Nau mai, haere mai. Welcome.

• An exciting transformation is taking place within our Education system
• Be part of the change you want to see for education so that all New Zealanders can achieve equitable and excellent outcomes

Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga | the Ministry of Education is changing how it works to better support educators and the ākonga and whānau they serve. Our changes were informed by Kōrero Mātauranga, including the Independent Review of Tomorrow’s Schools, where we heard from thousands of New Zealanders about what they want from their education system and our role in it.

We’ve taken the opportunity to look right across our organisation and redesign ourselves in ways that will strengthen how we deliver locally, regionally and nationally integrated services, and how we provide support and challenge to drive improvements across the education system.

Transformation started in 2021 with the creation of Te Mahau. Te Mahau provides services and support for education staff and leaders, ākonga and whānau. It brings our frontline services and supports closer together and closer to the sector.

Te Pou Tuarongo is focused on lifting the capability across our organisation to give practical effect to te Tiriti o Waitangi. It navigates te ao Karauna and te ao Māori so our organisation can create space for Māori to exercise tino rangatiratanga and support our kāwanatanga responsibility. The group supports the development of relationships between Te Tāhuhu and Māori.

The newly established Pou Ārahi — Māori are additional resources for Te Pou Tuarongo, who act to uplift our organisational Māori capability by being positioned in business group leadership teams across our organisation. They work to connect Te Pou Tuarongo and Māori capability across the organisation and advise on operating at the kāwanatanga — tino rangatiratanga interface in the context of their business group.

The changes we’re making will support four “key shifts” to how we work:

• Ngā tū mahi hei whakamana i te Tiriti o Waitangi | Taking practical action to give effect to te Tiriti o Waitangi
• Mātua ko te reo o te rohe me te haukāinga | Giving priority to regional and local voice
• Te whai kia kaha ake te uruparenga, te whai wāhitanga, me te tautoko tōpū | Delivering greater responsiveness, accessibility and integrated services and support
• Te whai kia pai ake te tukanga whakahoki kōrero, tuku kōrero hoki | Improving feedback loops and information flows

This is an exciting time to apply for a range of leadership roles which will create real impact for Aotearoa New Zealand. In particular, we want your help to make a positive difference for Māori, Pacific, disabled and disadvantaged ākonga and whānau who have been systemically underserved.

Te Whare o te Mātauranga

The metaphor of Te Whare o te Mātauranga, which is the central theme for our organisation design, represents the connections between our business groups and how we work with others. Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga is the central ridgepole connecting the whare, Te Mahau is the porch and entryway, and our enabling groups are pou (ridgepoles) that support the whare from within.

• Te Whare o te Mātauranga recognises that not every whare is the same, and naming, tikanga and elements of design will vary for the many whare across education and beyond.
• A wealth of mātauranga belongs to our images and kōrero about whare, and the full wealth of this kōrero belongs to whānau, hapū and iwi.
• Te Whare o te Mātauranga provides shelter, a space for purposeful, positive engagement; the values that inform how we are engage with each other and with our partners are important.

Our Purpose

Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga | the Ministry of Education shapes an education system that delivers equitable and excellent outcomes. We fulfil this purpose through two distinct roles:

• Our shaping role where we work on the policy, settings and performance of the education system so that it is well placed to deliver outcomes for ākonga and their whānau, from early learning through schooling and tertiary education.
• Our operational role where we deliver services and support nationally, regionally and locally. This includes our regulatory role and some important services that we provide directly to ākonga and whānau, such as specialist learning support, although most of our services are delivered through the education sector workforce and others that work with them.

What We Offer

• Flexible working arrangements where everyone feels valued & supported
• The ability to purchase extra days leave
• A range of employee network groups
• An inclusive environment that encourages your personal cultural competency journey
• Development and learning, including mentorship programmes and internal secondments
• Wellness initiatives to support your overall health and wellbeing

Kua rite koe mō tēnei mahi? | Are you ready to make a difference?

We are committed to reflecting the diverse communities we serve, and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, orientations, and identities.

On the following pages, you will see an overview of groups within the new structure – their respective purposes, and the roles we will be recruiting within them. We would love to hear from you if you are interested in a confidential conversation about this important mahi.

Recruitment for this project is being managed by: