Policy Advisor

Discover a career with purpose at MBIE
Discover a career with purpose at MBIE
- Influence the policy settings that support Māori economic development
- One full time Policy Advisor position is available
- Based in our central Wellington offices
- $75,114 - $93,724 plus KiwiSaver and wellness benefit Tēnei tūranga - About the Role:
Te Kupenga, Māori Economic Policy and Strategic Partnerships, has a renewed focus on contributing meaningfully to Aotearoa's economic development while steadfastly focusing on Māori economic success, well-being and prosperity. The Māori Economic Policy team develops policy and provides strategic guidance on integrating Māori perspectives into broader economic policies - you will be able to help shape our work programme and contribute to building a supportive and enjoyable team culture.
Te Kupenga prioritises partnership and collaboration. Our dedication to partnership is a guiding principle. It is also a practical approach to delivering on the economic goals of Government, iwi and Māori while supporting iwi through their post-settlement journey. The Treaty Assurance and Partnerships team ensures compliance with Treaty settlement obligations and leads initiatives to foster robust Crown-iwi partnerships. As part of the policy team you will work with the Treaty Assurance and Partnerships team to ensure MBIE’s economic policies are well-informed by the Māori economic landscape and will meet the needs and aspirations of iwi/Māori.
The Māori Economic Policy team supports the General Manager, Te Kupenga, to provide strategic advice to the Senior Leadership Team on how MBIE supports Māori economic growth and development. You will contribute to research and analysis that underpins this advice. This broad mandate provides scope to work on a wide variety of economic policy, across portfolios and across agencies. We work closely with other policy teams, groups, and economic agencies to ensure iwi are supported towards thriving and prosperity.
Te Kupenga, Māori Economic Policy and Strategic Partnerships, sits in MBIE’s Te Waka Pūtahitanga group. Te Waka Pūtahitanga contributes to growing Aotearoa New Zealand for all through economic system leadership, regulatory systems policy assurance, regulatory and policy capability, and Māori Economic Policy and Strategic Partnerships.
Why work for our Branch?
You will get to mix strategic and delivery-focused thinking while striving to make a real difference for Māori and New Zealand as a whole. You will be doing this in a supportive environment within a branch that empowers its staff to make decisions, supports them to build and use their cultural capability, and takes the time to celebrate its successes and grow its people to the next stage of their careers.
Ngā pukenga me ngā wheako e hiahiatia ana - Skills and Experience Required
We are looking for motivated people with experience in solving tricky policy problems and formulating high-quality policy advice for a range of issues and projects.
- Have experience working with iwi and hapū and/or in treaty negotiation and/or in Māori policy.
- Have understanding and appreciation of te Ao Māori.
- Have the ability to develop relationships with a variety of stakeholders.
- Have a good base of experience in public policy as a Policy Advisor or transferrable skills from an advisory, regulatory, legal or similar role.
- Be a logical thinker, problem solver, and have a healthy level of curiosity.
- Bring knowledge of policy development disciplines and processes.
- Enjoy working on tricky problems, generating ideas and coming up with solutions.
- Have and want to improve your cultural capability and knowledge of te ao Māori, te reo Māori and how Te Tiriti o Waitangi informs our work.
- Have the ability to work through ambiguity and deliver results. Ētahi kōrero mō MBIE - About MBIE:
MBIE's goal is to create a resilient and high-performing economy that delivers real and ongoing quality of life for all New Zealanders.
We do this by working with others to create an environment that supports businesses to be more productive and internationally competitive, enables all New Zealanders to participate in the economy through improved job opportunities and by working to ensure quality housing is more affordable.
People are at the heart of our mahi, our way of working is guided by our values which shape our behaviours.
- Mahi Tahi - Better Together
- Māia - Bold and brave
- Pae Kahurangi - Build our Future
- Pono Me Te Tika - Own It

Our aspirations are echoed in our Māori identity - Hīkina Whakatutuki - which broadly means ‘lifting to make successful'.
MBIE recognises the partnership founded under Te Tiriti o Waitangi between Māori and the Crown and is committed to giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We will do this through enduring, meaningful and effective partnerships with iwi, Māori, other Māori groups/organisations and the Crown, as this is critical to enable economic and soc