Hikitia Education Tutor - Waikeria Prison

Kotahi ano te Kaupapa: Ko te oranga o te iwi- There is only one purpose to our work: The wellness and wellbeing of people.

Nau mai, Haere mai, we welcome you to join our whanau.

• Play a critical role in a high performing team.
• Role based at Tongariro Prison.
• 14-month fixed term contract.

Mo te tunga | About the role

Hikitia Education Tutors are instrumental in ensuring the Tikanga of Hikitia is upheld, shared, learned, and demonstrated through Manaakitanga towards the tane in our care. As a Hikitia Education Tutor, you will act as a positive role model that operates in ways that influence learners to think differently. Key responsibilities include:

• Implementing culturally responsive approaches to enable engagement and achievement from the tane in our care,
• Increase cultural connection, awareness, and identity,
• Developing, planning, and implementing lessons to facilitate with the tane in our care utilising the Hikitia Oranga Programme.
• Demonstrating a Maori-centred practice grounded in relational, holistic, and strengths-based approaches to be delivered with cultural integrity, safety, and sustained impact.
• To embed Matauranga Maori and Maori models of wellbeing, such as Te Whare Tapa Wha into all aspects of Corrections-led education and rehabilitation. This includes curriculum, practice, and evaluation that centre Te Ao Maori, uphold tikanga and kawa, and enable transformative, equitable, and intergenerational outcomes for the tane in our care and their whanau.

If you want to learn more about the Hikitia team, click here: https://careers.corrections.govt.nz/work/health/hikitia to visit our role page.

Mou | About you

We are looking for dedicated and enthusiastic individuals to join our education team. This is a rewarding opportunity to support prison-based learners to become better prepared for employment and/or further education. To be successful you will bring the following:

• Excellent relationship skills with a strong ability to influence positively,
• Self-awareness and relationship skills that enable understanding of the needs of different tane in our care,
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with peers and to foster teamwork and co-operation across teams,
• Proficiency in Te Reo Maori me ona Tikanga and Matauranga Maori

Nga pukenga me nga wheako | Skills and experience

• A teaching qualification or subject- specialist qualification, level 5
• A New Zealand Certificate in Adult Literacy and Numeracy, level 5
• Must hold an NZQA unit standard 4098.
• Moderation experience would be an advantage.
• Sound understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

A clean, current full driver's license is essential for this position. You must also legally be able to work fulltime in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Nga painga | The benefits

The salary range is $77,841 - $86,152 per annum. Appointment and remuneration will reflect skills and experience relevant to the role.

Mo matou | About us

Join Ara Poutama Aotearoa - Department of Corrections, where your work will contribute to improving public safety, reducing re-offending, and address the overrepresentation of Maori in correctional facilities. As a values-led organisation, we use the principles of rangatira (leadership), manaaki (respect), wairua (spirituality), kaitiaki (guardianship), and whanau (relationships) to guide our work and achieve the goals of our Hokai Rangi strategy.

We value inclusion and diversity in our workforce, and as a Public Service organisation we are committed to building a workforce that reflects the public we serve. We strive to make our recruitment process fair, and we encourage you to discuss reasonable accommodations with us if required.

Tono inaianei | Apply Now

To submit an application and view the position description, click the apply link. All applications must be submitted through our careers site to ensure transparency - applications received via email will not be considered.

When applying, submit a tailored CV and a cover letter describing your motivation for joining the department highlighting relevant skills and experience and the alignment to our work.

Applications close on: 11.00 pm Sunday, 10th May 2026.

If you have any questions or wan