TE TUMU | SCHOOL OF MĀORI, PACIFIC & INDIGENOUS STUDIES

TE KETE ARONUI | DIVISION OF HUMANITIES

Mō te tīma - About our team

Founded in 1990, Te Tumu has a vision to be a world-leading teaching and research centre of Māori, Pacific and Indigenous knowledge. Since then, it has rapidly gained an international reputation as one of the preferred places in Aotearoa New Zealand to learn about Māori, Pacific and Indigenous cultures and societies. We also teach te reo Māori (Māori language). Our multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary staff, students, research and teaching is reflected in our name Te Tumu, a pan-Polynesian term which is often used in Māori in the phrase te tumu herenga waka - a post for tying up canoes. We liken ourselves to a foundation, one to which staff, students and guests can anchor themselves to for the duration of their stay at the University of Otago - Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka.

The Indigenous Studies programme began as Indigenous Development in 2011 and was then updated to Indigenous Studies in 2023. This change in name reflects the programme's turn toward Indigenous Studies as an established field and therefore, toward its intellectual legacies. At Te Tumu, Indigenous Studies is uniquely placed alongside Māori and Pacific studies programmes which inform the courses and methodological approaches that Indigenous Studies staff use in their research and pedagogy.

Te Tumu also offers a Masters of Indigenous Studies. This postgraduate programme commenced in 2003 and focuses on issues and research pertaining to Indigenous peoples, particularly the increasing importance of the notion of 'indigeneity' to the contemporary context. It is taught by distance and on campus. There are two pathways - a course work option including a research report, and a thesis option.

Te mahi - The role

Applications are invited for a Lecturer position in Te Tumu, School of Māori, Pacific and Indigenous Studies. The position offers an academic career in a well-established and progressive School with a proud teaching and research record. This is a full-time, permanent position.

The successful candidate will be expected to take on a full teaching load that includes courses about key discourses in Indigenous Studies and more focused subjects related to their research expertise. You will be expected to teach and continue to develop papers within the Indigenous Studies program in consultation and with agreement of the Dean of Te Tumu.

There will be an expectation that the candidate also develops and maintains a programme of high-quality research and publications.

The successful candidate will also be expected to undertake service roles, including administration appropriate to the School, the University and wider Indigenous communities. Te Tumu has a strong postgraduate research culture, and you will also be expected to undertake the supervision of student research.

Kā pūkeka me kā wheako - Your skills and experience

The successful candidate will be expected to have:

a PhD (or close to completion) in Indigenous Studies or a relevant field
teaching experience at tertiary level
some peer-reviewed research publications and experience of postgraduate supervision and/or mentorship (ideal)
evidence of an ability to work with students and staff from differing academic and cultural backgrounds and at all levels of the institution
the ability to contribute to the teaching and development of the Indigenous Studies program.

Expertise in any of the following areas would be an advantage:

Indigenous knowledge and research methodologies
Indigenous philosophies
Indigenous identities and futures
National and/or global challenges affecting indigenous communities
Commitment to upholding values, tikanga, kawa and traditions as guided by Ngāi Tahu, as mana whenua in the region.

Please note that proficiency in te reo Māori or any Pacific language and an ability to demonstrate collaborations with national, regional and international indigenous scholars would be an advantage

Pūroko - Further details

The University of Otago is well-known for its collegiality and combined with living in the vibrant city of Dunedin, provides opportunities for an excellent work-life balance. The Dunedin campus has been ranked as one of the top 15 most beautiful in the world. The city has affordable living, excellent schools, and a great array of activities, ranging from Art and Literature to outdoor activities.

This is a permanent, full-time (1 FTE) position based in Ōtepoti, Dunedin.

The appointment range for this role is $94,084 to $111,056 per annum.

Application - Tono

Candidates are requested to submit the following:

A cover letter
A CV
Names and email addresses of at least three referees

To submit your application please click the apply button. Applications quoting reference number 2500537 will close on Monday, 2 June 2025.

Pūkenga/Lecturer in Indigenous Studies jobs

Pūkenga/Lecturer in Indigenous Studies - Dunedin