Te āhua o te tūranga
Position description: Senior Advisor Treaty Commitments
June 2025
Tēnei tūranga – About the role
The Senior Advisor Treaty Commitments brings their systems and strategic thinking to the Resource Markets branch. They are responsible for identifying opportunities for the development of the regulatory systems we support, by working collaboratively with the key players in each system (including stakeholders, end users, and Treaty partners).
The Senior Advisor Treaty Commitments works as a connector point between policy teams, operational teams and treaty partners. They act both as a translator between policy and operations, and lead the process of, operationalising and delivering treaty redress settlement commitments using a variety of policy and service design techniques with an emphasis on human-centred approaches.
The Senior Advisor Treaty Commitments responsibilities are :
• Working to assess the feasibility of treaty settlement redress changes which impact the regulatory system pertaining to the mineral redress under the Crown Minerals Act 1991.
• Working with delivery agencies and stakeholders on complex/sensitive policy and operational issues and assists with the landing of advice/proposals for the Treaty settlement, negotiation and legislative processes.
• Projects to implement treaty settlement redress legislation required to be delivered by the regulatory system pertaining to the mineral redress under the Crown Minerals Act 1991.
• The development of implementation material required to successfully implement change, including operational policy, processes procedures and guidance for internal and external stakeholders.
• Providing input into regulatory system projects requiring knowledge of iwi relationships and treaty commitment obligations and technical expertise.
• Providing advice on iwi and hapū permit consultation to ensure that it is conducted in accordance with legislation.
• Assisting with the development, analysis and delivery of iwi consultation material and advising to support operational decisions and the landing of operational advice/decisions.
Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role
Personal specifications
› A tertiary qualification in a relevant discipline (e.g. social sciences, economics, public policy, law).
› Able to draw on expert knowledge Iwi and regional relationships as well as broad knowledge from other domains to critically assess information from a wide variety of sources and identify implications for analysis and advice.
› Demonstrated understanding of current government policy and community views on Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the implications for policy and service delivery groups.
› Experience in one or more of the following: development of policy, interpretation and application of legislation, and operational policy functions.
Te āhua o te tūranga
Position description: Senior Advisor Treaty Commitments
› In-depth knowledge of regulatory management best practice, systems thinking and regulatory stewardship concepts.
› Experience in the translation of legislation and regulation.
› Demonstrated general problem identification and solution skills and ability to develop robust solutions that are viable for government, technically possible and desirable for users and the community.
› Demonstrated knowledge of effective service delivery models and service excellence principles.
› Demonstrated experience making connections across operational areas, regulatory systems, and between project and operational teams.
› Able to draw on broad knowledge to critically assess information from a wide variety of sources and identify implications for analysis and advice.
› Able to apply system, strategic and critical thinking frameworks and methods of analysis to identify problems, analyse the issues, and identify and assess options.
› Knowledge of iwi relationships and treaty commitment obligations.
› Excellent oral and written communication skills: demonstrated competence in effectively communicating complex ideas both orally and in writing to a wide variety of audiences.
› Excellent interpersonal, teamwork and relationship management skills.
› Knowledge of public sector requirements and processes relating to financial and budgetary requirements, legislation and regulatory change.
› Ability to identify and appropriately manage risks and issues.
› You must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand.
Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables
Critical areas of success
Development of robust strategic, operational policy and service design advice
› Working to assess the feasibility of treaty settlement redress changes which impact the regulatory system pertaining to the mineral redress under the Crown Minerals Act 1991.
› Working with delivery agencies and stakeholders on complex/sensitive policy and operational issues and assists with the landing of advice/proposals for the Treaty settlement, negotiation and legislative processes.
› Projecting to implement treaty settlement redress legislation required to be delivered by the regulatory system pertaining to the mineral redress under the Crown Minerals Act 1991.
› Delivering the implementation material required to successfully implement change, including operational policy, processes procedures and guidance for internal and external stakeholders that is fit for purpose and easily understood. Including designing and writing operational policy, service design material, business processes, rules, procedures and guidance.
