Mahi

About Ngāti Pāhauwera | Kō wai mātou

This is your opportunity to make a real difference for Ngāti Pāhauwera — its people, its whenua, and its future.

Ngāti Pāhauwera is a coastal iwi spanning northern Hawke’s Bay. Our rohe is rich in natural resources and opportunity, with key assets including the Mohaka Forest, pastoral farming operations, and a growing horticulture presence, including our orchard in Tangoio.

Ngāti Pāhauwera Commercial Development Limited (NPCDL) leads the growth of this diverse portfolio across forestry, farming, horticulture, and tourism — building a strong and sustainable asset base that creates income, employment, and opportunity for whānau. Alongside this, Ngāti Pāhauwera Development Trust (NPDT), as the Post Settlement Governance Entity (PSGE), provides strategic direction to ensure all activity remains anchored in the social, cultural, and intergenerational wellbeing of our people.

Together, the Group is driven by a shared vision — Te Oranganui o Ngāti Pāhauwera: healthy, wealthy and happy Pāhauwera people — grounded in our whenua, guided by our tikanga, and focused on creating a resilient and prosperous future for generations to come.

About the role | Te āhuatanga a te tūranga

NPCDL is seeking an experienced Assistant Orchard Manager to join our growing horticulture team across our Whirinaki (Pākuratahi) and Raupunga (Mautaua) orchards. This is an opportunity to contribute to a unique Māori agribusiness producing world-class fruit while supporting the development of new land initiatives.
As our Assistant Orchard Manager, you will be hands-on in the orchard, working closely with our experienced Orchard Manager to:

• Maximise production and fruit quality

• Develop and support our teams

• Lead day-to-day operations of a modern orchard environment

• Assist with both the management of our established blocks and the development of our new orchard in Raupunga

NPCDL Horticulture currently includes 67.5 hectares of pipfruit across two orchards.

Our Orchards

• Pākuratahi Orchard (Whirinaki) – 52.5 ha of established apples in a modern 2D growing system.
  Varieties include: Rockit, Tarzi, Dazzle, Envy, Galaxy, and Jugala.

• Mautaua Orchard (Raupunga) – 15 ha of new development on a 60-hectare site, with ongoing development and expansion planned.

About you | Ko koe tēnei

This role covers the day-to-day operation of a modern 2D pipfruit orchard, including staff management, seasonal planning, and operational execution across both sites.

What You’ll Bring

• Strong leadership and people management capability

• Knowledge and experience in apple orchard production with an eye for detail.

• Excellent problem-solving and communication skills

• Strong planning and organisational ability

• A genuine commitment to health, safety, and worker wellbeing

• Level 4 horticulture, Grow Safe, First Aid, and OSH forklift licences (or willingness to obtain)

• Full New Zealand driver’s licence

• Experience in Māori organisations or comfort working within a kaupapa Māori environment is an advantage, but not essential—what matters most is integrity, teamwork, and a willingness to learn

Position Description | Whakaahuatanga tūranga

If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you. Please apply via Seek.

To request a full Position Description or to make a confidential enquiry, contact:
[email protected]

Please note: You must have permanent working rights in Aotearoa New Zealand to be considered for this role.

 Applications close: 17 April 2026

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE SEEK LISTING