all current vacancies within te aka ora

cURRENT VACANCIES

Te Whare Whai Hua – Puna Reo
📍 Gisborne / Tūranganui-a-Kiwa
Te Whare Whai Hua is seeking a qualified Early Childhood or Primary Teacher to join our small, nurturing Puna Reo, supporting teen parents and community-based parents and their tamariki in the vital early years of their learning journey.
We are entering an exciting new chapter with fresh management, a renewed focus on children’s learning pathways and development, and a strong commitment to whānau-centred, culturally grounded practice.
🌿 About UsTe Whare Whai Hua provides a safe, loving and inclusive environment where tamariki and their whānau are valued and supported to thrive. Our kaupapa is grounded in Te Whāriki, mātauranga Māori, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi, with a strong emphasis on belonging (tūrangawaewae), manaakitanga, and aroha.
🌼 About the RoleThis role is ideal for a passionate kaiako who enjoys working in a small, close-knit setting and is committed to supporting young parents and their children. You will play a key role in planning and guiding children’s learning and development, while building strong, respectful relationships with whānau.
You will be part of a young, vibrant and supportive team, where collaboration, professional growth and shared values matter.
🧒 What You’ll Be Doing
  • Delivering high-quality early learning programmes aligned with Te Whāriki 2018
  • Supporting children’s individual learning pathways and development
  • Creating a safe, nurturing, and inclusive learning environment
  • Working closely with teen parents, whānau, and wider support teams
  • Contributing to centre planning, reflection, and continuous improvement
  • Upholding strong health, safety, and wellbeing practices
🌺 What We’re Looking ForEssential:
  • ECE or Primary Teaching qualification (NZ recognised)
  • Current NZ Teacher Practising Certificate
  • Understanding of Te Whāriki and early years pedagogy
  • Commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, tikanga Māori and whānau-centred practice
  • Full NZ driver’s licence and ability to meet safety and police vet requirements
Desirable:
  • Experience working in ECE in Aotearoa
  • Te Reo Māori capability (or willingness to grow)
  • Passion for improving outcomes for Māori tamariki and whānau
  • Experience or interest in working alongside teen parents
💚 What We Offer
  • Supportive leadership and new management direction
  • A values-driven, kaupapa Māori environment
  • A small centre where relationships truly matter
  • Ongoing professional development
  • The chance to make a real difference for young parents and their children

    Applications to be sent through to [email protected]
    Job Description can be found here

