Permanent, full time (3MU + Health School 1MU)
Commencing Negotiable
Location is preferably Tauranga or mid-North (Kerikeri and surrounding). Other locations would be considered within our school’s geographic coverage area.

Northern Health School is a Ministry of Education funded school that provides education and transition support for year 0-14 students whilst ill health prevents them attending their regular school. The Te Puāwaitanga Unit is predominantly an online teaching and learning unit that supports ākonga within the geographical boundaries of the Northern Health School. These boundaries extend from Gisborne across to Taupō, over to Taranaki, and northward to Cape Reinga. Te Puāwaitanga provides educational support for students learning through Te Marautanga o Aotearoa.

We seek a Unit Leader to lead our Te Puāwaitanga school unit, leading a small team who are committed to delivering learner focused programmes for ākonga whose health impacts their ability to attend school fulltime.

The Te Puāwaitanga unit delivers high-quality, culturally responsive teaching and learning programmes aligned with Te Marautanga o Aotearoa, which will occur primarily online as the team supports students across Northern Health School’s geographic coverage area. Working with ākonga who are enrolled in Māori-medium settings, including Kura Kaupapa Māori, Wharekura, Kura-ā-Iwi, and rūmaki classes in mainstream schools, your team will co-construct Individual Learning Plans (ILPs), assess progress, and support ākonga who are unwell to transition back to their kura rēhita. You will also guide the development of teaching resources to support the delivery of engaging online teaching in this setting.

You will need to be fluent in te reo Māori with deep knowledge of mātauranga Māori and experience teaching within Māori-medium education settings.



The knowledge and skills you bring in this area will be valued with an annual full-time allowance of between $6000 and $12,000 per annum depending on the depth of your experience.

You will have excellent interpersonal and relationship building skills which you will use to provide leadership and guidance to your team, support the holistic development of ākonga, including wellbeing and whānau aspirations, and build and sustain effective relationships with local kura and iwi/hapū. You will also need to be comfortable teaching online and across all year levels.

Recent leadership experience an advantage.

While our preference is that this role be based in the mid-North or Tauranga, other locations would be considered within our school’s geographic coverage area.

A full NZ driving licence is essential for this position.

For any pātai or further information, please contact Deputy Principal, Abbey Honey, telephone 021 494 413 or email [email protected].

Ko te tūranga mahi nei e whai wāhi ana ki te whakatutuki i Te Tiriti.

This role contributes meaningfully to giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, supporting equitable outcomes for ākonga Māori.

Close date for applications: 22 September 2026.

Te Puāwaitanga Unit

“Ka whangaia, ka tipu, ka puāwai”

What we nurture, blossoms and grows

The Te Puāwaitanga Unit is predominantly an online teaching and learning unit that supports ākonga within the geographical boundaries of the Northern Health School. These boundaries extend from Gisborne across to Taupō, over to Taranaki, and northward to Cape Reinga.



Te Puāwaitanga provides educational support for students learning through Te Marautanga o Aotearoa.

Te Puāwaitanga teachers work alongside school-aged students who meet Northern Health School admission criteria, supporting them in both hospital and community settings. Individualised education programmes are developed in collaboration with the student’s school of enrolment and may include courses provided through Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu. An Individual Learning Plan (ILP) is created for each student in partnership with their school, whānau, and other professionals involved in supporting their wellbeing and learning.

Te Puāwaitanga teachers are based at the NHS unit closet to their home. Teaching and learning are primarily delivered online. Where geographical proximity allows, teachers may visit students in their homes. Depending on their health needs and readiness, students may also attend a local Northern Health School student support centre or return to their school of enrolment on a tempo parziale basis. When appropriate, Te Puāwaitanga teachers support students and their whānau through a planned transition back to full-time attendance at their enrolling school.

Teachers working in the community have access to a Northern Health School vehicle for student visits. Where a school vehicle is unavailable, teachers may be required to use their own vehicle and will be reimbursed in accordance with the applicable collective employment agreement.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is central to the Te Puāwaitanga delivery model and is also integral to Northern Health School’s administration, programme development, communication, and student record management. Teachers across all units are expected to use ICT confidently and extensively as part of their professional practice.

Teachers are accountable to the Unit Leader and are supported in their role by a Kaiāwhina.

Download the full job description

📌 unit leader te puawaitanga permanent (Italia)
🏢 Northern Health School
📍 Italia