Maaori Partnerships Senior Advisor

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 Maaori Partnerships Manager, you’ll play an important delivery role within IAWAI’s Maaori partnerships and engagement function. You’ll help bring IAWAI’s Maaori Partnership Strategy to life and support Maaori engagement across our $3 billion infrastructure programme, ensuring Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles are reflected in how we plan, design, and deliver essential water services.

You’ll work directly with mana whenua, iwi, and Maaori stakeholders to support engagement across drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater projects. This includes helping ensure engagement is timely, well‑coordinated, culturally appropriate, and aligned with both iwi expectations and IAWAI’s organisational obligations. You’ll also support early and ongoing engagement throughout project planning, optioneering, design, and delivery, making sure Maaori perspectives are meaningfully captured and influence key decisions.

In this role, you’ll collaborate closely with Aronui Tuuhono to integrate Maaori engagement with wider community engagement processes, avoiding duplication and ensuring strong alignment. You’ll also support coordination with Aronui Paaoho where Maaori engagement connects with organisational or public communications, helping ensure messaging is accurate, respectful, and consistent.

Oo puumanawa me oo wheako | Your skills and experience

• Previous experience in Maaori engagement, iwi relations, stakeholder engagement, or partnership support roles
• Strong understanding of tikanga Maaori and appropriate engagement protocols in formal and informal settings
• Understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its application in practical engagement and infrastructure contexts
• Experience working with Maaori communities, iwi organisations, or kaupapa Maaori environments
• Experience working in infrastructure, local government, utilities, or public sector delivery environments (desirable)
• Strong coordination and facilitation skills, including supporting hui, workshops, and engagement events
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent engagement activities across different projects and timeframes
• Strong communication skills, including preparing clear engagement documentation and reporting outputs
• Ability to accurately capture, record, and track engagement feedback, commitments, and outcomes
• Sound judgement in identifying risks or issues requiring escalation to senior advisors or management
• Ability to work collaboratively across Aronui Tuuhono (project engagement) and Aronui Paaoho (communications) functions
• Commitment to respectful, relationship-led engagement practice within a Treaty partnership environment

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

Circa $121k 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