IN-CONFIDENCE

Te Pou Whakahāngai | General Manager,

Partnership Operational Implementation

Horopaki | Context

Kaunihera Taiao ki Waitaha | Canterbury Regional Council, also known as Environment Canterbury, is the

Regional Council for the largest region in Aotearoa/New Zealand, covering an area of 44,500 square

kilometers, with a population of approximately 700,000.

As a regional council, we are responsible for managing natural resources including air, soil, water and land.

We work in partnership with mana whenua Ngāi Tahu to protect the health of our environment to ensure a

sustainable and prosperous future for our region.

The region’s evolving environmental and political context means we will continue to be agile and adaptive, as

we respond to regulatory and environmental changes.

Our mahi (work) is organised around the delivery of our three core services:

• Environmental Regulation and Protection

• Community Preparedness and Response to Hazards

• Public Transport

We are guided by our strategic drivers (pou):

• Putting the community and our customers at the heart of everything we do

• Growing our relationship with mana whenua into a true partnership

• Maturing our governance model and understanding of our political environment

• Removing pain for our people (and customers) by improving our systems and processes.

Our mahi is also underpinned by our values:

• Kaitiakitanga (stewardship)

• Pononga (integrity)

• Manaakitanga (people first)

• Whanaungatanga (collaboration)

• Māiatanga (can do).

Tuia Te Herenga is a significant organisational change programme that aims to grow our relationship with

mana whenua into a true partnership, shifting the way we work to become a Tiriti partner of excellence. Tuia

Te Herenga asks our kaimahi to look at our work through a mātauranga Māori informed lens, to change the

way we think, interact, and work with ngā Papatipu Rūnanga, and consider how our behaviours and

assumptions reflect kaupapa Māori within the organisation.

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The four pou of Tuia Te Herenga which affirm this commitment focus on:

• Building a better partnership with ngā Papatipu Rūnanga

• Influencing partnership decision making and supporting Papatipu Rūnanga to navigate changes in the

regulatory and political domains

• Restoring healthy mahika kai focused on te mana o te wai me te oranga o te Taiao

• Strengthening Tiriti partnership capability and capacity for Environment Canterbury.

Aronga | Purpose

The purpose of the Pou Whakahāngai is to provide senior Māori leadership and experience to the Operations

directorate to oversee delivery of dedicated operational partnership initiatives. The role will ensure the

Operational directorate gives full effect to its evolving partnership with ngā Papatipu Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu

through leadership practices, maintaining relationships and ensuring integrated delivery and decision making.

As a leadership and relationship management-based role, this position acts as a trusted advisor to the

Director of Operations. The role requires an in-depth and practical knowledge and experience of te ao Māori

kawa, tikanga (protocols) and uara (values), particularly in a Ngāi Tahu context.

As a people leader, this role will provide engaging and dynamic leadership, integrating operational and

functional alignment to drive high performance and deliver quality services to our communities, in line with

our values, strategies, ways of working and Long-Term/Annual Plan commitments.

This includes thinking about organisation-wide interests and impacts when interacting with

customers or when planning activities and expenditure, collaborating inside the organisation to achieve the

desired culture, making sound business decisions and taking ownership of leading and managing our people.

Ngā Haepapa | Accountabilities

• Lead the implementation of Tuia te Herenga operational partnership priorities, actions and focus

areas for Operations directorate in partnership with the Tumu Herenga section, providing operational

advice to the Director Operations, Operations leadership team, Pou Herenga and Tumu Herenga

leadership team.

• Provide leadership, enabling advice and guidance to the Director Operations, General Managers and

wider Operations leadership team on all matters relating to Tuia te Herenga. Support and provide

counsel and advice directly to the Director Operations to enhance leadership practices which best

ensure operational partnership outcomes are achieved.

• Provide operational leadership for partnership focused interactions with Papatipu Rūnanga and their

Environmental Entities. Provide an interface to enable continuous operational information sharing,

collaboration and opportunities for partnership co-design.

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• Influence key internal and external stakeholders, regarding the priority and importance placed on the

strategic relationship between Environment Canterbury and Papatipu Rūnanga. Ensure Te Tiriti o

Waitangi, the Ngāi Tahu Claims Settlement Act and role of Ngāi Tahu as partners and the practical

application of this in delivering operational outcomes.

• Support effective decision making as a member of Operations Management team, providing

expertise and advice on the context and significance of te ao Māori aspects, implications and

interdependencies of Environment Canterbury leadership and management decisions.

