Tau Mai

Nau mai, Tau Mai.

Helping you find a safe place to land with ao Māori permanent, contract, Executive and Governance roles across Aotearoa.

We specialise in te ao Māori roles

Tau Mai is a Māori-led recruitment consultancy where culture and innovation guide every search. Rooted in te ao Māori values, we connect exceptional Māori talent with organisations committed to people, purpose and progress.

Through whakapapa, trusted relationships and the quality of our mahi, we create mana-enhancing experiences that strengthen communities and futures. In partnership with Tribe Recruitment, we weave cultural depth with modern capability to deliver authentic, values-driven recruitment across Aotearoa.

TAU MAI
We have and make connections through whakapapa, our networks and the quality of our mahi/work.


Let us guide you on a journey through te ao Māori to recruit and support Māori talent, that is mana-enhancing for all parties.

 

OUR PARTNERS INCLUDE
Tau Mai are proud to work with Te Matatini
Tau Mai is proud to work with Mauri Tuhono
Tau Mai is proud with work with Environmental Protection Agency for Te Ao Maori roles
Tau Mai is proud with work with Mercury Energy for Te Ao Maori roles
Tau Mai is proud with work with Air NZ for Te Ao Maori roles
Tau Mai is proud with work with Greater Wellington for Te Ao Maori roles
Tau Mai is proud with work with Te Mangai Pano for Te Ao Maori roles
Tau Mai is proud with work with Anglican Care Wiapu for Te Ao Maori roles
Tau Mai is proud with work with Te Arawhiti for Te Ao Maori roles
Tau Mai is proud with work with Te Rau Ora for Te Ao Maori roles
Tau Mai is proud with work with Ngai Tahu for Te Ao Maori roles
Tau Mai is proud with work with Te Wananga o Raukawa for Te Ao Maori roles
Tau Mai is proud with work with ANZ for Te Ao Maori roles
Tau Mai is proud with work with Internet NZ for Te Ao Maori roles
Tau Mai is proud with work with Greater Wellington Regional Council for Te Ao Maori roles

Executive appointment
Director of Mercury NZ Appointed

Mercury NZ is helping move Aotearoa New Zealand to a low emissions future. Their generation assets produce electricity from 100% renewable sources: hydro, geothermal and wind.

Meet the Team

Chelsi Clifton

Chief Transformation Officer

LinkedIn

Chelsi leads Tribe’s digital transformation, using AI, data, and automation to drive smarter recruitment. With 20+ years' experience, she builds future-ready teams and strategies that elevate performance, capability, and experience.

Russell Spratt

Te Kaitūhura, Tau Mai | Co-Founder, Tau Mai

LinkedIn

From Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Toa, Ngāti Raukawa, Russell is the GM Wellington at Tribe and co-founder of Tau Mai. With 25+ years in recruitment, he has led senior appointments across many sectors, specialising in Māori-focused roles and governance, with a passion for culturally grounded leadership and equity.

Aata Kearns

Technology, Digital, Data - Contract and Perm

LinkedIn

With 15+ years across sales and tech recruitment, Aata brings global experience, industry smarts, and a genuine love for people. Known for her warmth and results-driven mindset, she turns every connection into a long-term win — for clients, candidates, and teams alike.

Orissa Plimmer

Kaitohutohu Whakawhiwhi Kaimahi | Senior Consultant

LinkedIn

Ngāi Te Rangi | Orissa brings 10 years of recruitment experience across Aotearoa, working with government, iwi, and private sectors. Known for exceptional research skills, deep networks, and strong relationships, she delivers seamless, end-to-end recruitment solutions.

Tūrei Ormsby

Pou Tikanga

LinkedIn

Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Porou, Tūhoe | Tūrei is a skilled Māori leader with expertise in transformation, SME leadership, and kaupapa Māori solutions for Crown agencies. With degrees in Māori Studies and Te Reo Māori, a post-graduate diploma in Adult Education, and accreditation from the Māori Language Commission, he brings valuable cultural capability and strategic guidance to Tau Mai.

Latest Jobs

Looking for your next role? Take a look at our latest jobs.

