What if learning wasn't something that happened in classrooms, but something woven through community, ecology, wellbeing and everyday life?
At the Learning Environment we're cultivating a different kind of learning system; one that is place-based, community-led, rooted in Te Ao Māori, and designed to help communities thrive in an uncertain future.
We're looking for an Akoranga Manager to lead our Akoranga Team and help grow this vision. This is a permanent role of initially 24 hours per week with the possibility to grow, commencing in October/ November 2026.
The Learning Environment is a place-based, community-led organisation cultivating an integrated model for learning, wellbeing, and regeneration. Based at Pīwaiwaka Farm, a 178-acre (72ha) regenerating farm-forest and community hub on the banks of the Whanganui River, our work exists to nurture a different way of learning and relating that is rooted in place, shaped by community, and responsive to the interconnected challenges of our time.
We believe the greatest challenges facing our communities are interconnected, so the solutions must be too. Rather than treating learning, wellbeing and ecology as separate systems, we're weaving them together into an integrated model that strengthens both people and place.
Our work spans three interconnected focus areas:
Hauora (Wellbeing)
Therapeutic services that build resilience, connection, and healing. Services that are grounded in relationship with place and community.
Akoranga (Learning)
Place-based education, youth empowerment, and community capability building. Growing the skills needed to navigate uncertain futures.
Taiao (Ecology)
Ecological restoration, native plant propagation, food sovereignty, and regenerative land stewardship. Restoration that is informed by the aspirations of community and the history of place.
Together, these create opportunities for tamariki, rangatahi, whānau and community to reconnect with whenua, build capability, strengthen wellbeing and actively participate in creating more hopeful and regenerative futures.
The Akoranga Team is the learning heart of our organisation. Rather than delivering isolated programmes, we are cultivating an interconnected learning ecosystem where people can enter through many different pathways and continue learning across different stages of life. From school holiday programmes and rangatahi leadership initiatives to NZQA pathways, community workshops, volunteering and events, we create learning experiences that connect people with place, purpose and each other.
As Akoranga Manager, you won't simply oversee programmes; you'll help grow and strengthen an emerging model of place-based learning. You'll support and grow a passionate team of educators, ensure learning programmes are well coordinated and well supported, build strong community partnerships, and strengthen the systems and learning pathways that hold everything together.
Alongside this practical leadership, you'll contribute to the ongoing development of Akoranga by identifying opportunities for improvement, strengthening relationships and learning pathways, and helping our place-based learning ecosystem continue to evolve.
This role is for someone who enjoys leading people and growing ideas. Someone who is excited by the possibility of reimagining education, and equally energised by supporting a team, improving systems, nurturing partnerships, and helping shape what learning can become. Together we're exploring learning that is grounded in relationships, whenua, community and hope; creating real-world examples of alternative futures already being lived today.
Lead one of Aotearoa's emerging models of integrated, place-based learning.
Support and grow a passionate team of educators, facilitators and volunteers.
Strengthen learning pathways that connect people across different stages of life.
Help evolve an innovative learning ecosystem grounded in relationships, whenua and community.
Contribute to an organisation with genuine long-term aspirations for systems change and regenerative futures.
Believes learning can be a catalyst for community transformation.
Enjoys leading people while continually improving the systems that support them.
Enjoys creating things that don't yet fully exist.
Can balance strategic vision with practical implementation.
Values relationships before systems, builds strong, trusting relationships and enjoys working collaboratively.
Is comfortable working in evolving environments where reflection, experimentation and adaptation are part of everyday practice.
Sees complexity as an opportunity for creativity rather than a barrier to progress.
Is hopeful about the future and motivated to help create it.
Demonstrated bicultural competence, including an understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and appreciation of Te Ao Māori.
Experience leading learning, education, youth development, or community initiatives.
Demonstrated ability to lead, support and grow people and teams.
Strong programme design, coordination and organisational skills.
Excellent relationship-building skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across diverse communities and partners.
Experience managing projects, budgets and reporting.
Confidence working in evolving environments where innovation, reflection and adaptation are part of the process.
Experience with place-based, outdoor, regenerative or alternative education.
Familiarity with NZQA, Trades Academy or other alternative learning pathways.
Experience supporting rangatahi wellbeing and pastoral care.
Experience with funding applications, evaluation or impact storytelling.
Connections to Whanganui and an understanding of local communities and tikanga.
A values-led team that believes relationships come before hierarchy.
Space to learn, reflect, experiment and grow.
Opportunities to work at the intersection of learning, wellbeing and ecological restoration.
Fresh spray-free produce from our māra kai.
Access to workshops, wānanga and community events.
Flexible ways of working within a supportive team.
The opportunity to contribute to meaningful systems change in Whanganui and beyond.
Applications close Sunday 6th September 2026.
Please send a CV and cover letter to Ness Radich at info@learningenvironment.nz.
We look forward to your application!
A place-based community-led organisation cultivating an integrated model for learning, wellbeing, and regeneration.