• Lead, coach, mentor, and develop direct reports, while supporting them to create a high performing

and engaged workforce through:

o Creating a clear vision, direction, and priorities, harnessing the energy, commitment, and

creativity of direct reports to deliver business outcomes.

o Developing and maintaining strategies, annual plans and work programmes to deliver a fit-

for-purpose function.

o Encouraging kaimahi (team members) to develop their te ao Māori confidence.

o Taking appropriate and proactive actions to reward and recognise performance and address

poor performance or behavioural matters.

o Maintaining an overview of workload to ensure resources are sufficient to deliver on agreed

programmes of work.

o Ensuring the ongoing development and growth of kaimahi capability by leading and

developing direct reports through regular performance reviews, coaching and feedback;

creating a high performing, engaged and aligned culture, seeking advice from your manager

or People and Capability where required.

Toitū Te Tiriti | Treaty Partner Excellence

• Deliver outcomes that underpin and give effect to achieving Ngāi Tahu cultural and environmental

aspirations, including but not limited to, mahinga kai and revitalisation programmes.

• Connect with our Ngāi Tahu partner to ensure understanding of Ngāi Tahu aspirations and priorities

so that there is genuine input and contribution, which can be considered in mahi programme

development and prioritisation.

• Demonstrate openness and courageousness in approaching issues and in co-design of processes and

systems, supporting thought leadership that can give effect to the progression of the partnership.

• Contribute toward our effective, strong and valued relationship with all Papatipu Rūnanga within

Waitaha/Canterbury and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, to demonstrate our commitment to recognise and

provide for the kaitiaki/responsibility Ngāi Tahu has for the natural environment. This will include

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sharing of knowledge and information, creating opportunities for increased participation in decision-

making processes, effective engagement and development of existing working relationships.

• Support the organisation’s cultural capability journey, leading by example and identifying clear

priorities, expectations, and development opportunities for individual capability; planning and

aligning work to support organisational cultural capability across all aspects of delivery.

Hauora me te Marutau | Health and Safety

The health, safety and wellbeing of our kaimahi and community is a priority for the Council, and we

proactively implement robust health and safety practices. People leaders’ responsibilities include:

• Understand the health and safety and risk obligations that rest with this position and act at all times

to ensure accountabilities are met.

• Maintain a safety-focused culture where health, safety and wellbeing are at the heart of decision

making for kaimahi and the communities within which we operate.

• Maintain an enquiring mind, undertake due diligence and apply knowledge of best practice to ensure

a detailed understanding of any risks kaimahi may face in their mahi and ensure these are

appropriately removed or mitigated.

• Ensure awareness of and compliance with legislative and operational standards, and that relevant

certifications are maintained.

• Ensure methods are in place to recognise and celebrate best practice and safety innovation.

• Provide opportunities for team involvement, education, and genuine participation in safety matters.

• Ensure methods are in place for all kaimahi, contractors and suppliers to be appropriately inducted

and certified to carry out tasks safely.

• Ensure any organisational audit and assurance programme is undertaken as required and results are

acted upon and regularly reviewed.

• Ensure processes are in place to communicate, consider and respond to information about health

and safety.

• Take a planned approach to identify, analyse and manage risks within the section.

• Ensure regular monitoring and reviews are undertaken of risk controls and their effectiveness in

relation to legislation, regulations and guidelines, organisational policies, procedures and our code of

conduct.

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Hononga ā-Mahi | Working Relationships

Kai rō Kaunihera | Within the organisation

• Accountable to the Director Operations in meeting the above accountabilities.

• Collaborate with other General Managers, Operations Managers, and employees to inform

programmes and ensure organisational alignment of te ao Māori within programmes, projects,

engagement, processes, and systems to deliver the best results.

• Partner with the Tumu Herenga section, providing operational Pou Herenga and Tumu Herenga

leadership team.

Kai waho i te Kaunihera | Outside the organisation

• Champion our effective, strong, and valued relationship with all Papatipu Rūnanga within the

Canterbury region and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu to demonstrate our council's commitment to

recognise and provide for the kaitiaki responsibility Ngāi Tahu has for the natural environment. This

will include sharing of knowledge and information, creating opportunities for increased participation

in decision making processes, effective engagement, and development of existing working

relationships.

• Demonstrate Council's commitment to recognise and provide for the kaitiaki responsibility Ngāi Tahu

has for the natural environment. This will include sharing of knowledge and information, creating

opportunities for increased participation in decision making processes, effective engagement and

development of existing working relationships.