› Implementing projects occurring to the project plans, key milestones and/or budget expectations.
› Ensuring that Senior Leadership and Ministers are informed and understand minerals redress commitments, including providing advice on the implications for policy and operational issues.
› Providing input into regulatory system projects requiring knowledge of iwi relationships and treaty commitment obligations and technical expertise.
Te āhua o te tūranga
Position description: Senior Advisor Treaty Commitments
› Providing advice on iwi and hapū permit consultation to ensure that it is conducted in accordance with legislation.
› Assisting with the development, analysis and delivery iwi consultation material and advice to support operational decisions and the landing of operational advice/decisions.
› Applying appropriate frameworks to assess the feasibility of policy options and utilises expertise to advise on how to effectively translate policy intent into action.
› Scanning at an operational system level to identify critical system dynamics; tension points that need addressing; and opportunities for innovation and service and system improvement.
› Applying advanced frameworks and methods of analysis to identify operational policy and/or designing problems, analysing the issues and assessing the operational policy and/or design solutions.
› Applying human-centred service design methodologies (e.g. co-design, inclusion of people/customer-centred impacts assessments and evaluation techniques) across policy and operational business units.
› Applying insight and diagnostic techniques to analysing issues and data to identify opportunities for innovation; determining key service design issues; or identifying potential delivery and implementation impacts from proposed policy changes.
› Understanding design thinking principles and the value of applying these to achieve better outcomes in operational policy design and engagement activities.
› Understanding policy issues in the wider context, including Government priorities.
Deliver work programme outputs
Manages and leads policy projects and builds stakeholder relationships
› Leading projects ensuring MBIE’s requirements for the work are met, in terms of scope, quality and timeliness.
› Well organising, planning systematically, regularly monitoring and reporting on progress towards achievement of plans and strategies.
› Effectively and consistently identifying and managing risk, alerting manager to potential problems/risks well in advance and proposing solutions.
› Effectively allocating tasks within portfolio area, assisting others with project panning, and planning and managing a range of complex issues.
› Knowing when to work alone and when to seek advice and identifies resources necessary to meet objectives of self or team.
› Chairing and contributing to meetings, including where matters are complex or sensitive, require negotiation or working towards solutions.
Relationship Management
Develops and promotes whole of Ministry views in interactions
› Proactively developing and maintaining connections with stakeholders within and outside of the Ministry, purposefully leveraging their activities and insights to better achieve desired policy outcomes.
› Working collaboratively across operational areas, regulatory systems, and between policy and operational teams.
› Establishing and maintaining strong, professional relationships and networks with iwi and hapū and key Māori organisations.
Te āhua o te tūranga
Position description: Senior Advisor Treaty Commitments
› Testing the effectiveness of stakeholder relationships including iwi and hapū engagement using a range of appropriate measures and processes (including feedback).
› Actively contributing to the development and promotion of whole of Ministry views in internal and external interaction.
› Representing whole-of-Ministry views and protects its reputation in external interactions.
Self-Management
Takes responsibility for own behaviour and is open to development
› Modelling positive behaviours.
› Modelling the desired values and culture of the organisation.
› Willingly sharing knowledge, expertise and within the team and with others in the organisation.
› Acting with honesty and integrity.
› Welcoming feedback and being receptive to input from others.
Wellbeing, health & safety
› Displays commitment through actively supporting all safety and wellbeing initiatives.
› Ensures own and others safety at all times.
› Complies with relevant safety and wellbeing policies, procedures, safe systems of work and event reporting.
› Reports all incidents/accidents, including near misses in a timely fashion.
› Is involved in health and safety through participation and consultation.
Tō tūranga i roto i te Manatū – Your place in the Ministry
The Senior Advisor Treaty Commitments position reports into the Manager Operational Policy and Regulatory Practice within the Resource Markets branch. The branch sits within the Building, Resources and Markets group.
