Kaihōpara Raukura - Māori Graduate Programme

Job Description

Are you ready to make a world of difference at Waipapa Taumata Rau?

Kua rite koe ki te whakaumu i te ao?

• Māori Graduate Programme with a permanent role from day one!
• Develop skills across a number of professional (non-academic) areas at the University
• Design your own career journey that best suits you
• $68K starting salary with increases throughout the programme

Programme begins February 2026

Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity

To our alumni, graduates, navigators, and leaders of tomorrow — nau mai, hoki mai!

We are calling out to University of Auckland Māori final year students and recent graduates to join us on the 2026 Māori Graduate programme to explore and build a career path in a number of exciting professional pathways at the University.

Waipapa Taumata Rau | the University of Auckland is one of the largest employers in New Zealand, and we can offer graduates a chance to access skills, approaches, challenges, technologies, and career pathways they simply wouldn’t get elsewhere.

Our 12-month rotational programme gives graduates the opportunity to explore different areas and potential career paths, while acquiring a range of skills across different specialist areas. Rotation areas can include:

• Human Resources
• Project Management
• Marketing & Communication
• Student Engagement & Success
• Information Technology
• Innovation
• Data Analysis and Planning
• Libraries
• Commercial Operations
• Events
• Finance
• Property Construction & Facilities Management
• Kaupapa Māori

On this unique programme you will gain hands on experience from day one (after your induction, of course), developing a place for you to stand as a Māori professional, and the skills to navigate your career journey (wherever it may lead). All the while, you will be growing workplace skills as well as those all-important soft skills, like communication, relationship building, workload management and more.

The programme

The programme is designed to give graduates maximum opportunities and exposure to areas of interest to explore, network and gain experience over a 12-month period before moving into a destination career path and role.

Rotations are arranged for each graduate, based on their career aspirations and interests, so each graduate will experience a different journey tailored to them. In each rotation, graduates will become embedded in a team where they will gain hands-on experience in that specialist area, supported by experienced colleagues.

At the end of the programme, graduates will transition into junior level roles in an area that aligns with their career goals and department needs.

Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou | What we offer

This programme offers:

• A starting salary of $68,101 pa, with an increase during the programme
• A supportive, yet flexible programme to develop technical, soft and employability skills that will serve you throughout your career, and tailored to your own career aspirations and interests
• A 12-month graduate rotation programme, with a permanent position from day one
• A high level of support throughout the programme (and beyond), with a dedicated Kaimahi to support you, mentor, technical experts, career development Kaiāwhina, as well as a number of skill development, career development and self-exploration sessions, centered in Te Ao Māori perspectives.
• An opportunity to deepen connection with your people, your whenua and your reo through the programme

In addition, the University of Auckland is committed to providing an excellent working environment through:

• Flexible employment practices and a culture that supports work-life balance (full time contract is 37.5 hours per week)
• Career development programmes for all career stages
• A competitive salary with five weeks’ annual leave

We also offer a 6.75% superannuation scheme, discounted car parking, a generous parental leave allowance, discounted onsite childcare, and a number of other discounts on internal and external services.

Find out more about the programme, our staff benefits and what it is like to work at Waipapa Taumata Rau on our website and the Position Description.

He kōrero mōu | About you

• You’ll have graduated in the last 2 years or be about to graduate with a bachelor’s degree (or higher). Your most recent degree/qualification must be from Waipapa Taumata Rau | the University of Auckland, and you must have finished your studies by the time the programme starts in early 2026.
• You will whakapapa Māori / be of Māori descent.
• You’ll be confident taking the initiative and working collaboratively as part of a team.
• You’ll be handed real responsibility and expected to get stuck in – but support will be there for you when you need it.
• You’ll be curious to develop your work skills along with personal & cultural development. Fluency in Te Reo is not a must but a willingness to grow yourself as Māori staff member of the University will be offered.

Note: Engineering students or other disciplines who have completed the papers required to graduate but who are still to complete their required industry hours to be eligible to graduate are welcome to apply.

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to apply

Applications should be submitted online, before the closing date of Sunday August 31st  2025

• an up-to-date CV
• a cover letter letting us know a little more about you, your interests and any career aspirations you currently have (it is ok if you don’t have this figures out yet).

If you’d like to know more, have any questions or would like a chance to kōrero before you apply, please get in touch with Trent Dallas, Mātanga Matua Rapunga Tangata (Māori) by email on [email protected] (feel free to make the email informal, just letting me know you are interested to know more and we can go from there). 

Please note that this programme is only open to University of Auckland graduates.

Additional Information

Equity

The University is committed to meeting its obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi and achieving equity outcomes for staff and students in a safe, inclusive, and equitable environment.  For further information on services for Māori, Pacific, women, LGBTQIATakatāpuiMVPFAFF+, people with disabilities, parenting support, flexible work and other personal circumstances go to www.equity.auckland.ac.nz