Te Ohu Kaimoana is seeking 2x Directors to join the board of Te Wai Māori Trustee Limited, the corporate trustee of Te Wai Māori Trust, a nationally focused kaupapa Māori charitable trust established under the Māori Fisheries Act 2004 to advance Māori interests in freshwater fisheries.

• Three year term.
• Bimonthly online or in-person hui, four annual in-person commitments including AGM.
• This role is paid.

Tō mātou taraiti – About Te Wai Māori Trust

Te Wai Māori Trust was established under the 2004 Māori Fisheries Act to hold and manage the trust funds on trust for and on behalf of the beneficiaries under the Deed of Settlement, in order to advance Māori interests in freshwater fisheries.  

The strategic priorities and long-term outcomes that Te Wai Māori Trust continue to work toward, include:

• Enhancing the health and wellbeing of indigenous fisheries and their habitat.
• Enhancing the recognition and status of indigenous species.
• Providing better opportunities for the participation of iwi and hapū in resource management decision making processes as they relate to freshwater fisheries and habitat.
• Promoting and sharing indigenous fisheries expertise, knowledge and understanding.
• Increasing the quality and range of information to iwi and hapū on freshwater fisheries and habitat.  
• Supporting iwi and hapū capacity and capability in freshwater fisheries

Tō mātou tuarā – Our values

Te Wai Māori is a Māori organisation, and operates in line with tikanga Māori. The Trust’s core values determine the way it approaches its work and defines the way in which it behaves. The values of Te Wai Māori Trust are:

• Te Mana o Te Wai, reflecting that freshwater ecosystems come first.
• Whakapapa, reflecting the connection between whānau, hapū and iwi, and te taiao.
• Kaitiakitanga, reflecting whānau, hapū and iwi obligations, as descendants of ngā Atua

Te tūranga wātea – About the role:

We are seeking highly skilled and values-aligned Māori governance professionals to join the Board of Te Wai Māori Trustee as Directors. They will serve a crucial role providing strategic leadership and oversight, ensuring the effective management of trust funds and the effective delivery of the organisation's strategy. Directors are responsible for making quality decisions in line with the Te Wai Māori Trustee Limited Constitution, the Te Wai Māori Trust Deed, its responsibilities under the Māori Fisheries Act, and in accordance with tikanga Māori.

In accordance with the 2004 Māori Fisheries Act, successful candidates will be Māori, who:

• Are well versed in tikanga Māori.
• Are experienced in working with Māori and Māori organisations.

Have experience in one or more of the following

• Fisheries management, enhancement, and development.
• Expertise and experience in matters relevant to freshwater fisheries.
• Knowledge of the special interest of iwi in freshwater fisheries.

The ideal candidate will be highly regarded if they also bring the following attributes:

• History of directorships, trusteeships or other governance roles within significant organisations.
• Financial and investment management expertise and or,
• Technical freshwater expertise in freshwater planning and policy management and freshwater science / ecology.
• Demonstrated experience in two or more of the following areas: Strategy development, machinery of government, ministerial and stakeholder engagement, and iwi and hapū relationships.

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To apply for this opportunity, please submit your CV along with a cover letter detailing how you meet the legislative requirements of the role.

For further information or to request a copy of the position description, please contact Crystal Dickson via email: crystal.dickson@teohukaimoana.nz

Applications close Friday 5 June 2026.