More information about MBIE’s structure
Te āhua o te tūranga
Position description: Senior Advisor Treaty Commitments
To mātou aronga – What we do for Aotearoa New Zealand
Hīkina Whakatutuki is the te reo Māori name for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Hīkina means to uplift. Whakatutuki means to move forward, to make successful. Our name speaks to our purpose, Grow Aotearoa New Zealand for All.
To Grow Aotearoa New Zealand for All, we put people at the heart of our mahi. Based on the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi / The Treaty of Waitangi, we are committed to upholding authentic partnerships with Māori.
As agile public service leaders, we use our breadth and experience to navigate the ever-changing world. We are service providers, policy makers, investors and regulators. We engage with diverse communities, businesses and regions. Our work touches on the daily lives of New Zealanders. We grow opportunities (Puāwai), guard and protect (Kaihāpai), and innovate and navigate towards a better future (Auaha).
Ngā matatau – Our competencies
Cultivates innovation We create new and better ways for the organisation to be successful by challenging
the status quo generating new and creative ideas and translating them into workable solutions.
Nimble learning We are curious and actively learn through experimentation when tackling new problems by
learning as we go when facing new situations and challenges.
Customer focus We build strong customer relationships and deliver customer-centric solutions by listening
and gaining insights into the needs of the communities we serve, and actively seeking and responding to
feedback.
Decision quality We make quality and timely decisions that shape the future for our communities and keep
the organisation moving forward by relying on an appropriate mix of analysis, wisdom, experience, and
judgement to make valid and reliable decisions.
Action oriented We step up, taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with purpose, urgency and
discipline by taking responsibility, ownership and action on challenges, and being accountable for the
results.
Collaborates We connect, working together to build partnerships with our communities, working
collaboratively to meet shared objectives by gaining trust and support of others; actively seeking the views,
experiences, and opinions of others and by working co-operatively with others across MBIE, the public
sector and external stakeholder groups.
Te Tiriti o Waitangi
As an agency of the public service, MBIE has a responsibility to contribute to the Crown meeting its obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Te Tiriti). Meeting our commitment to Te Tiriti will contribute towards us realising the overall aims of Te Ara Amiorangi – Our Path, Our Direction, and achieve the outcome of Growing New Zealand for All. The principles of Te Tiriti - including partnership, good faith, and active protection – are at the core of our work. MBIE is committed to delivering on our obligations as a Treaty partner with authenticity and integrity and to enable Māori interests. We are committed to ensuring that MBIE is well placed to meet our obligations under the Public Service Act 2020 (Te Ao Tūmatanui) to support the Crown in strengthening the Māori/Crown Relationship under the Treaty and to build MBIE’s capability, capacity and cultural intelligence to deliver this.
Te āhua o te tūranga
Position description: Senior Advisor Treaty Commitments
Mahi i roto i te Ratonga Tūmatanui – Working in the public service
Ka mahitahi mātou o te ratonga tūmatanui kia hei painga mō ngā tāngata o Aotearoa i āianei, ā, hei ngā rā ki tua hoki. He kawenga tino whaitake tā mātou hei tautoko i te Karauna i runga i āna hononga ki a ngāi Māori i raro i te Tiriti o Waitangi. Ka tautoko mātou i te kāwanatanga manapori. Ka whakakotahingia mātou e te wairua whakarato ki ō mātou hapori, ā, e arahina ana mātou e ngā mātāpono me ngā tikanga matua o te ratonga tūmatanui i roto i ā mātou mahi.
In the public service, we work collectively to make a meaningful difference for New Zealanders now and in the future. We have an important role in supporting the Crown in its relationships with Māori under the Treaty of Waitangi. We support democratic government. We are unified by a spirit of service to our communities and guided by the core principles and values of the public service in our work.
What does it mean to work in Aotearoa New Zealand’s Public Service? — Te Kawa Mataaho The Public Service Commission