Kia ora!
This is a fantastic opportunity to join Air New Zealand’s senior leadership team leading the airline’s government, regulatory and regional team.
As Corporate Affairs Lead – Government & Regional Affairs (Head of), you will be responsible for many of the airline’s most critical relationships. You will lead the work to maintain and strengthen those relationships, build deeper and mutually beneficial engagement, and support the airline’s long-term commercial and strategic success.
You will work closely with the Executive, Board, and senior leaders across the business. You will be responsible for ensuring an integrated Government and Regional Affairs strategy that supports the company's priorities as well as New Zealand’s national interest. You will internally advocate for decisions that support the airline’s social licence to operate, including decisions that lead to good community outcomes, and a resilient and sustainable future.
The role involves:
- Developing and delivering Air New Zealand’s Government, Regulatory and Regional Affairs strategies, aligned with the airline’s priorities and with the aim of delivering long-term value for the business, and New Zealand as a whole.
- Building and sustaining trusted relationships with Members of Parliament, officials, regulators, local government and regional stakeholders.
- Lead advocacy on legislation, regulation and public policy, partnering with teams across the airline including Legal, Sustainability, Finance, Networks and Operational Integrity and Safety.
- Providing advice on government policy, including risks and opportunities.
- Leading regional engagement with local government, industry, and business leaders across regional New Zealand.
- Supporting the Executive and Board with government, regional and regulatory affairs.
- Building a strong, high performing and positive culture in your own team, as well as across the wider Corporate Affairs team.
What we’re looking for
- Demonstrated success in senior government relations, regional affairs and/or public policy roles within complex, highly regulated environments.
- Deep political acumen with proven ability to engage and influence Ministers, senior officials and diverse stakeholders with credibility and trust.
- Experience working within, or closely alongside, Parliamentary or political systems, with a strong understanding of government processes and decision making.
- Proven capability in anticipating, assessing and managing political, regulatory and reputational risk in fast moving and ambiguous contexts.
- Strong strategic thinking and commercial judgment, with experience shaping policy positions that balance competing interests.
- Highly collaborative leadership style, with the ability to influence cross functionally without direct authority.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication, negotiation and advocacy skills.
- University degree in relevant discipline, or equivalent experience.
If you’re motivated to help shape the future of aviation in New Zealand and beyond, this is your chance to take a seat at the table. Join Air New Zealand and help build enduring relationships that enable our airline, our communities and our country to thrive.
Applications close 8th February 2026.
Please note while we will deliver an outcome to all applications, due to the high volume of applications we will only organise conversations with shortlisted candidates.
Additional Information
At Air New Zealand, we are proudly committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and believe in creating a truly inclusive workplace where everyone can be themselves and thrive. Our people are our greatest asset – because while everything else we do in our operation can be replicated by our competitors, it is our people that truly set us apart. We are firm believers in celebrating the differences and diversity of thought our people bring to their roles. We encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds, including those with a disability, additional health and mental health needs, and/or are neurodiverse to apply for our roles.
If you have encountered any accessibility barriers and require further information or reasonable accommodations to our recruitment process, please reach out to the recruiter listed on this job advert so they are able to support you to freely participate equitably in our recruitment and selection process.
Whāia te pae tawhiti kia tata. Ko te pae tata whakamaua, kia tina.
"Seek to bring distant horizons closer. Once near, seize them and make them your reality."
