Environmental and Cultural Service

“Toitū te marae a Tāne, toitū te marae a Tangaroa, toitū te tangata.”

If the domain of Tāne (forests) and the domain of Tangaroa (oceans) are sustained, so too will the people be.

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This whakataukī honours the interdependence between people and the natural world, while also subtly reinforcing the idea that by looking after our environment and culture, we nurture the wellbeing of our tamariki, whānau, and communities.

NKA is proud to have an Environment & Cultural Advisor who supports our kindergartens to strengthen both environmental sustainability and cultural responsiveness across all aspects of our organisation. This role supports kaiako and management to grow their confidence in Te Tiriti-based practice, cultural capability, and sustainable approaches grounded in te ao Māori and the Enviroschools kaupapa.

This is part of our commitment to ensuring every child and whānau feels a deep sense of belonging, cultural connection, and care for the natural world.

This unique dual role supports NKA’s commitment to both environmental sustainability and cultural responsiveness, grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. By weaving together, the kaupapa of Enviroschools and strategic cultural leadership, this role is focused on creating a more connected, inclusive, and sustainable future for our tamariki, whānau, and communities.

This role:

• Supports and strengthens the Enviroschools programme across NKA kindergartens.
• Provides independent cultural advice to the Chief Executive and Board.
• Designs and delivers professional development that uplifts both environmental and cultural capability.
• Supports our internal Roopū, a cultural leadership group committed to championing Tiriti-based practice within the organisation.

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At its heart, this role is about ensuring authentic cultural integrity and nurturing a deep respect for te taiao (the natural world) in everything we do.