Current Vacancies

TŪ WHARE TAIAO PROGRAMME COORDINATOR

Fixed Term – 1 YEAR  

ABOUT THE ROLE – What Makes This Role Special

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the environmental leadership of the Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board, grounded in kaupapa Māori and a deep commitment to te taiao. You’ll be joining a passionate, values‑led team dedicated to protecting and enhancing the natural environment in ways that reflect the aspirations of Ngāti Tūwharetoa and uphold the mana of our wai.

The Tū Whare Taiao Programme Coordinator is responsible for leading the design, coordination, and delivery of the Tū Whare Taiao programme. This role brings to life the Board’s commitment to strengthening rangatahi connection to te taiao, deepening mātauranga Tūwharetoa, and supporting intergenerational leadership development.

DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES

Wānanga Planning & Delivery  

• Promote the programme and lead a fair and transparent process to select a cohort of rangatahi representing marae from across Tūwharetoa.
• Plan, coordinate and deliver seasonal or kaupapa-based wānanga (minimum of four across 12 months), weaving together taiao, mātauranga Tūwharetoa and leadership themes.
• Manage all logistics including venue, accommodation, catering, travel, facilitators and health & safety.
• Ensure Tūwharetoa identity is at the centre of all learning and produce a high-quality rangatahi experience.
• Undertake post-wānanga review and evaluation.

Wānanga Programme Development & Sustainability

• Maintain engagement with rangatahi between wānanga, facilitating continued connection, learning and leadership development.
• Develop and implement a communications approach to keep whānau, hapū and stakeholders informed of progress.
• Seek, secure and manage funding and sponsorship to ensure programme sustainability.
• Undertake forward planning for upcoming wānanga, including content refinement and logistical preparation.
• Report back to Trust Board management, the Steering Group and funders.

SKILLS / EXPERIENCE

• Proficient in te reo Māori, with a background in teaching or education.
• Demonstrated project or programme management experience.
• Experience coordinating wānanga, activities or hapori based initiatives.
• Financial management and budgeting capability.
• Ability to build trusted relationships across whānau, marae and at governance levels.
• High level of self-management and initiative.
• Experience managing funding contracts and reporting requirements.

PERKS AND BENEFITS

• Hybrid working (4 days situated in the office, 1 remote).
• Wellbeing Grant
• Optical Subsidy
• Personal Development Training support
• Iwi Contribution Days
• High-trust, purpose-led team culture

OTHER

• Please note evening and weekend work is required during wānanga and some travel across the rohe.
• If successful you will be required to provide a criminal record check report.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

The Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board is constituted by the Māori Trust Boards Act 1955.

HOW TO APPLY

To qualify for the role, please provide the following documents.

• CV
• Covering Letter
• Application Form (download below)

Or email all documents to HR@tuwharetoa.co.nz by 4.30pm on Monday 23 March 2026.

If you’d prefer to have a confidential conversation first or discuss aspects of the role, please feel free to contact the Tania Wells on 07 386 8832.  All applications will be dealt with the utmost discretion.

The Trust Board remains committed to maintaining and enhancing the health and wellbeing of Taupō Waters and enabling Ngāti Tūwharetoa to achieve our social, cultural, environmental, and economic aspirations. Our support of iwi growth and development is further enhanced by the relationships and partnerships we have with other Tūwharetoa entities and organisations.

Operations Manager – Lake Taupō Hole in One Challenge

Lead one of New Zealand’s most iconic tourism attractions.

Taupō Moana Group Holdings is the largest tourism collective in Taupō, operating some of the region’s most recognised visitor experiences including Chris Jolly Outdoors, Taupō Parasail, and the Lake Taupō Hole in One Challenge.

We are a proudly locally owned Māori tourism business, grounded in the values of Ngāti Tūwharetoa and driven by Manaakitanga, performance, and long-term sustainability.

We are seeking a high-calibre Operations Manager to lead the Lake Taupō Hole in One Challenge — an iconic lakefront attraction combining golf, café hospitality, retail, events, and high-volume tourism.

The Opportunity

No two days are the same.

This is a fast-paced, highly visible leadership role requiring strong operational discipline, commercial awareness, and frontline presence.

This is a hands-on position. You will lead from the front — working on the tools alongside your team when required. Whether it’s managing peak café trade, supporting prize moments on the pontoon, hosting corporate groups, or stepping into frontline service, your standard sets the tone.

You will be accountable for:

• Operational excellence
• Team performance
• Revenue growth
• Customer experience
• Compliance and risk management

Our expectation is clear: the Lake Taupō Hole in One Challenge remains the #1 must-do activity in the region.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Performance

• Recruit, train, roster, and lead seasonal and casual staff
• Build a high-performance, accountable team culture
• Coach and manage performance standards
• Maintain strong on-site leadership presence

Operations

• Oversee daily attraction and café operations
• Deliver safe, efficient, high-quality guest experiences
• Maintain exceptional site presentation
• Manage stock control (golf balls, prizes, café supplies, retail)
• Ensure plant, equipment, and facilities are safe and compliant
• Coordinate group and corporate bookings from enquiry to delivery
• Proactively manage maintenance and contractor relationships

Commercial Accountability

• Monitor daily sales, reporting, and cash-ups
• Manage budgets, profitability, and cost control
• Set and track KPIs (sales, spend per head, customer satisfaction, wastage)
• Approve invoices, timesheets, and leave
• Contribute to monthly board reporting
• Drive off-season volume and midweek growth

Sales & Industry Engagement

• Build referral relationships with accommodation providers and operators
• Work with Taupō Moana Group’s marketing team on campaigns and promotions
• Represent the business at industry and community events
• Identify new revenue opportunities and partnerships
• Monitor competitor activity and market trends

Compliance & Cultural Alignment

• Ensure food control and legal compliance standards
• Lead health & safety systems and incident management
• Champion sustainability practices
• Demonstrate cultural awareness and respect for Ngāti Tūwharetoa values

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience in tourism, hospitality, or attraction management
• Strong leadership capability with seasonal workforce experience
• Commercially focused with sound financial understanding
• Comfortable in fast-paced, high-accountability environments
• Professional, resilient, and solutions-focused
• Willing and able to be hands-on in daily operations

Experience with POS systems, booking platforms, and reporting tools is advantageous.

Why Taupō Moana Group?

• Join the largest tourism collective in Taupō
• Genuine career progression across multiple brands
• Lead a New Zealand iconic attraction
• Be part of a proudly locally owned Māori tourism business
• Work within a group focused on long-term growth and performance

This is an opportunity to lead an iconic operation within a dynamic tourism group that expects high standards and delivers strong results.