  • Advertised on Seek here: https://www.seek.co.nz/job/90290764?ref=hirer-success-posting​
Counsellor in Schools – TairāwhitiFull-time | Te Karaka • Patutahi • Manutuke • Muriwai
Te Aka Ora Charitable Trust is seeking an experienced, passionate and whānau-focused Counsellor to join our team and provide counselling and wellbeing support to tamariki, rangatahi and whānau across four partner schools in Tairāwhiti.
This is a full-time position working across Te Karaka, Patutahi, Manutuke and Muriwai, providing accessible, strengths-based counselling within school communities.
About the roleOur Counsellor in Schools works alongside students, whānau, school staff, SWIS workers and other community professionals to strengthen the wellbeing of tamariki and rangatahi.
The role provides individual and whānau counselling, facilitates group and preventative programmes, connects students with appropriate services, and contributes to a collaborative wraparound approach to student wellbeing.
You will also work closely with school leadership and pastoral teams, community agencies and other professionals, including SWIS, RTLB, health providers, Oranga Tamariki and iwi/hapū organisations where appropriate.
What we're looking forWe are looking for someone who brings strong counselling practice together with an ability to build genuine relationships with tamariki, rangatahi, whānau and our school communities.
Ideally, you will have:
  • A Social Workers Bachelor's degree or higher in Counselling, or a relevant Social Services qualification.
  • Registration/membership with NZAC, NZCCA, NZSWRB or another appropriate professional body, or be working towards registration.
  • Experience in individual and whānau counselling and supporting young people.
  • Knowledge and experience relating to the mental health and wellbeing needs of young people and whānau.
  • Experience working collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.
  • Strong communication, relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills.
  • Knowledge of Tairāwhiti community networks and services.
  • A full, clean New Zealand driver's licence.
An understanding and appreciation of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and the ability to uphold its values and principles within practice, is important to this position. The successful applicant will also need to be comfortable adapting their practice to the individual culture and environment of each kura.
What we offerThis is an opportunity to undertake meaningful mahi within Tairāwhiti, working directly within school communities and alongside a wider team committed to improving outcomes for tamariki, rangatahi and whānau.
We offer a competitive remuneration package, with our salary matrix set above the Social Services Pay Equity pay scale, recognising the professional qualifications, experience and responsibilities required for this role.
The position also includes ongoing professional development and regular professional supervision.
About Te Aka OraOur mission is to support whānau to identify their strengths and aspirations, meet their own needs, and work alongside others to mobilise the resources needed to realise the inherent potential of the communities we serve.
If you are passionate about supporting the wellbeing of tamariki and rangatahi and want to make a meaningful difference within our Tairāwhiti kura, we would love to hear from you.
To apply:
Please submit your CV and cover letter outlining your experience and suitability for the position. Send through to Bronwyn Ngatai-Hawtin on [email protected] by 4pm on the 15th September 2026. Job description available here.
Practice Leader – Social Work 
Lead practice. Grow people. Strengthen outcomes for rangatahi, whānau and communities. Rangatahi Focused mahi.
Te Aka Ora Charitable Trust is seeking an experienced and passionate Practice Leader – Social Work to provide professional practice leadership across our organisation.
This is an opportunity for a registered Social Worker who brings strong frontline practice experience, leadership capability, and a genuine commitment to Youth Development and Community Development.
Our mahi is grounded in supporting whānau to identify their strengths and aspirations, mobilising resources and opportunities that enable whānau and communities to realise their potential.
About the role
As Practice Leader, you will help strengthen the quality, consistency and confidence of social work practice across Te Aka Ora.
You will work alongside our Social Workers, leadership team and community partners to provide practice guidance, develop capability, encourage reflective practice and ensure our services continue to deliver positive outcomes for rangatahi, tamariki, whānau and communities.
The role has a strong focus on professional practice leadership, continuous improvement and supporting staff to exercise sound professional judgement.
You will also contribute to developing our workforce through professional development, reflective supervision, induction and opportunities for ongoing learning.
We are looking for someone who:
  • Is a qualified Social Worker with a recognised tertiary Social Work qualification
  • Holds current registration with the Social Workers Registration Board (SWRB)
  • Has significant practical experience working within social work, social services or a related community setting
  • Has demonstrated experience in practice leadership, supervision or professional advisory work
  • Has experience working with rangatahi, whānau and communities, with a strong understanding of Youth Development and Community Development approaches
  • Can support Social Workers to strengthen their professional practice, critical thinking, decision-making and reflective practice
  • Understands contemporary social work practice, relevant legislation, professional standards and ethical responsibilities
  • Can confidently navigate complex practice and casework
  • Builds strong, collaborative relationships with whānau, colleagues, iwi, community organisations and other agencies
  • Demonstrates culturally responsive practice and is comfortable working within kaupapa and environments informed by mātauranga Māori
  • Has excellent communication, relationship-building and leadership skills
  • Is committed to ongoing professional learning and development.
The current Position Description identifies a relevant tertiary Social Work qualification and current SWRB registration as essential requirements for the position.
What you will bringMore than technical knowledge, we are looking for someone who can lead and influence practice.
You will be someone who can walk alongside practitioners, ask the right questions, challenge thinking constructively and help people grow in confidence and capability.
You will understand that strong social work practice happens within the context of whānau and community. You will bring a strengths-based approach and a commitment to achieving positive outcomes for children, young people and their whānau.
RemunerationRemuneration for this position will be aligned with the applicable Social Worker Pay Equity Scale, with placement on the scale reflecting the successful applicant's qualifications and relevant experience.
Why Te Aka Ora?At Te Aka Ora, our work is about people, relationships and community.
Our vision is to embody the qualities of Mihingaretanga – love, faith and hope modelled by Te Karaiti – in everything we do.
If you are an experienced Social Worker ready to step into a role where you can influence practice, develop others and contribute to better outcomes for rangatahi, whānau and our wider community, we would love to hear from you.
ApplyPlease submit your CV and covering letter, outlining your experience and what you would bring to the Practice Leader role.
Applications close: 16th September 2026 at 3pm
For further information: Pele Paenga - [email protected]
Job Description found here

Advertised on Seek here: https://nz.seek.com/job/94088539?ref=cm-ui​
Advertised on TradeMe Jobs here: https://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=6091664184 
  

If you would like to send through your interest in working for Te Aka Ora, please send your CV and Cover Letter through to us at [email protected]
Te Aka Ora Copyright © 2020