Co- Chair | Treasurer | Board Members

He Karanga: Join the Co- Aotearoa Board
Together, weaving a thriving taiao for future generations

Co- Aotearoa is a small, values-led kaupapa rooted in honongā (connection), shared responsibility, and place-based climate action. We are currently seeking new Board members, including a Co-Chair and Treasurer, to help guide our next phase of growth.

Building on the foundations of the Auckland Climate Festival, which connected 285 organisations and delivered over 400 events between 2021–2023, Co- Aotearoa was established in 2024 to sustain that momentum and extend it nationwide, carrying forward the Festival’s spirit of collective action into new, enduring initiatives.

We are a Te Tiriti-led, non-partisan registered charity dedicated to fostering regenerative climate action through collaboration and systemic change. By bringing together communities, iwi and hapū, organisations, and industries, we aim to create a coordinated, whole-of-society response that builds unity, hope, and long-term resilience for people and te taiao. 

Successful applicants will be appointed as Trustees of Co- Aotearoa Charitable Trust. 

Our Charitable Purpose

(a) Fostering unity
 We aim to unite diverse communities and networks, creating a space where different perspectives, challenges, and opportunities are understood. Our goal is to build a coordinated, multi-sector approach to regenerative climate action, ensuring inclusion and collaboration.

(b) Advocating for systemic change
 Co- Aotearoa actively advocates for systemic change by engaging multiple sectors and partners. We believe meaningful transformation comes from collaborative efforts and multi-faceted engagements that address the root causes of environmental challenges.

(c) Celebrating positive impact
 We celebrate the efforts of our partners, acknowledging and highlighting their positive contributions. By doing so, we inspire others to actively engage in reimagining the future and foster a commitment to regenerative practices.

Why now
Having successfully completed our foundational phase - establishing the core structure and strategic groundwork built on the foundations of the Auckland Climate Festival kaupapa - the Board is now preparing to enter a pivotal launch and growth phase. 

This next phase requires additional skillsets. We are preparing to officially launch Co- Aotearoa and deliver our first major initiative: a three-day collective action wānanga in May 2026 - hosted in partnership with the Centre for Social Impact. This will be a pivotal moment to solidify our long-term strategy and role in the climate action ecosystem, requiring us to strengthen our governance and support the organisation as it scales up. We are also moving toward a co-chair model - grounded in partnership, interdependence, and shared stewardship. 

This timely shift opens space for fresh energy, deeper expertise, and new leadership specifically tailored to the needs of a public-facing organisation. 

Who we’re looking for
We welcome expressions of interest from people across Aotearoa - location is not a barrier.

We are seeking people who bring some or all of the following:

Strong governance experience

• Proven ability to help early-stage organisations grow into their next phase
• Confidence in establishing policies, systems, and structures to enable the Board to operate strategically rather than get stuck in the detail
• Ability to coach and strengthen Board capability

Mana in the taiao and climate leadership space

• Deep knowledge of taiao/climate issues
• Credibility, networks, and leadership experience across the system
• Experience at executive, senior, or systems leadership level
• Commitment to place-based, Tiriti-honouring climate action

A capable and steady Treasurer 

• Comfortable paying invoices, maintaining financial systems, liaising with accountants and ensuring we are compliant as a registered charity
• Experienced in budgeting, reporting, and supporting funding processes
• Able to support the organisation’s financial sustainability

Innovative strategic thinking around funding and networks

• Ability to help secure funding in the short term and build long-term regenerative funding models
• Experience developing partnerships and networks that strengthen organisational sustainability
• Willingness to contribute fresh thinking to enable new opportunities and connections

Commitment and follow-through

• Willingness to contribute hands-on to the mahi in a start-up phase with flexibility to contribute approximately half a day a week or 1-2 days per month during peak periods
• Reliability and accountability in all Board responsibilities

A values-led, relational approach

• Committed to honouring Te Tiriti and comfortable operating in kaupapa Māori contexts
• Respectful of shared responsibility, listening across difference, and collaborative decision-making

The roles

Co-Chair

• Provide shared leadership alongside the Chair in a co-chair model that will continue long-term
• Guide decision-making, board culture, and operational oversight
• Support Project Lead and Board members to deliver their responsibilities
• Contribute to strategic thinking around funding, partnerships and network-building

Treasurer

• Steward the organisation’s financial wellbeing
• Maintain clarity, oversight, and reporting to ensure compliance as a not-for-profit
• Support short- and long-term funding strategies

Trustees (1-2 roles)

• Take ownership of a portfolio (climate/taiao leadership, partnerships, governance, funding, or wānanga preparation)
• Support organisational growth and sustainability as we publicly launch and scale

What the mahi looks like

• Monthly online hui (1.5-2 hrs), with additional online engagement as needed, and occasional in-person participation (likely in Tāmaki Makaurau, but may vary)
• Ongoing collaboration with the Project Lead to support strategy implementation
• Strengthening governance systems, policies, and practices
• Contributing to organisational development and funding strategies
• Supporting momentum toward and what emerges from the 2026 wānanga
• Holding the kaupapa with integrity, care, and follow-through

We work in a high-trust, values-led, collaborative environment. Our governance is relational - grounded in te ao Māori values such as whanaungatanga, manaakitanga, and kotahitanga, and centred on shared responsibility to the taiao and future generations. This means we lead through relationships first: nurturing trust, honouring people and process, and making decisions collectively with humility, reciprocity, and care. We’re looking for people who value collaboration, collective accountability, and engaging across difference with respect.

Our application process is relational and designed to ensure mutual fit.

1. Submit a brief expression of interest
Submit a brief EOI and a CV sharing who you are, why this kaupapa resonates with you, and which role you’re interested in.

2. Initial whakawhanaungatanga kōrero (30 mins)
For those who appear to be a good fit, a relaxed conversation with 1–2 Board members to get to know each other, share more about the kaupapa, and explore alignment of values, experience, and capacity.

3. Follow-up hui (45–60 mins)
A deeper kōrero with the wider Board or a relevant subset, depending on the role 

4. Mutual decision and next steps
After a short reflection period, we reconnect to confirm mutual fit and ensure clarity about expectations, commitment, and the shared responsibility of the role.

We are reviewing expressions of interest on a rolling basis and aim to confirm appointments by the end of January 2026.