Toi Kai Rawa

PAKIHI ORA We ignite Māori Business networks to take advantage of high value progressive procurement opportunities. We're fired up and ready to roll! The Toi Kai Rawa Team is back in action and fully accounted for. This year, our focus is on collaborating with shareholders as we awaken, weave, and incubate innovative solutions, sparking life into Māori economies throughout the wider Bay of Plenty region. Exciting times ahead e hoa mā! #PakihiOra #MaoriBusiness #maoribusinessnetwork #networking #business #toikairawa #tkr #maori #maorieconomicdevelopment #bayofplenty #bop #aotearoa #nz #newzealand

Recently, we hosted the Rangatahi Ora Ki Murupara team from Te Ika Whenua Counselling Services, a dedicated and passionate organisation doing amazing mahi to support rangatahi in Murupara, through targeted workshops approach focused on fostering essential life skills towards career readiness, tauira develop their hauora and capability with a diverse range of interactive and reflective activities, through a Te Ao Māori lens. Actively working with up to 50 rangatahi between the ages of 10-24, Te Ika Whenua aim to be highly responsive to the unique needs of their youth to unlock their full potential. This calls for an innovative approach to reconnecting rangatahi to their tūrangawaewae, building identity, and re-engaging young people into meaningful education and well-being support services. Our ongoing collaboration aims to support Te Ika Whenua’s efforts by providing career guidance and creating pathways into emerging and thriving STEAM sectors. We're excited to continue strengthening our relationship and contribute to the incredible mahi they’re doing in the community. Karawhiua!

Mauri Ora Last week, Toi Kai Rawa was proud to support the second Mana Wāhine Event in Tauranga Moana. With attendances from Tauranga Girls' College, Mount Maunganui College, Te Wharekura o Mauao, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Otepou, Ōtūmoetai College and Otumoetai Intermediate, we celebrated Mana Wāhine and empowering the next generation. Our guest speakers, Kiri Allan, Ria Hall and Michelle Clarke, all affiliated with Tauranga Moana, shared their experiences that have influenced them into becoming the wāhine they are today. The session also included a panel of rangatahi who joined the conversation on a range of topics, including cell phones in school and what they would say as adults to their younger selves or in the case of our rangatahi, what they would say to their kuia Kiritapu reflected on her upbringing and the influential figures who shaped her, including her namesake. She emphasized the importance of knowing your worth and believing that you can ‘exceed the limitations society places on you’. Michelle discussed her unique upbringing in Tauranga Moana, the challenges she faced and overcame, and her experiences with Imposter Syndrome. She explained how she shifted her mindset, realizing that the imposter was the 'try hard' persona she thought she needed to be as a young person, and emphasized the importance of being proud of your authentic self. Ria, returning to her old stomping ground of Tauranga Girls College, fondly reflected back on her memories of being in the hallowed halls again. Her message was to ‘back yourself and lean into the fear’, ‘do what needs to be done’ and make sure you ‘have your strong network of trusted advisors’ around you. A big mihi to our stunning and inspiring guest speakers! We look forward to bringing more of these empowering kaupapa to the rohe!

Nau mai haere mai! Our Toi Ki Tua programme is BACK for 2024-2025! Employer expression of interest is open, click the following link (https://lnkd.in/gBD7s6gf) to register now, or alternatively get in contact with our Programme Lead Katie Hungerford for more info. Registrations close 31st July, get in quick! Ka mau te wehi!

Karawhiua! Last Friday our Operations Manager Jay Tihema attended this amazing kaupapa on Toi Kai Rawa's behalf with Stand Tall Community Trust. We were extremely active with the tauira of Te Puke High School with STEM activities throughout the day. We thank Pascale Hyboud-Peron for the collaboration, we look forward to working together again in the near future!

Pakihi Ora - "Māori Business is Whānau Business!" This core belief drives our Chief Executive, who was invited to the recent Te Hekenga National Conference in Tauranga Moana to join a panel of Māori business networks from across Aotearoa, sharing insights on their contributions to local economies. Panelists discussed their motivations for involvement, highlighting the significant impact of their MBNs, and shared examples of how Māori businesses differ from other organisations. Beyond funding, participants identified additional support MBNs need to thrive and effectively contribute to their communities and economy. As AI shapes the future of work and business, networks shared how they are integrating Māori Intelligence (MI) and disruptive technology. Insights were also provided on how impact is being measured, both commercially and holistically. Members reflected on their most successful networking events and offered valuable advice to regions looking to establish their own networks. They discussed the impact of the economic downturn and highlighted that although times are tough for many in our communities, to continue being courageous, and resilient and have a plan. The discussion emphasised the opportunity to focus on how we can better collectivise for greater impact and gave an example of how we might turn the Māori dollar around starting internally and leveraging the influential roles each of us holds with iwi, hapū, land trusts, other pakihi and more. A huge mihi goes out to Jacqui Rolleston-Steed and the Mana Taiao team for delivering another successful national event in our region and we look forward to supporting the next one to be held in Te Whanganui a Tara in 2025. #MBNImpact #Pakihi #Māoribusiness #Innovation #Māorieconomy #PakihiOra #MaoriBusiness #maoribusinessnetwork #networking #business #toikairawa #tkr #maori #maorieconomicdevelopment #bayofplenty #bop #aotearoa #nz #newzealand

Mauri Ora - Toi Kai Rawa recently collaborated with JNP Aviation to offer a profound cultural experience, with workforce flare, tailored especially for their cadets. With a mutual commitment to strengthening connections with mana whenua and nurturing cultural appreciation, our partnership facilitated an authentic journey into the rich tapestry of the area surrounding their headquarters. Supported by our marae community, we curated a bespoke programme, featuring a Noho Marae, where participants immersed themselves in local narratives, traditions, and the historical significance of the Airport. Crafting tailored Māori solutions with a focus on workforce development is a specialty of Toi Kai Rawa. We are privileged to support JNP Aviation's impactful efforts in creating meaningful pathways for Māori and Pacific communities across Aotearoa. Looking forward to witnessing the continued success of their cadets! #CulturalExploration #CommunityCollaboration #IndigenousHeritage #MāoriPathways #Mauri #MauriOra #PakihiOra #TangataOra #WhenuaOra #toikairawa #tkr #maori #maorieconomicdevelopment #bayofplenty #bop #aotearoa #nz #newzealand

Pakihi Ora - Our Regional Māori Business Coordinator Mere Kawha hosted another Pakihi Māori event in Ōpōtiki last Monday to connect, share and learn about services available to support Pakihi Māori in the region to thrive. Creating platforms that connect, engage and foster the conditions for Pakihi to grow and thrive is what Toi Kai Rawa is seeking to do! We'd like to acknowledge our gracious hosts Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board, Ria Brosnan and Paora Brosnan (Tuauri Indigenous Consultants), Awhina Kurei (Ira Vision Media Ltd.), Kelsey Jones (Te Puni Kōkiri) and SBNZ - Small Business New Zealand for their continued support in providing access to an online portal where members can go to solve any issue their business is facing. SBNZ saves business owners time looking for the right template, resource or expert while minimising the isolation that many small business owners feel. Looking forward to hosting another amazing Pakihi event in the near future! #PakihiOra #MaoriBusiness #maoribusinessnetwork #networking #business #toikairawa #tkr #maori #maorieconomicdevelopment #bayofplenty #bop #aotearoa #nz #newzealand

Tangata Ora Last week we held our latest Hihiko STEAM Innovation Day (led by our programme lead Te Whetumarama Peipi) in the Eastern Bay, hosted once again at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi in Whakatāne. Showcasing innovation in areas of science, tech, engineering, environment, arts, maths and Matauranga Māori, we were fortunate to have a host of amazing providers and role models on board to inspire the next generation of leaders in STEAM sectors. As part of our growing Vocational Workforce initiative in the region (led by Vocational Workforce Lead aroha kopae), this year’s instalment primarily focused on career pathways for secondary school tauira, learning more about opportunities in STEAM and the skills, mindset and motivation needed to attain them. With Whakatāne, Trident and Tarawera High Schools in attendance, the future looks bright for aspiring Māori innovators throughout the rohe. A heartfelt shout-out to all our amazing supporters and contributors on the day – on to the next one! 🔹Sarah Copeland – Kahui Ako 🔹Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi 🔹Korehāhā Whakahau 🔹Rongoanuku 🔹Stand Tall Community Trust 🔹Pascale Hyboud-Peron 🔹Sequal 🔹Elizabeth Kulasingham 🔹Wai Mānuka 🔹Pohoira Iopata 🔹Nikora Heitia 🔹Apenti Eruera Tamanui-Fransen 🔹Michaela Fenech 🔹Zion Nicholas 🔹Pukeko Caterers #STEAMInnovationDay #awanuiarangi #whakatane #hihiko #STEAM #STEM #STEAMpathways #science #technology #engineering #arts #mathematics #maori #matauranga #rangatahi #aotearoa #newzealand #nz #TechMentoring #MāoriInTech

Ka mau te wehi! We'd like to congratulate our friends at Envico Technologies on their massively successful weekend, winning at the NZ Hi-Tech Awards (Hi-Tech Kamupene Māori o te Tau - The Māori Hi-Tech Company of the Year Award) and also winning at the 2024 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards (2024 Award for Innovation in Sustainability - Gold). Envico Technologies, based in Mount Maunganui, stands as a pioneer in conservation technology. Pioneering innovative solutions using drones and automated systems for environmental protection. Their global projects include invasive species control, native afforestation via seed pods, and ground control devices for vertebrate pests. CEO Cameron Baker attributes much of the company’s international success to its identity as a fundamentally Māori company - an attribute that especially appeals to the world’s indigenous communities, he says. “Being able to take a Māori core set of values overseas has been a huge enabler for us. Everybody wants the same outcome, everybody wants biodiversity gain, everybody wants to protect their native species or their taonga. This past summer, we were privileged to have Envico Technologies on board as one of our Toi Ki Tua Māori Internship Programme employers, hosting one of our awesome tauira, Oliver Dansey-Rasmussen, a fourth-year Law and Economics student. Oli was lucky enough to learn all about Envico Technologies as he helped Cam and the team to build an Information Memorandum for the Seedpod Programme. We're proud to be partnered with such an amazing Māori company! Reheko!