Principal Advisor - Communications
Te ao MāoriPermanentWellington Region

Principal Advisor - Communications

Principal Advisor, Communications Shape meaningful communications that support positive outcomes for Māori Lead high impact messaging across internal and external communications Permanent role based in Te Whanganui-a-tara | Wellington Join a small, high-performing Strategy and Communications team as Principal Advisor, Communications. This role is ideal for someone who can work confidently with complex kaupapa, maintain momentum under pressure, and shape messages that resonate across Māori communities, media, and public sector audiences. Ko te āhua o te tūranga | About the Role Working alongside senior leaders and teams across the organisation, you will: Partner with leaders to deliver communications for priority work Advise on issues, risk, reputation and messaging Draft executive content including speeches and key messages Support media engagement and prepare responses Keep content consistent across channels and collateral Coach the team and quality assure high profile work Lift communications capability with practical tools and guidance Mōu | About You The successful candidate will bring: Demonstrated Principal Advisor experience, bringing a strong strategic lens Relevant degree and strong editorial writing, including speeches Communications planning and media engagement expertise Public sector experience and understanding of government context Strong relationship management across senior stakeholders, including iwi and Māori organisations Confidence working within te ao Māori, with te reo Māori capability, Te Tiriti grounding, and awareness of OIA and privacy obligations. Me tono mai inaīanei | Apply Now! To find out more, please get in touch with Orissa Plimmer on 0272851461 for a confidential kōrero. To apply, you must be a New Zealand citizen, resident, or hold a valid visa with the right to work in Aotearoa. We’ll be reviewing candidates as they come through, so we encourage early applications. We are the landing place where our people can come to rest upon, a safe space. A place where excellence and culture are encouraged and ultimately recognised. Kia tau ai te mauri tū, te mauri ora ki te katoa. Nau mai, tau mai! Vitality and well-being for all. Welcome, settle here!

Pou Ārahi - General Manager Trust
Te ao MāoriPermanentWellington

Pou Ārahi - General Manager Trust

Pou Ārahi – General Manager Trust Lead with Purpose Honour Whakapapa Shape the Future Guided by its values, whakapapa and responsibility to future generations, the Trust provides strategic leadership that protects and grows the cultural, social, environmental and economic wellbeing of Taranaki Whānui. As Pou Ārahi, you will work alongside the Trustees to help realise the vision and aspirations of Taranaki Whānui. You will provide thoughtful leadership, foster enduring relationships, build and lead a capable team, and ensure the Trust continues to grow its influence, impact and legacy. You will navigate respectfully across iwi, hapū, whānau, government, local authorities and commercial partners, guided by integrity, humility and purpose. You are an authentic and values-led leader who brings sound commercial judgement together with a genuine commitment to te ao Māori. You have successfully led complex organisations, built trusted relationships, and understand the importance of balancing cultural, commercial, environmental and social aspirations. Above all, you are someone who listens deeply, leads with mana, inspires confidence, and is inspired by the opportunity to serve Taranaki Whānui while helping shape a thriving future for generations to come. Me tono mai inaīanei | Apply Now! For a confidential kōrero and to access a copy of the position description contact Russell Spratt on 0294 463 770 or Orissa Plimmer on 0272 851 461. To apply, you must be a New Zealand citizen, resident, or hold a valid visa with the right to work in Aotearoa. To keep things simple, we ask that all applications are submitted through this advert. We’ll review applications as they come in and be in touch. We are the landing place where our people can come to rest upon, a safe space. A place where excellence and culture are encouraged and ultimately recognised. Kia tau ai te mauri tū, te mauri ora ki te katoa. Nau mai, tau mai! Vitality and well-being for all. Welcome, settle here!

General Manager | Kaiwhakahaere Matua
Te ao MāoriPermanentWellington

General Manager | Kaiwhakahaere Matua

General Manager Lead with Mana Strengthen Whānau Shape Lasting Impact Established in 1996, Te Whānau o Te Maungarongo provides culturally grounded services that support the safety, wellbeing and resilience of tamariki, rangatahi, adults and whānau. Its mahi spans safety and non-violence programmes, youth services, counselling, parenting support, kaumātua support, mediation and other whānau-centred services. Manaakitanga and whakawhānaungatanga sit at the heart of how Te Whānau works and the relationships it builds. The General Manager will provide calm, credible and practical leadership across the organisation. Working closely with Te Mana Whakahaere and the operational team, you will strengthen service and contract delivery, support and develop kaimahi, maintain sound financial and organisational oversight, and ensure quality, safeguarding, risk and reporting systems are working well. You will also build trusted relationships with funders, agencies, iwi, hapū and community partners, including across Wairarapa, Newtown and the Chatham Islands. You will be an experienced leader from a health, social service, community or kaupapa Māori environment who knows how to bring clarity to complexity and lead people through pressure and change. You will combine strong operational judgement with warmth, integrity and cultural credibility. You will be comfortable addressing difficult matters, setting clear expectations and strengthening accountability, while protecting the mana of people and remaining connected to the realities of frontline mahi. This is an opportunity to lead an organisation whose work matters deeply to the whānau and communities it serves, and to build the capability, confidence and systems needed for the next stage of its journey. For a confidential kōrero or a copy of the position description, contact Russell Spratt at Tau Mai. Applications close 30 August. Kaiwhakahaere Matua Ārahina kia Whai Mana ngā Mahi Whakapakaritia ngā Whānau Tāraitia ngā Hua Mauroa He mea whakatū i 1996, ko Te Whānau o Te Maungarongo tēnei ka whakawhiwhi atu i ngā ratonga whai ahurea hei tautoko i te haumarutanga, te hauora me te aumangea o ngā tamariki, rangatahi, pakeke me ngā whānau. Ka aro āna mahi ki ngā hōtaka whakahaumaru, whakarekereke-kore, ngā ratonga rangatahi, te kōrero āwhina, te tautoko mātua, tautoko kaumātua, te whakaratarata me ētahi atu ratonga whānau. Ka noho te manaakitanga me te whakawhānaungatanga ki te pūtahi o te tikanga mahi me ngā hononga a Te Whānau. Ka ārahi te Kaiwhakahaere Matua i ngā mahi a te whakahaere i runga i te wairua mārū, whai painga, ringa raupā hoki. Ka āta mahi tahi koe ki Te Mana Whakahaere me te kapa whakahaere, ka whakakaha koe i ngā mahi whakawhiwhi ratonga, kirimana hoki, ka tautoko, ka whakawhanake hoki i ngā kaimahi, ka whakariterite i ngā tukanga whakahaere pūtea, whakahaere tari e rite ana, ka whakataimau i te kounga o ngā pūnaha tautiaki, whakahaere mōrearea, tuku pūrongo hoki kia pai ai te kōkiri. Ka waihanga hoki koe i ngā hononga pūmau ki ngā whakahaere tuku pūtea, ngā tari kāwanatanga, ngā iwi me ngā hapū, me ngā hoa rangapū i te hapori, puta noa i Wairarapa, Niutāone me Wharekauri / Rēkohu. Ka whai wheako koe ki te ārahi mahi i te taiao mahi hauora, mahi tauwhiro, mahi hapori, kaupapa Māori rānei, ka mōhio ki ngā āhuatanga o te whakamārama take pīroiroi, ka tau hoki ki te ārahi kaimahi i ngā wā taimaha, panoni hoki. Ka whakakotahi mai koe i te kaha o ngā tikanga whakahaere me te mahana o te tangata, te ngākau pono me ngā pūmanawa ā-ahurea. Ka tau koe ki te kōkiri i ngā take taimaha, ki te whakatau kawatau kia mārama, ki te whakapakari hoki i ngā hanga haepapa, ki te tohu hoki i te mana o te tāngata me te whai wāhi anō hoki ki ngā āhuatanga o te pae mua o ngā mahi. He huarahi tēnei kia ārahi koe i tētahi whakahaere e hāngai pū ana āna mahi ki ngā whānau me ngā hapori, ki te waihanga hoki i ngā āheinga, te māia me ngā pūnaha e hiahiatia ana mō te tūāoma kei mua i te aroaro. Mō te kōrero muna, mō te tātai tūranga rānei, me whakapā atu ki a Russell Spratt i Tau Mai. Ka kati ngā tono hei te August 30. Next Steps? To apply for this vacancy, you MUST be a New Zealand citizen, resident, or have already secured the right to work in New Zealand and therefore hold a valid visa. At the appropriate stage we will request your references, we ask that you do not include them on your CV when applying. Me tono mai inaīanei | Apply Now! Applications Close Midnight August 30 To find out more, please get in touch with Russell Spratt on 029 446 3770 for a confidential kōrero. We are the landing place where our people can come to rest upon, a safe space. A place where excellence and culture are encouraged and ultimately recognised. Kia tau ai te mauri tū, te mauri ora ki te katoa. Nau mai, tau mai! Vitality and well-being for all. Welcome, settle here!

Insights

Our why - Kōrero with Russell Spratt, Te Kaitūhura Tau Mai
Kōrero paki

Our why - Kōrero with Russell Spratt, Te Kaitūhura Tau Mai

2 min watch

Russell Spratt's whakapapa and Māori values guide his mahi, and through Tau Mai is committed to addressing inequities by supporting and nurturing Māori into meaningful employment.

Mercury NZ Limited appoints new Director
Case StudiesExecutiveKōrero paki

Mercury NZ Limited appoints new Director

2 min read

Russell Spratt, Tau Mai and Tribe Executive teams are delighted to announce the appointment of Rachel Taulelei as a Director of Mercury NZ Limited.

Te Pūtaketanga - The essence of belonging: Kōrero with Russell Spratt, Te Kaitūhura Tau Mai
Kōrero paki

Te Pūtaketanga - The essence of belonging: Kōrero with Russell Spratt, Te Kaitūhura Tau Mai

3 min watch

Motu Kapiti, Kapiti Island, is a deeply special place for Tau Mai's Russell Spratt and his whānau, where they are proud to serve as kaitiaki, keeping the home fires burning.

Whakapā Mai | Contact Us

Looking to grow your team or find your next job? Get in touch with the team at Tau Mai.