Congratulations to graduates of Ka Eke Poutama

MEDIA RELEASE: Thursday, 24 November 2016

Hāpai Te Hauora congratulates Te Whare Hukahuka and the graduates of Ka Eke Poutama

Tomorrow at 5.30pm (Friday 25th November 2016) the first cohort of the inaugural rangatahi into governance programme Ka Eke Poutama will graduate. The programme is facilitated by Te Whare Hukahuka with support from the Māori Womens Development Inc. Designed to offer pathways into governance for rangatahi across Aotearoa. The programme teaches best practice governance models with a kaupapa Māori. This approach challenges rangatahi to consider the fit between globally utilised business practices and Māori cultural frameworks. Participants represent iwi, hapū, Māori NGOs and businesses.

Co-founder of Te Whare Hukahuka Travis O’Keefe says the enthusiasm of partners for this unique programme reflects the increasing participation of Māori in governance roles, and the opportunities related to the growing Māori economy. “We are a young population. In 2015, half the Māori population was under 24 years of age, compared with a median age of 40 years for the non-Māori population. What we aim to do is to ensure these rangatahi are entering leadership roles in future with strong governance grounding while maintaining the integrity of kaupapa Māori practices”.

Hāpai Te Hauora General Manager for Māori Public Health, Anthony Hawke, says this is a significant milestone in the development of future Māori leaders. “Hāpai Te Hauora endorses this programme because we recognise the development of leadership capability in our rangatahi will have important benefits for Māori public health. This will take the form of increased capacity to engage in a meaningful way with local and central government, business and the broader public on behalf of our communities".

One of the programme’s participants, Eli Marino, has become a board member of Te Ora o Manukau, the South Auckland Māori community’s network. Eli stated “Because of this programme I have a better understanding of what it means to take on this role. Without it I wouldn’t have had the capability to work proactively with our communities to achieve the best possible outcomes. I hope to see the programme continue”.

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About Hāpai Te Hauora

Hāpai are national leaders in Public Health, Policy and Advocacy, Research and Evaluation and Infrastructure services.

Hāpai provide a strategic focus that is underpinned by evidence based research for the advancement of health and wellbeing for communities.

The Mission of Hāpai is to increase opportunities for Māori, and all others to enjoy good health and to be sustained by healthy environments.

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