New Māori Enterprise Internships to grow future Māori leaders to lift the Māori economy

A new Hikohiko Te Uira - Māori Enterprise Internship programme set up to support young Māori leaders will help support Māori business growth and New Zealand’s economy.

The pilot programme is a joint initiative supported by the Federation of Māori Authorities, the Crown Research Institute - Industrial Research Ltd (IRL), and the University of Otago.

Federation Chief Executive TeHoripo Karaitiana says: “With the growing Māori economy valued at $37 billion, the Federation of Māori Authorities is developing the next generation of leaders to manage our businesses and lead our organisations into the future.”

Many among the Federation’s 130 iwi and Māori business membership, have identified science and innovation as an important part of their growth strategies and so working with the New Zealand science and innovation system and with Government agencies to develop their assets is seen as important, says Mr Karaitiana.

Traci Houpapa, Chairman of the Federation of Māori Authorities says: “We often say our most important asset is our people. I am pleased that this programme which will be piloted this coming summer will bring together science and innovation, iwi and Māori business and Government to grow rangatahi (young talent) so they are well positioned to support Māori business growth that will benefit all New Zealand.”

Three students working as a team will be hosted by Industrial Research where they will work with science and commercialisation teams before heading out to work in several of our Federation member trusts and incorporations to experience the day to day running of a Māori enterprise.

As part of this pilot programme, the team of students will meet with key Government agencies involved in science and innovation and economic development to get a sense of the macro picture of Māori development. During the programme, the students will be supported by their academic mentors at Otago University as they undertake this programme.

In the long term, the Federation hopes the internships will provide the participants with some sense of the challenges of working in this complex environment and help develop smart minds and rich talent that can begin to bridge the worlds of Māori business with science and innovation and with Government.

At the end of the pilot programme the students will present their findings to science organisations, iwi and Māori businesses and to Government agencies with recommendations as to how this type of internships could be fostered in the future.

“This is an excellent opportunity to lift the development, productivity and performance of our Māori asset base by developing smart talent that will be the future connectors and facilitators to develop the Māori economy” says Ms Houpapa.

ENDS

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