ACCOUNTABILITIES STATEMENT
ASSISTANT VICE-CHANCELLOR
(MAORI & PASIFIKA)
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
The Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Mäori & Pasifika), is accountable to the Vice-Chancellor, as part of the senior
leadership team, for –
 strategic leadership and academic leadership for Mäori, Pasifika and new migrant communities at
Massey University.
 representing the University at a national level on matters relating to Mäori tertiary education, Mäori
research and Mäori development.
CONTEXT
Massey University is New Zealand’s defining university and the engine of the new New Zealand with major
campuses located in Palmerston North, Albany and Wellington, and is New Zealand’s pre-eminent provider
of distance or extramural education.
While providing a comprehensive programme of teaching and research, Massey has specialisations in the
areas of agri-food, innovation and the new economy and creativity and design, with many unique strengths
including New Zealand’s only faculty of veterinary science.
Massey is seeking to meet the needs of different learning communities in the 21 st century. In particular,
Massey has established a strong commitment to Maori and Pasifika communities. Increasingly, Massey is
also providing learning opportunities to a range of professional groups.
The three Campuses will have different local cultures and a distinct focus, but the link that will tie the
University together in the longer term will be a shared vision of what it is to be part of Massey University; its
pragmatic approach, its commitment to research and community service, its international reputation, respect
for quality and its belief in creating capacity for scholarship to flourish.
This role will be working in an environment where the delivery of academic programmes and their financial
resources have been devolved to Colleges, and thereby become the responsibility of Pro Vice-Chancellors.
The Pro Vice-Chancellors are responsible for the leadership and management of teaching, research and
community service through their Colleges, which are located on the Campuses situated in the three regions
and the distance learning space. Pro Vice-Chancellors work in collaboration with the Assistant ViceChancellors who are responsible for providing national frameworks and key supporting services within which
the Colleges operate, with respect to their university-wide portfolios including respective responsibilities for
national shared services across Campuses and Colleges. Working together, through the annual planning
process and ongoing collaboration, college and university shared services senior leadership will inform one
another’s strategies to ensure integration of strategies, plans and action at the campus, college and
University level.
Members of the Senior Leadership Team will provide leadership and high-level management of their
respective accountabilities in a responsible manner that reflects academic freedom, accountability,
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collaboration and the proper use of resources, and will consistently maintain the highest standards of integrity
and conduct among employees, and ensure the well-being of students.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
Strategic Mäori Leadership
1. Ensure that the formulation of University profiles, policies and strategies adequately reflect Mäori
aspirations, full Mäori participation, and the best possible outcomes for Mäori.
2. Guide the implementation of the University’s Treaty of Waitangi objectives and the Treaty goals and
objectives contained in the Road to 2020 Strategy.
3. Support the development of strategic Mäori leadership on all campuses.
4. Provide strategic leadership for Mäori academic staff.
5. Advise senior management on the appropriate recognition of a Mäori dimension in University ceremonial
occasions.
Teaching and Research
1. Provide academic leadership for Mäori and Pasifika academic staff.
2. Assist in the enhancement of Mäori and Pasifika academic capacities, including teaching and research,
in all Colleges, and on all campuses.
3. Contribute to the overall academic well-being and management of the University through advice and
input to University committees and working groups.
4. Across all Colleges, Divisions and campuses where there is a Mäori and Pasifika focus, to create
opportunities for greater Mäori and Pasifika collaboration in teaching, research, student support,
recruitment, community liaison, and academic credentialing.
5. Engage in research.
6. Foster partnerships, joint ventures and mutually beneficial research opportunities between Mäori
collectives and Massey University.
Pasifika and new New Zealanders
1.
Provide leadership and put in place appropriate initiatives, which enable the University to establish
strong connections with Pasifika and new New Zealander communities.
2.
Ensure that the formulation of University profiles, policies and strategies adequately reflect the
aspirations, participation, and the best possible outcomes for Pasifika and new New Zealanders.
3.
Support the development of strategic Pasifika leadership on all campuses.
4.
Provide strategic leadership for Pasifika academic staff.
University Management
1. Contribute to the overall well-being and management of the University as a member of the ViceChancellor’s Senior Leadership Team and through advice and input to University committees and
working groups.
2. Undertake ‘process owner’ role for activities related to the role’s portfolio, to ensure:
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alignment of processes across University structures;
that issues that arise from time to time are resolved appropriately in accordance with University policy
and procedures;
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that specific and individual academic risk events identified within the Pro Vice-Chancellor / Shared
Services portfolios are being appropriately addressed.
3. Manage the portfolio functions to ensure compliance with legal and statutory obligations of the University
including, but not limited to, relevant aspects of the Education Act 1989 and amendments, Health and
Safety in Employment, Human Rights, Privacy and Equity matters as these pertain to students.
4. Plan and manage budgets for delivering the outputs of the portfolio, regularly monitoring and reporting
actual performance to forecasts, identifying where forecast assumptions are inaccurate and re-casting
out-turn for the reporting period.
5. Undertake such other relevant tasks and duties as may be specified by the Vice-Chancellor.
Relationship Management
1. Identify and develop strong and valued working relationships with University stakeholders and community
interest groups.
The following relationships are or particular relevance to the role of Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Maori &
Pasifika):
Internal
Vice-Chancellor’s Executive Committee
Kaiwawao
Mäori staff and students
Other relevant University Committees and Boards, eg, Academic Board, Academic Committee
External
Iwi and Pasifika and new migrant communities
Other Tertiary education institutions
Other relevant organisations
2. Establish a comprehensive view of the constituencies impacting on the position and develop an
understanding of those relationships and the sensitivities associated with them.
3. Demonstrate exceptional relationship building and communication skills.
4. Develop and maintain strong functional relationships with Government and Ministry officials as
appropriate. Ensure that the University’s position on topics of interest is presented and discussed.
5. Anticipate and prepare position papers for the consideration of the Vice-Chancellor, on topics of interest
to the University.
People Leadership, Capability, Culture, and Change
1. Provide leadership and strategic direction to staff employed within the Office.
2. Foster a collegial, scholarly and friendly working environment in the Office, in which people accept
change and work to make it effective.
3. Lead the planning and implementation of structural, process and organisational culture change within the
Office, wherever appropriate, to align this to the strategic direction.
4. Annually appraise Heads of Department and equivalents in terms of the performance of each individual
and his/her Department or Unit, and in relation to planned targets and agreed standards.
5. Build team effectiveness, coach and support staff to improve their performance and encourage
professionalism and commitment to make the working environment successful.
6.
Build the requisite people capability necessary to deliver strategies and outcomes, by planned employee
and leadership development and talent management, including identifying critical roles within the group
and ensuring that emerging talent is identified and developed to succeed into those role.
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7.
Ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of staff in accordance with the principles of a good employer and
the general policies and guidelines of the University.
8.
Give effect to University policies, which provide equal opportunities for recruitment, development and
promotion for each individual staff member within the sphere of accountability.
9. Constantly seek to improve efficiencies, processes and services for the achievement of the University’s
strategic positioning.
10. Promote the University values of a high standard of professionalism; a focus on the needs of students
and other clients; collegiality; integrity; quality teaching, research and community service.
University Reputation and Community
1. Build effective and productive relationships with key influencers, particularly those relationships where
prime responsibility has been assigned by the Vice-Chancellor. Take a lead, in collaboration with the
Assistant Vice-Chancellor (External Relations) in building and managing relationships with communities
in New Zealand and internationally which are identified as core to the role’s portfolio.
2. Develop good relationships with communities the University serves.
3. Develop good relationships with the student associations and student representatives.
Risk Management
1.
Manage the portfolio functions in accord with the general policies and regulations of the University
and with the University’s 2020 Strategy.
2.
Manage the portfolio functions to ensure compliance with legal and statutory obligations of the
University including, but not limited to, relevant aspects of the Education Act 1989 and amendments,
Safety and Health in the workplace, Human Rights, Privacy, and Equity matters.
3.
Respond to issues and incidents in a manner, which manages risk to the University and involves the
Public Affairs section as necessary.
4.
Contribute to the development and testing of University business continuity plans.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Qualifications
An acknowledged organisational leader and manager and acknowledged researcher and teacher with full
academic qualifications appropriate to appointment at executive level. Such a profile is a prerequisite to the
incumbent being accorded the level of respect and credibility in the University and the tertiary sector that s/he
will need in order to perform the required role.
Experience
Significant and successful experience in a senior management position within a large complex organisation,
and demonstration of advanced skills in:
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Active participation in strategic Mäori development through local and national Mäori networks
Providing strategic direction and leadership, and turning plans into action
Initiative, judgement, decision making and change management
Financial management, budgetary planning and resources management
Staff management
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Developing and maintaining good relationships with colleagues, staff, students and external groups
Understanding developments and the teaching-research nexus in Higher Education, both nationally and
internationally.
Attributes and Skills
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Highly regarded and acknowledged as a senior Mäori leader in all dimensions relating to Mäori.
Academic and Professional standing.
Vision, and the ability to articulate it, lead, inspire and motivate and to recognise it in others.
Knowledge, understanding and commitment to developments in e-learning.
Understand and support the multiple delivery modes of teaching.
Understanding of, and high regard for, scholarship, learning and research and maintaining the role of the
University as a conscious of society.
An effective, sensitive, open minded and flexible leadership approach that is appropriate in differing
situations and the ability to build consensus in differing situations.
Analytical skills with the ability to make logical, well-reasoned, balanced and timely decisions and sound
judgements on complex matters.
Ability to represent the University at formal events, meetings with outside bodies, to network and
establish relationships with all stakeholders.
Ability to relate to colleagues at all levels of the University.
Ability to treat staff and students with respect.
Commitment to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, and the equity goals of the University.
Strategic and Innovative Thinker.
Effective team builder
Ability to delegate.
Negotiating Skills.
Excellent written and oral communication, and public relations skills.
Understanding of principles of consultation and collegiality.
Willing to travel both nationally and internationally.
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