Manager Major Events

Discover a career with purpose at MBIE

•    An exciting leadership position as Manager, New Zealand Major Events
•    A unique opportunity to lead the team responsible for identifying, securing and supporting the delivery of major events in New Zealand
•    Can you establish trusted relationships with senior leaders across the events sector, regional and central government, including Ministers?
•    Are you a problem solver extraordinaire? 
•    The role is ideally Wellington based but can be based elsewhere in New Zealand.
•    Salary: $164,957 - $247,435 + wellness benefits

Tēnei tūranga - About the Role:

The Minister for Tourism and Hospitality recently announced a significant increase to Government investment in the events sector, making this a really exciting time to join us.

We are looking for a new permanent Manager to lead the team responsible for New Zealand Major Events and deliver this new package of investment alongside the enduring Major Events Fund work programme. This is an exciting opportunity for someone with significant leadership nous and an ability to build trusted relationships quickly, including at senior levels in the sector and with Ministers.

The Major Events team is the lead central government entity for event activity in New Zealand. It acts as an advisor to Ministers on aligning events to government objectives, links the events sector with the operational and leverage arms of government, invests in events to achieve outcomes that align with government priorities, and partners with other event stakeholders to attract, deliver and leverage major events.

The work of the Major Events team is varied, dynamic and fast-paced, and the Manager will need to quickly build positive relationships with the events sector, Ministers and other Government agencies.

If you are passionate about the events sector, have a can-do problem solving attitude, bring broad leadership experience, political nous and an ability to build trusted relationships at senior levels, we want to hear from you.
 
About the team:
This is a dynamic team that sits within the Tourism and Hospitality Branch at MBIE. 

The New Zealand Major Events team has a whole-of-government role identifying, securing, coordinating, funding and delivering major events for New Zealand.  It proactively prospects for events and develop bids alongside other central agencies, regions and national organisations e.g. Sport New Zealand, a relevant national sporting organisation, and the host city.

Funding for events is generally provided through a contestable Major Events Fund (of circa $60m), which this team administers and manages.  The relationship with the events supported is on-going, and usually includes leverage activity from other parts of government such as Tourism New Zealand, Invest New Zealand or Sport New Zealand.  Events the team are currently working on include T20 Cricket World Cup 2028, Women's British & Irish Lions Tour and The Ocean Race.

Alongside the enduring Major Events Fund work, the Major Events team are delivering the recently announced Events Boost Fund and Events Attraction Package, an additional $50m of funding to further enhance and diversify the mix of events supported by the Crown.

For larger events the team administers the Major Events Management Act, from the process to be declared a major event through to enforcement. 

Ngā pukenga me ngā wheako e hiahiatia ana -

Skills and Experience Required

A proven track record of experience and achievement in:

• Leading a team in a medium to large public sector or business organisation.
• Demonstrated understanding of events management and planning - desirably in a public sector environment.
• Discerning judgement in the face of ambiguity/uncertainty.
• Social deftness to influence internal and external stakeholders, earn their respect and take them with you.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with Ministers, the wider public sector and stakeholders.
• Capacity to deal with conflict and opposition.
• Capable of developing alternative pathways to achieving desired outcomes.
• Ideally extensive working knowledge of public sector processes.
• Self-motivation and persistence in challenging existing frameworks and pushing hard issues.

Applicants must have the ability to obtain and maintain a Secret Security Clearance. Check your eligibility here

Ētahi kōrero mō MBIE - About MBIE:

MBIE's goal is to create a resilient and high-performing economy that delivers real and ongoing quality of life for all New Zealanders.

We do this by working with others to create an environment that supports businesses to be more productive and internationally competitive, enables all New Zealanders to participate in the economy through improved job opportunities and by working to ensure quality housing is more affordable.

People are at the heart of our mahi, our way of working is guided by our values which shape our behaviours.

• Mahi Tahi – Better Together
• Māia – Bold and brave
• Pae Kahurangi – Build our Future
• Pono Me Te Tika – Own It

Our aspirations are echoed in our Māori identity – Hīkina Whakatutuki – which broadly means ‘lifting to make successful'.

MBIE recognises the partnership founded under Te Tiriti o Waitangi between Māori and the Crown and is committed to giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We will do this through enduring, meaningful and effective partnerships with iwi, Māori, other Māori groups/organisations and the Crown, as this is critical to enable economic and social development, both for Māori and for wider Aotearoa New Zealand. We are committed to continuing to partner with iwi in order to find new sustainable solutions to address long standing systemic and cross-cutting issues facing Māori and wider Aotearoa New Zealand and we are also committed to identifying opportunities for iwi to lead and creating an enabling environment for iwi to leverage these opportunities.

E mōhio ana a Hīkina Whakatutuki i puea ake te kōtuinga I waenganui i a ngāi Māori me te Karauna i Te Tiriti o Waitangi, ā, kei te whai ia ki te whakaū ake i Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Mā te whai kiko o ngā kōtuinga ahungaroa o ngāi wi, o ngāi Māori, me ētahi atu rōpū Māori ki te Karauna, katutuki tēnei. He āhuatanga nui tēnei e āhei ai ngā mahi whanaketanga ā-ohanga, ā-pāpori hoki ki a ngāi Māori me Aotearoa whānui. E whai tonu ana mātou ki te kōtui atu ki ngā iwi mō te rapu huarahi hou ki te whakaara i ngā kaupapakua roa nei e tāmi ana i a ngāi Māori me Aotearoa whānui, ā, e whai ana hoki ki te tautohu i ngā āheinga kōkiritanga mā ngā iwi, me te tautoko i ngā iwi kia whai mana ake ai ēnei āheinga.

Me pēhea te tono - How to Apply:

Click here to view a position description. 

When you are ready to apply please submit your CV and cover letter via our online process telling us why you're the perfect fit for this role.

All applications must be submitted via our online process. We can't wait to hear from you!

Email Fati Tagata at fati.tagata@mbie.govt.nz quoting ref MBIE/18422 if you have any further questions.

Applications close on Thursday 16 October 2025.