Senior Advisor Lived Experience - Clinical - Te Waipounamu - Hauora Māori Service

• Full-time, permanent position
• Based in Te Waipounamu | Southern Region

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is the country's largest employer, delivering universal public healthcare to 5 million New Zealanders.

We provide essential hospital, specialist, and community health services across 80+ locations — from large urban centres to rural towns and remote communities.

Our goal is to improve health outcomes for all New Zealanders by delivering equitable, accessible and innovative care.

About the Role

As Senior Advisor Lived Experience – Clinical, you'll lead the regional Māori lived experience advisory and engagement response across Te Waipounamu. You'll make sure the voices of tāngata whaiora and whānau shape Oranga Hinengaro services, and that their advice adds to innovation shaped by mātauranga Māori.

Reporting to the Regional Group Manager – Clinical, you'll work closely with the Regional Clinical Lead – Mental Health & Addictions, Director Lived Experience, the Whānau Voice team, Iwi Māori Partnership Boards, and NGO and community providers. You'll:

• Lift up whānau voice and the priorities whānau set for themselves
• Give expert lived experience advice on strategy, policy, service design, commissioning and evaluation
• Build pathways and networks that connect lived experience to decision-making
• Lead regional whānau ora and mātauranga Māori-based approaches to lived experience and peer workforce opportunities
• Work with the Regional Clinical Lead – Mental Health & Addictions to support national and regional Oranga Hinengaro lived experience initiatives

About You

You have the confidence and security to draw on your own lived experience of mental distress and/or substance-related harm to influence strategy, policy, service development and commissioning. You're a strong communicator and connector who is committed to equity and to Te Tiriti o Waitangi in action.

You'll bring:

• A tertiary qualification in health or a relevant field (including research or project management), or equivalent experience
• Significant experience building relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including whānau, hapū, iwi and hāpori Māori
• Strong leadership, communication and influencing skills
• Creative problem-solving skills and a collaborative approach that keeps services responsive to what matters most to whānau
• Experience in mental health or addiction NGO or clinical service delivery (desirable)
• Whakapapa Māori (desirable)

Working at Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of New Zealand. We embrace a workforce that is diverse and inclusive so that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow comm unities.  

How to Apply

To apply please click “apply now.”  All applications must be submitted through our online careers' portal by 26 November 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Zerissa Ong on zerissa.ong@tewhatuora.govt.nz

#HMS