Centre Manager - (Te Pou Manukura) Te Waipuna Ariki o Matangireia
Te Tohu o te Ora o Ngāti Awa
Job Description
Mō te tūranga | About the Role
- Whakatāne based position.
- Lead a high-quality, kaupapa Māori early childhood service in Mataatua.
- Champion Te Whāriki, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and Te Pou Mataaho.
- Full operational oversight, across curriculum, compliance, people, budgets, enrolments, and H&S.
Tihei mauri ora ki te whai ao ki te ao mārama Ki ō tātou tini aituā kua huri tua o maumahara, haere koutou.
Ki a tātou ngā kanohi ora kua mahue nei ki te ao hurihuri tēnā koutou.
Tēnā koutou rau rangatira mā, i te āhuatanga o te kaupapa whakakī tūranga nei, e mihi atu nei, kia ora huihui mai tātou katoa.
Ko wai mātou? - Who are we?
Te Tohu o te Ora o Ngāti Awa is a kaupapa Māori-led organisation dedicated to the prosperity and wellbeing of whānau through integrated health, social, education, employment, and housing services. Te Waipuna Ariki o Matangireia is our ECE centre, where tamariki and whānau are nurtured through manaakitanga, whanaungatanga, kaitiakitanga, and ako.
They are seeking a Centre Manager who brings cultural depth and operational excellence.
As the Centre Manager, you are responsible for leading and managing the centre in a way that upholds Te Ao Māori values, ensuring tamariki, whānau, and kaimahi are nurtured within an environment of manaakitanga, whanaungatanga, kaitiakitanga, and ako. The role ensures that learning, wellbeing, and cultural identity are at the heart of all practices. You are responsible for ensuring the strategic operational and financial objectives of the centre are met.
About the role
This is a strategic and hands-on leadership position:
- Hold overall responsibility for centre operations, quality, compliance, and financial performance.
- Lead a team of registered teachers, support staff, and an administrator; drive professional growth cycles and robust appraisal.
- Embed Te Whāriki through planning, assessment, evaluation, and internal review practices, including Te Pou Mataaho.
- Maintain MoE licensing requirements, Teaching Council standards, ratios, property and resource quality, and a best-practice H&S culture.
- Build authentic relationships with whānau, hapū, iwi, and sector partners; uphold te reo me ngā tikanga Māori and local narratives.
- Use centre systems (e.g., Discover, Storypark, Office 365, Sage/finance) to support high-quality delivery and reporting.
Ngā tino pūkenga me wheako | Essential knowledge, skills, and experience
- Level 7 ECE teaching qualification recognised by the Teaching Council; current practising certificate; current First Aid.
- Proven centre leadership or equivalent senior ECE management experience, including staffing, budgets, and compliance.
- Demonstrated strength in curriculum leadership aligned to Te Whāriki, with internal evaluation and self-review expertise.
- Deep understanding of Te Ao Māori, te reo me ngā tikanga Māori; unwavering commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
- Excellence in communication, conflict resolution, whānau engagement, and community partnership.
- Confident with ICT and centre platforms (e.g., Discover, Storypark, Office 365); disciplined documentation and reporting.
- Full, clean New Zealand driver licence.
What we offer
- A kaupapa-anchored, supportive leadership environment.
- Flexible work practices, revitalisation and wānanga days, health insurance (conditions apply).
- Ongoing professional development and sector networking.
- The opportunity to shape outcomes for tamariki and whānau across Mātaatua.
Whakatāne District offers a vibrant community, a thriving local economy, endless sunny days and a stunning natural environment to live, work, raise your whānau and study in. Whether you're planning a future for your whānau closer to home or you are seeking your next move to escape the city….Nau mai, haere mai!
This is more than an advisory role; it’s a chance to lead and help shape a future where Māori educational success is designed by and for Māori
Te Tono | How to apply
If you are a values-driven ECE leader ready to steward a thriving kaupapa Māori centre, we would love to hear from you. For more information or an information kete, please email your CV and cover letter to Heather Walker (heather@manarecruitment.co.nz) at Mana Recruitment quoting ref: NASH102.
Applications close: Tono will be assessed as they are received. Early applications are encouraged to ensure a January 2026 start.
