato district. The company is called IAWAI - Flowing Waters and will take over the provision of water services from 1 July 2026. This transition will occur in stages such as the current Watercare contract for Waikato District Council transferring to the CCO on 1 July 2026.  

He angituutanga: The opportunity 

Reporting to the Pou Aronui, you’ll provide senior leadership across IAWAI’s Maaori partnerships and engagement function. You’ll lead the development and delivery of IAWAI’s Maaori partnership strategy, ensuring Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles are woven through our infrastructure planning, investment decisions, and service delivery.

In this role, you’ll be a trusted advisor to executive leaders and governance, offering strategic guidance on Maaori partnership obligations, iwi and mana whenua engagement, and Treaty‑aligned infrastructure delivery. You’ll build and maintain high‑trust relationships with mana whenua across the Waikato, ensuring engagement is authentic, consistent, and grounded in long‑term partnership.

You’ll oversee Maaori engagement across IAWAI’s $3 billion infrastructure programme, ensuring Maaori perspectives, values, and maatauranga are meaningfully reflected in the planning, design, and delivery of essential water infrastructure. You’ll work closely with Aronui Tuuhono to integrate Maaori engagement into project planning and delivery, and with Aronui Paaoho to ensure Maaori‑related communications are accurate, culturally appropriate, and aligned with agreed partnership narratives.

Oo puumanawa me oo wheako | Your skills and experience 

• Minimum 10-15 years’ experience in Maaori relations, iwi engagement, Treaty partnership, or Maaori governance advisory roles
• Strong understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and contemporary Crown–Maaori partnership frameworks
• Experience operating in infrastructure, utilities, or local government environments with large capital programmes
• Proven ability to build and sustain high-trust relationships with iwi and mana whenua organisations
• Experience advising at executive and governance level on Maaori partnership and Treaty-related matters
• Strong understanding of Waikato iwi and hapū context and engagement dynamics
• Ability to translate Maaori partnership principles into infrastructure planning and delivery outcomes
• High-level political and cultural judgement in complex and sensitive environments
• Strong ability to work across multi-disciplinary teams and competing programme priorities
• Experience coordinating effectively across engagement (Tuuhono), Maaori partnership (Maaori), and communications (Paaoho) functions
• Commitment to embedding co-design and partnership approaches into organisational practice rather than transactional consultation
• Strong escalation management capability in high-risk or complex relationship environments

He aha te wariu o te utu kaimahi? | What’s the salary? 

Circa $150k dependent on skills and experience.

Me Tono Inaaianei!: Apply Now! 

• View the position description.
• Click apply
• ​Complete your application.

If you wish to include a cover letter with your application, please combine this in the same file as your resume and upload as a PDF file. Alternatively, you can use the 'Write a message to the Hiring Team' text box.

Applications close on the: 20th April 2026

Note: We will be shortlisting as we receive applications.

Start date for this position will be on or after 1 July 2026.

All candidates will be notified of the outcome on their application via email. Short-listed candidates will be required to complete an interview process, reference checks and a criminal check. Further background checking will be required when relevant to the role. View more information about these checks, our commitment to the Privacy act and details for international applicants by clicking hereIt is important to us that we support you throughout our selection process (interview and assessments). If you have any access needs during this process, let us know in advance so we can make sure these are met