Reporting to the Board of Directors, Te Mātārae’s central focus of the role will be ensuring Te Ohu Kaimoana continues to deliver meaningful value for iwi while strengthening its contribution within an evolving settlement landscape.

Success in this role will require more than executive leadership. It will require the ability to work alongside the Board to develop strategy, build alignment across a complex stakeholder environment and lead the organisation in delivering agreed priorities. You will ensure organisational resources, capability, systems and culture are aligned to strategy and positioned to achieve enduring impact.

You will lead through influence, building trusted relationships across iwi, settlement entities, government agencies and industry stakeholders. You will bring people together around shared aspirations, navigate competing perspectives and help drive collective progress across a complex and interconnected system.

You will also play an important role in protecting and enhancing Treaty settlement outcomes, supporting iwi aspirations, contributing to policy and advocacy activity, and ensuring Te Ohu Kaimoana continues to be a respected and trusted voice across the fisheries and aquaculture sectors.

You will be a highly regarded senior executive with proven experience working alongside Boards to shape organisational strategy and a track record of successfully delivering that strategy within complex organisations, systems and stakeholder environments.

You understand how to build productive governance relationships, provide high-quality strategic advice and help Boards navigate periods of change, complexity and opportunity.

Equally, you have demonstrated success translating strategic priorities into organisational action, aligning people, resources and capability to achieve measurable outcomes.We are particularly interested in leaders who bring strong experience within Treaty settlement, post-settlement or iwi governance environments. You will understand the opportunities and challenges that arise as settlement entities evolve over time and have a demonstrated ability to balance strategic, political, commercial and cultural considerations to achieve durable outcomes.

You will bring:

• Proven executive experience reporting to Boards to shape strategic direction and organisational priorities.
• Demonstrated success developing strategy and leading organisation-wide implementation, change and performance improvement.
• Deep understanding of Treaty settlements and experience operating within post-settlement, iwi, Māori or other complex stakeholder environments.
• A working knowledge of the fisheries and aquaculture sector.
• Strong governance literacy and an ability to navigate complex constitutional, legislative and policy settings.
• Strong communicator with credibility to build trusted relationships with iwi leaders, Crown agencies, Ministers and sector stakeholders.
• Experience leading high-performing teams and creating organisational alignment around shared goals and outcomes.
• Strong strategic judgement, political awareness and the ability to lead through influence in complex environments.
• Capability in te reo Māori me ōna tikanga and a genuine commitment to Māori aspirations and development.

Above all, you will be motivated by the opportunity to support iwi aspirations, protect and enhance the outcomes of Treaty settlements and lead an organisation that plays a critical role in the future of Māori fisheries and aquaculture.

We welcome your application. For a confidential kōrero or a copy of the position description, please contact Carl Church via phone: 021 166 6441 or email: carl.church@nicherecruitment.co.nz

Applications close 11 September 2026.