Kaihautū Mātauraka – Lead Educator
Permanent part time, 30 hours per week
Our organisation
Ngāi Tahu Māori Rock Art Trust supports Rūnaka (collectives of tribal areas) and their communities in the care, management, and celebration of mana whenua Māori rock art heritage. The Trust is seeking to fill a Kaihautū Mātauraka – Lead Educator role, to support its rock art protection and education work at Te Ana Māori Rock Art Centre in Timaru, and at a group of rock art sites at Ōpihi, South Canterbury. If you are keen to learn more about our rock art and be part of celebrating and protecting these taonga for future generations, contact us today!
The Te Ana Māori Rock Art Centre Education Programme
Te Ana Māori Rock Art Centre education programme is attended by more than 1,500 ākonga annually, from early childhood, primary, secondary school, and tertiary level students.
The overarching objective of this role is to directly support the Māori rock art site protection and management work of the Ngāi Tahu Rock Art Trust, by raising awareness and appreciation of the cultural and heritage significance of rock art, amongst local communities where high numbers of rock art sites are located
Responsibilities of the role
The focus of this position is to grow and develop the role of Te Ana Māori Rock Art Centre as a deliverer of high-quality educational programmes focused on Māori rock art and mana whenua history and culture, amongst the local South Canterbury education sector and that of adjoining regions.
Specific tasks include:
- Contribute to the development of interactive and engaging learning experiences for all education sectors (early childhood, primary and secondary schools, alternative education, tertiary providers).
- Lead the delivery of curriculum-based, hands-on educational experiences to school groups at Te Ana Māori Rock Art Centre, Ōpihi rock art sites, schools and alternative venues.
- Work with kaiako to deliver tailored educational experiences, including managing bookings, providing pre and post visit resources, and adapting activities to meet the specific learning outcomes of each group.
- Ensure the continuous improvement of the education programme through the collation of kaiako and ākonga evaluations, and via post-visit reflective practice with Kaiārahi Mātauraka (guide-educators).
- Develop and maintain strong networks with kaiako and kura throughout the education sector in South Canterbury and adjoining regions (Canterbury and North Otago).
- Develop and implement a schedule of promotional activities for the education sector throughout the year.
- Meet key performance indicators of the Ministry of Education Experiences Outside the Classroom contract, including student numbers, evaluation of educational services, and continued improvement of the educational programme.
- Provide a written report to the board Ngāi Tahu Māori Rock Art Trust quarterly, and attend monthly check-in meetings, based on key performances indicators, above.
- Contribute to the training, mentoring and management of Kaiārahi Mātauraka (guide‑educators), in relation to the education sector work.
- Ensure that the kōrero shared with ākonga is protected and shared in a way that is consistent, safe, and accurate to Ngāi Tahu, and uplifts Te Ao Māori and Iwi/Rūnaka/Hapū partnerships.
- Continually build knowledge of mana whenua culture, history and mātauraka, as a basis for the development of compelling and empowering education experiences.
- Develop and deliver school holiday activities that support and promote the education programme throughout the wider community.
- Ensure that health and safety procedures for education groups are followed.
Skills, experience and personal attributes
- A passion for Ngāi Tahu history and culture.
- A teaching qualification, or previous experience working with ākonga in the education sector.
- Excellent interpersonal skills: friendly, positive, and outgoing, able to easily relate to ākonga of all ages and walks of life.
- Excellent communication skills: able to confidently transfer knowledge in a way that is engaging and inspiring, across age groups from early childhood to tertiary ākonga, and to adapt experiences to meet the specific learning outcomes of each group.
- A creative thinker: able to develop new and exciting ways of sharing knowledge of Ngāi Tahu rock art, history and culture with ākonga.
- A desire to engage with, learn, and incorporate aspects of Te Ao Māori and Te Reo into your work.
- A practical understanding of, and commitment to, the principals of Te Tiriti o Waitangi; a respect for, and understanding of, local mana whenua history and culture.
- A commitment to continually learning and building knowledge.
- Excellent organisational and time management skills; reliable and punctual.
- Ability to multi-task and remain calm and professional under pressure.
- A positive can-do attitude; resourceful, able to think on your feet; an effective problem solver.
- Hard working, with a high level of personal accountability.
- Self-motivated and proactive.
- Available to work on some weekends if needed.
Application process
Please submit a cover letter and CV to R Solomon, at [email protected]
Applications close at 5pm on Monday the 20th of July 2026