Shape tomorrow in Rotorua: Your career starts here!

Ready to make a lasting impact? Te Kaunihera o ngā Roto o Rotorua - Rotorua Lakes Council is your platform for meaningful change. With a team of over 400 staff, we're committed to forging a better tomorrow for the Rotorua community. In the heart of this thriving city, you'll find yourself immersed in natural wonders like geothermal pools and ngāwha - geysers, while enjoying the exhilarating mountain biking scene. Join a council that thrives on collaboration with Te Arawa, our local iwi, and embraces biculturalism at its core. From the Rotorua Lakefront Redevelopment to hosting the world-renowned Crankworx festival, you'll play a vital role in shaping our city's future. Start your journey with us today!

Kei ā koe te toki, kei ā koe te kuru, whaoa te anamata! You have the chisel, you have the mallet! Join us and carve the future today!

This 1 year fixed-term role is pivotal in shaping the future of the Rotorua Museum by driving the development of its long-term exhibitions, amplifying its community profile, and curating a dynamic programme of short-term and changing exhibitions. Working closely with iwi and hapū, artists, partners, and guest curators, you'll bring to life authentic stories that celebrate the distinctive identity and bicultural heritage of Rotorua and Te Arawa. This is a rare opportunity to contribute to a landmark museum project and help reconnect our community with its taonga, stories, and culture.

You'll play a key role in crafting and implementing the Museum's exhibition strategy, providing curatorial expertise and creative leadership as we prepare for reopening. From research and content development to storytelling and design, you'll help deliver exhibitions that inspire and engage diverse audiences. Collaborating with artists, local groups, and guest curators, you'll co-develop exhibitions that reflect the vibrancy of our community and elevate the Museum's national profile. You'll also oversee the production of new works, manage budgets, timelines, and logistics, and foster partnerships with other museums and cultural institutions to extend the reach and impact of our exhibitions.

We're looking for a creative, experienced museum professional who thrives in a collaborative, community-focused environment. You bring a deep understanding of exhibition development and curation, paired with a genuine commitment to bicultural practice and cultural storytelling. You'll hold a tertiary qualification in Fine Art, Art History, Māori Studies, Social History, or a related field, and you'll have proven experience in curating or programming museum exhibitions. Strong project management, problem-solving, and relationship-building skills are essential, as is an appreciation for te reo Māori me ōna tikanga appropriate to the role. Experience working with museum collections, postgraduate study in a relevant field, or a background in working with Te Arawa or other iwi and hapū would be an advantage.

Rotorua is the cultural heart of the Te Arawa region, where 40% of our population identifies as Māori. Our bicultural foundation is at the heart of what we do - it shapes our values, strengthens our relationships, and connects us with our community. At Rotorua Lakes Council, people come first. We empower our team to make a real difference, support their wellbeing and growth, and work together to deliver meaningful outcomes for our community. Our values guide us every day - Respectful, Helpful, Engaging, Inspiring, Innovative, and Bicultural.

If you're passionate about creating meaningful, community-driven exhibitions and ready to play a key role in the next chapter of Rotorua Museum's story, we'd love to hear from you.

Click this link to view the position description for this role

Te Kaunihera o nga Roto o Rotorua (Rotorua Lakes Council) is committed to working in partnership with Te Arawa, our local iwi. We aspire to being a bicultural organisation and we value staff who speak te reo Māori, have an appreciation of Māori values, and a working knowledge of tikanga Māori.

Applications close at 9:59pm on Sunday, 7 December 2025 

Sound like you? Apply now