Governance Advisor

Tau ake rā te moana nei, e papaki kau ana ki te ākau tangata, kakenga waka ka mauru te tohu ki te arearenga o Mauao, he pou herenga mōu, he pou hononga mōu, kia herea ki te tika, kia herea ki te pono. Kia mau, kia ita, kia ū – haumi e, hui e, tāiki e!

Te Tūranga | About the role

As a Governance Advisor, you’ll provide high quality governance services that support effective, lawful and transparent decision making at Tauranga City Council. This is a pivotal role working closely with elected members, senior leaders and external stakeholders to ensure meetings run smoothly and governance processes meet legislative and best practice standards.

You’ll play a trusted advisory role across Council, supporting committees and advisory groups, providing sound procedural advice, and helping ensure democratic processes are efficient, inclusive and well governed.

In this role you will:

• Support Council, committee and advisory group meetings from end to end – from agenda preparation through to minutes and post meeting actions
• Provide accurate and trusted governance and legislative advice to elected members, Chairs, the Chief Executive and senior leaders
• Help maintain and improve governance systems and processes to ensure they comply with legislation and standing orders
• Build strong working relationships across Council, with tangata whenua, and with external governance partners

Ngā Pukenga | What you’ll need to succeed

To thrive in this role, you’ll bring:

• A tertiary qualification in a relevant field
• At least three years’ experience in a governance, democracy or similar advisory role
• Strong working knowledge of local government legislation, including:
  • Local Government Act 2002
  • Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987
  • Local Electoral Act 2001
  • Resource Management Act 1991
  • Standing Orders and Members’ Interests requirements
• The ability to provide clear, confident advice in high‑profile and time‑pressured environments
• Confidence in leveraging technology and systems to facilitate your work
• Strong relationship‑building skills and the ability to work effectively with elected members, senior leaders and diverse stakeholders
• A commitment to upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles and working in partnership with tangata whenua
  
  

Tō Tātou Kaunihera | About Tauranga City Council

Tauranga City Council is one of Tauranga’s largest employers, and we are always looking to attract great talent to join our driven, passionate, and community-focused team.

We always strive to ensure that you feel valued and supported in the workplace.

To highlight that our people are our greatest asset, we offer a wide range of benefits that include 5 weeks annual leave, flexible hours and work from home options, as well as career development opportunities.

You can find out more about working at Tauranga City Council here.

Te Tukanga | How to apply

If you want to be part of a customer focused, friendly and supportive team, then we'd love to hear from you. For more information, please contact Sarah Holmes at sarah.holmes@tauranga.govt.nz

Please note we will not be accepting applications via email. If you wish to apply, please click ‘Apply’ at the bottom of this page and follow the link.

Applications will close 20th May 2026

We’re committed to building a diverse team that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including those living with disabilities.
If you need any support or adjustments to take part in our recruitment process, please contact our Talent Acquisition team at recruitment@tauranga.govt.nz

• You must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand to apply for this role.
• Tauranga City Council does not accept unsolicited contact or applications from recruitment agencies. We will not pay fees or commissions related to unsolicited contact.

Job Description: Governance Advisor