Kaitātaki, Īa Mātauranga

Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School is inviting applications for a Kaitātaki, Īa Mātauranga (0.8, one year, fixed term).

This role contributes directly to the growth, development and excellence of our tauira as they train for careers within the Aotearoa performing arts sector. The position is responsible for supporting the decolonised curriculum at Toi Whakaari, aligned to the decolonisation of the kura and the commitment to giving full effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

This is a new role so initially a fixed term role to establish, roll out and embed engagement strategies for our tauira during the initial implementation phase of Te Īa Mātauranga. The role is fixed for one year and will be reviewed at the end of the fixed term.

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Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School

From our whare standing on whenua in Te Whanganui a Tara, we celebrate a whakapapa that spans more than 50 years. As the nation’s premier school of performing arts, we’ve trained some of Aotearoa New Zealand’s best performers, designers, and craftspeople. We develop independent practitioners who are creators, innovators, and initiators. Our graduates are some of the leading voices within the creative sector both nationally and internationally. Our talented alumni are sought after, in front of and behind the scenes, by the world’s leading productions.

Being part of our kura is more than just gaining qualifications. Here skills are gained, perspectives are shaped, connections are made, and potential is revealed. We recognise all our students as future rangatira. They emerge from here - knowing who they are and where they stand - ready to add their value to Aotearoa New Zealand’s thriving performing arts community.

Our Strategic Plan 2022-27, a period of consolidation and transformation can be found on our website.

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ABOUT THE POSITION

Position Title: Kaitātaki, Īa Mātauranga
FTE: 0.8 (one year, fixed term)
Reports To: Poukōkiri Mātauranga, Director Academic
Date: January 2026

This Kaitātaki will work closely with the Īa Mātauranga to co-design and deliver the Īa Mātauranga courses, and may contribute to the design and delivery of other academic courses. This Kaitātaki will work in other ways to support the decolonised curriculum of the kura.

The Bachelor of Performing Arts includes the Īa Mātauranga thread that runs through overall programme delivery. Īa in this sense represents current or the flow, while Mātauranga encompasses a Māori world view. In this sense Te Īa Mātauranga represents "a stream of knowledge, derived from a Māori world".

There are three Īa Mātauranga courses, through which tauira explore both historical and contemporary practices, from Te Whare Tapere to Indigenous futurisms, through multi-, inter-, and trans-disciplinary research. They engage with Māori leadership models and, through collaboration, inquiry, and reflection, develop personal philosophies that explore how storytelling fosters hauora, self-determination, and futures-making.

This role will co-develop the Īa Mātauranga course content for delivery in 2026 with the leadership and support of the Īa Mātauranga and other academic staff.

This role supports the implementation of an interdisciplinary delivery across all programmes from a decolonised perspective in alignment with the strategic plan of one whole Kura.

This position will either hold, or be actively enrolled in, a Masters degree or above; OR will hold equivalent cultural knowledge and expertise.

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ABOUT YOU

Experience

• Experience in teaching at tertiary level
• Experience in developing, delivering and assessing discipline aligned course content
• Proficient current industry experience and knowledge. 
• Experience in growing belonging and vision in an organisation

Qualifications

• Relevant Graduate or Postgraduate qualification. 
• Relevant formal study of teaching and/or adult education, including curriculum, pedagogy and assessment 

Other Attributes

• Understanding of and commitment to Te reo Māori me ngā tikanga.
• Willingness to work towards a decolonised environment.
• Commitment to giving full effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
• At least six years experience in creative performance practice
• Commitment to creating equitable outcomes for all tauira.
• Commitment to the development and growth of teaching and research in performance practice. 
• Ability to work collaboratively.
• Ability to build relationships and influence others.
• Resilience and flexibility working with different individuals from diverse backgrounds.

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Position Description:

email: hr.administrator@toiwhakaari.ac.nz

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Remenuration

• Salary Band D of Kaitātaki, Discipline Specialist: 0.8 pro-rated $80,000
• Onsite parking
• Commitment to ongoing development
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How to Apply
Enquiries and applications must be submitted by the closing date of 5pm on Friday 30 January 2026.

Please include a CV and cover letter. Within your cover letter please clearly outline which role you are applying for. Please also include a description of how you meet the skills and experiences detailed above.

To apply or for further information and/or a job description please contact: hr.administrator@toiwhakaari.ac.nz

Toi Whakaari is always happy to receive expressions of interest from experienced professionals and educators, for potential ongoing teaching, directing and production roles across our kura.

Some current, specific areas of interest include:

• Indigenous oratory, movement and percussion practices

We invite and encourage all to get in touch.

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Please email your CV and cover letter that details your areas of expertise, to hr.administrator@toiwhakaari.ac.nz