POSITION DESCRIPTION
Position:
Senior Adviser, Canterbury Earthquake Response (fixed term – 2 years with the
possibility of an extension for one more year, subject to progress).
Location:
Christchurch
Reports to:
Initially to the Chief Executive
Purpose:
The purpose of this role is to ensure the Canterbury arts community is well
supported in the aftermath of the earthquake and to influence outcomes about the
future of arts and culture in Canterbury. This role will work with the arts community
so that there is awareness of needs, co-ordination of resources and prioritisation of
next steps.
The Senior Adviser will assist the arts community to understand what resources are
available and to access these.
The Senior Adviser will work with local, regional and national investors in the arts to
ensure understanding and coordination.
The Senior Adviser will also be a vital link between local and central government
organisations (including Christchurch City Council, CERA, the Ministry of Culture and
Heritage and the Historic Places Trust), Ngai Tahu, arts organisations and Creative
New Zealand.
KEY RESULT
AREAS
Research and
Reporting
CRITICAL TASKS
 Work with the community and stakeholders to
identify short term priorities and contribute to a
longer term recovery plan for the arts.
 Identify key contacts across the Canterbury arts
community and scope research.
 Engage with the arts at an individual, community
and professional level to understand the impact
of the earthquakes on them and what they are
doing in response.
 Report this information to local and national
decision makers
 Facilitate an arts sector led voice to key
stakeholders
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Research is well planned, thorough
and provides a comprehensive and
up to date picture of the needs of
artists and arts organisations
across the region.
Artists and arts organisations
willingly engage with the Senior
Adviser and share information
freely.
Reports are well written, delivered
on time and accessible to
appropriate recipients.
A plan is developed and
implemented.
The Senior Adviser is widely
recognised as being able to
articulate the needs of the sector
accurately and appropriately.
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KEY RESULT
AREAS
Arts Sector
Resource
Identification
CRITICAL TASKS
 Assist the arts community to succeed.
 Identify resources available to the arts
community; build awareness of them and how to
access them.
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Resource information is up to date,
comprehensive and readily
accessible.
 Collate, analyse and maintain relevant material
centrally to assist decision makers at a local and
central level.
Stakeholder
Liaison
Maori
Responsiveness
 Build relationships with relevant policy and
decision makers and stakeholders in local and
central government organisations (including
CERA and the Ministry of Culture and Heritage),
arts organisations, VBASE and government
agencies (such as the Historic Places Trust).
 Provide advice and updates to Creative New
Zealand’s Chief Executive, Board, Council, staff
and to other organisations’ boards as
appropriate.
Policies and initiatives to rebuild
Christchurch are well informed by
the needs of the arts sector.
 Actively work with Maori artists and arts
organisations including Ngai Tahu to ascertain
their needs.
Maori artists and arts organisations
demonstrate willingness to actively
engage with the Senior Adviser.
Creative New Zealand’s Chief
Executive, Boards and staff are well
informed of progress and of key
issues in a timely manner.
Key Relationships

Canterbury based arts providers and practitioners

Relevant local and central government organisations including Christchurch City Council, CERA,
Ministry of Culture and Heritage, Historic Places Trust, SPARC etc

Other key organisations (including private sector companies and philanthropic and gaming trusts)
relevant to Christchurch infrastructure

Creative New Zealand Chief Executive, managers and staff
Education, Skills, Knowledge, Experience
Essential:

Expertise in business development and stakeholder liaison, being able to develop and
maintain quality relationships at a senior level

In depth understanding of and well developed networks throughout the Christchurch
infrastructure, preferably with links within the arts and cultural sectors

Experience in providing advice to boards of directors

Knowledge of best practice research management principles and practices

Understanding of policy development and expertise in writing reports and policies for
senior management and boards

Ability to influence decision makers and implement plans both in group settings and
individually

Ability to analyse complex issues and to distil large amounts of information in to succinct
messages both orally and in writing

Ability to demonstrate empathy to stakeholders in difficult situations

Project management experience
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
Knowledge and experience of policies and processes relating to arts development,
professional practice, participation and arts in New Zealand

Understanding of the principles and practice of the Treaty of Waitangi, and the
implications of this for the work of Creative New Zealand and the wider arts sector.

Computer literate and competent with Microsoft Office applications
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