• Build and maintain collaborative relationships within national and local government, Papatipu

Rūnanga and Iwi, commercial / industry organisations, environmental agencies, and other relevant

stakeholders to develop and consolidate partnerships and programmes that will deliver on strategic

priorities and achieve outcomes relating to te taiao, mahinga kai and other rūnanga values.

• Develop and maintain relationships with equivalent roles in other regional councils, Tangata Whenua

Advisory Entity staff (MKT, AEC, Aukaha, Kaikōura), relevant staff of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu (TRoNT),

10 territorial councils, and priority agencies, e.g. Department of Conservation.

• Participate in industry and community led meetings or workshops, including at times that may be

outside of normal business hours.

• Collaborate with technical experts, contractors, and providers to deliver specialist elements

supporting the delivery of functions and services.

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Ngā Herenga Motuhake | Special Conditions

As a regional council, we have a specific requirement to provide a civil defence function for Waitaha. Kaimahi

are required to be available to assist, support or be associated, as reasonably required, with any Civil Defence

emergency or any exercise organised in relation to this function.

Additionally, all kaimahi are expected to assist, support and respond, as reasonably required, to any event

where the Business Continuity Plan is activated.

From time to time, as required, this role will require work outside of normal work hours to represent

Environment Canterbury at meetings and events with partners, other agencies, and the community.

As required, the role involves travel within the region and beyond to attend meetings and relevant

conferences or activities.

Māngai Whakahaere | Delegations and Authorities

Where specified, this role has delegated authority to make decisions in accordance with Council-approved

delegations, and authority for decision making in accordance with policies and guidelines for financial, people

management and media-related activities.

Additional specific delegations may be given by the Chief Executive to the Chief People Officer on people and

safety matters from time to time.

Ngā Āheitanga | Capabilities

Tohu Mātauranga | Qualifications

• Relevant tertiary qualification that recognises the expertise that makes you fit for the role is essential,

ideally supported by a post-graduate qualification or other relevant technical experience, e.g., in the

field te āo Māori, local government or resource management.

• A current full class 1 drivers’ licence with a clean driving record

Mātau ā-wheako | Experience

• A minimum of eight byears’ experience and leadership at a senior level, providing advice, influence,

and engagement with leaders from the board to the Marae.

• Proven strategic acumen and political nous, successfully operating in an environment that can be at

times ambiguous and politically complex.

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• Demonstrated success applying a high level of business and management principles involved in

strategic planning, resource allocation, change management, and coordination of people, projects,

and resources.

• Demonstrable experience in working with iwi and an understanding of te reo me nga tikanga as it

relates to the role.

• Knowledge and experience in fulfilling leadership roles in situations where kawa and tikanga are to be

upheld.

• Strong networking, influencing and relationship building skills are critical to this role along with the

ability to bring together diverse groups with multiple stakeholders in complex or sensitive situations

to reach desired conclusions and outcomes.

• Fluency in te reo Māori and/or experience in incorporating te reo in organisational programmes and

strategy.

• Competent across the Microsoft Suite of applications and an aptitude to bespoke and specialised

systems and platforms.

Ngā Pūkenga Matatau | Core Competencies

Specific behaviours at the Senior Leader level sit beneath each of the following organisational competencies.

Customer Focus Ensuring that the customer perspective is a driving force behind decisions and activities. Initiating and maintaining relationships inside and outside the organisation.

Business Acumen Using an understanding of the organisation’s position to contribute to effective strategies and tactics by using economic, financial and industry information. Thinking from the ratepayers’ perspective.

Achieving Outcomes Translating strategic priorities into operational reality; aligning communication, accountabilities, resources, internal processes and ongoing measurement systems to ensure that strategic priorities yield measurable and sustainable results.

Leading Change Identifying and driving organisational and cultural changes needed to adapt strategically to changing demands, technology, and internal initiatives; using new approaches to improve results by transforming organisational culture, systems, or services.

Common Purpose Working towards a compelling view of the future by engaging with the organisation’s vision; understanding and aligning to the common purpose.

Building Capability Attracting, developing, engaging, and retaining talented individuals allowing the organisation to meet current and future organisational challenges. Sharing authority, responsibilities and decision making to enable individuals to stretch their capabilities and accomplish strategic priorities.

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The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; they

are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of the position and incumbent. From

time to time the incumbent will be required to accept and carry out other duties.

Band / Grade 21

Position Code OPEROPM.026

Last Updated November 2025

I agree to undertake the responsibilities detailed in this job description:

Ingoa | Name:

Waitohu | Signature:

Rā | Date Signed: