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

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.

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.

Luke Spratt

Kaiārahi Hononga | Relationship Lead

LinkedIn

Te Ātiawa | Ngāti Toa | Ngāti Raukawa - Luke brings 12 years’ recruitment experience across London, Auckland and Wellington. With a strong understanding of people, businesses and changing markets, he builds trusted relationships and connects people and organisations to create lasting value.

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.

Senior Analyst Monitoring & Evaluation
Te ao MāoriPermanentWellington

Senior Analyst Monitoring & Evaluation

Senior Analyst Monitoring & Evaluation Lead kaupapa Māori evaluation and insights Shape strategy through data and storytelling Permanent role based Te Whanganui-a-Tara | Wellington Join a kaupapa Māori organisation working support the revitalisation of te reo Māori. This is a senior opportunity within a small, values-led Research, Data and Insights team, suited to an experienced monitoring and evaluation practitioner who can work confidently across kaupapa Māori settings and deliver trusted evidence to support decision-making and organisational impact. Ko te āhua o te tūranga | About the Role Working alongside your team and the wider organisation you will: Embed kaupapa Māori evaluation frameworks and principles Develop monitoring and evaluation frameworks and approaches Build evaluation models for te reo Māori initiatives Develop meaningful indicators and measures of success Analyse data and assess programme performance and impact Produce reports, evaluations, and strategic insights Support kaimahi to strengthen evaluation capability Partner with stakeholders across monitoring and research activities Manage projects through planning, delivery, and risk management Deliver culturally grounded insights and storytelling Mōu | About You The successful candidate will bring: Te reo Māori fluency and strong English language skills Experience in monitoring, evaluation, research, or insights Understanding of tikanga Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi Experience applying kaupapa Māori evaluation approaches Strong data analysis, reporting, and insight capability Experience working with whānau, hapū, iwi, and Māori communities Excellent communication and presentation skills Proven project management and risk management experience Strong stakeholder and relationship management skills Collaborative and outcomes-focused approach Me tono mai inaīanei | Apply Now! Applications close midnight Sunday 11 th October To find out more, please get in touch with Orissa Plimmer on 027 285 1461 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!

Residence Manager | Korowai Manaaki
Te ao MāoriPermanentWellington

Residence Manager | Korowai Manaaki

Residence Manager – Korowai Manaaki Lead With Courage Build Trust Every Day Shape Better Futures Every day, Oranga Tamariki works to ensure tamariki and rangatahi have the opportunity to grow, heal and thrive. Korowai Manaaki Youth Justice Residence plays an important part in that journey, providing a safe, structured environment where young people are supported to make positive change. Working alongside iwi, whānau and community partners, you'll help create a place where safety, accountability and hope sit alongside one another. This is one of New Zealand's most significant operational leadership roles. Leading a complex 24/7 youth justice residence, you'll be responsible for around 200 kaimahi, the wellbeing of up to 46 rangatahi, and ensuring the residence consistently delivers safe, compliant and effective services. No two days are the same. You'll provide calm, visible leadership, strengthen capability, foster a high-performing culture and make sound decisions in an environment where safety, operational excellence and continuous improvement are paramount. You'll bring proven experience leading large, complex operational environments where safety, accountability and the wellbeing of people are inseparable. You'll be recognised for building trust, developing others and creating cultures where people feel valued, expectations are clear and everyone is accountable for delivering their best. You'll know that lasting performance comes from bringing people with you, earning trust through authenticity, consistency and sound judgement, rather than relying on hierarchy or position. Above all, you'll recognise the potential in every young person. You'll work confidently alongside te ao Māori, iwi and community partners, understanding that meaningful and enduring change is built through trust, consistency and genuine partnership. Join a team committed to making a genuine difference, where your leadership will help shape better futures for rangatahi, their whānau and the people you lead. If you'd like to explore the opportunity before deciding whether to apply, we'd welcome a confidential kōrero. Please contact Russell Spratt to discuss the role or request a copy of the Position Description. Kaiwhakahaere Wharenoho – Korowai Manaaki Kia Māia te Ārahi Kia Pou Whakawhirinaki i ia Rā Kia Tāraitia ngā Anamata Pai Ake Kei ia rā, ka mahi a Oranga Tamariki ki te whakarite e whai huarahi ana ngā tamariki me ngā rangatahi kia tipu, kia whai oranga, kia puāwai hoki. He nui te wāhi ki ngā Wharenoho Rangatahi o Korowai Manaaki i ngā mahi nei, ka whakawhiwhi atu i te taiao haumaru, whai tumu hoki e tautokona ai ngā rangatahi kia whai i ngā panonitanga tōrunga. Ka mahi tahi koe ki ngā iwi, ngā whānau me ngā hoa rangapū ā-hapori, ka āwhina ki te hanga i tētahi wāhi e noho tahi nei te haumaru, te haepapa me te tūmanako. Koinei tētahi o ngā tūranga whakahaere mahi tino whakahirahira o Aotearoa. Ka ārahi koe i tētahi wharenoho rangatahi e 24/7 āna mahi matatini, ka noho haepapa koe mō te āhua 200 kaimahi, mō te waiora o ngā rangatahi e 46, mō te whakarite hoki ka whakawhiwhi atu te wharenoho i ngā ratonga e haumaru ana, e tautuku ana, e whai take ana hoki. Kāore i te ōrite ngā rā e rua. Ka ārahi koe i ngā mahi i runga i te wairua mārū e kitea ana, ka whakakaha i ngā āheinga kaimahi, ka whakatipu i te ahurea mahi e whai kounga ana, ka whakatau take hoki i tētahi taiao e whakatōmua ana i te haumarutanga, te hiranga mahi me te whakapaipai haere. Ka kawe mai koe i ō wheako mō te ārahi i ngā taiao mahi nui, matatini hoki e noho here ana te haumarutanga, te haepapatanga me te ora o te tāngata. Ka mōhiotia koe mō te whakapiki hāpono, te whakawhanake i ngā kaimahi me te hanga ahurea e noho uara ana te tangata, e mārama ana ngā kawatau, e noho haepapa ana ngā tāngata katoa kia tino whakapau kaha ki ngā mahi. Ka mārama hoki koe ka tino eke ngā mahi ina ka tō mai koe i te katoa, ka whai mana koe mā te houtupu, te pūmau, te whakatau whaitake hoki, kaua mā te whakamanamana kau i te tūranga. Ko tō tino hanga, ko te kite atu i te pitomata ki roto i ia rangatahi. Ka māia koe ki te mahi i te te ao Māori, ki te mahi tahi ki ngā iwi me ngā hoa rangapū ā-hapori, me te mārama hoki ka hua mai te panonitanga whai take, mau roa i te hāpono, i te ōritetanga me te tino mahi rangapū. Haere mai ki tētahi kapa mahi e manawanui ana kia tino whai painga, ka riro māu e ārahi i ngā mahi hei tārai i ngā anamata pai ake mā ngā rangatahi, ō rātau whānau me ngā tāngata e ārahi nei koe. Mehemea kei te hiahia koe ki te whai whakaaro mō te tūranga i mua i te tono mai, he pai tonu te whakapā mai mō te kōrero muna. Me whakapā atu ki a Russell Spratt ki te kōrero mō te tūranga, ki te tono rānei i te Tātai Tūranga. 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 23 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.