Manawatū Whānau Set to Thrive with Enterprise Programme

Wednesday, 10 February 2016, 11:58 am
Press Release: Akina Foundation

Manawatū Whānau Set to Thrive with Social Enterprise Programme

“Kia Puāwai Te Pitomata – Growing Potential to Fruition”

A new social enterprise development programme designed to help people with ideas to benefit Manawatū whānau, hapū and iwi kicks off tomorrow (Thursday 11 February).

Te Tihi o Ruahine, a Whānau Ora Alliance of eight iwi, hapū and Māori organisations, has joined forces with Ākina Foundation to offer the five-month Thrive Manawatū programme “Kia Puāwai te Pitomata – Growing Potential to Fruition”, supported by New Zealand Post and Kiwibank.

Ākina CEO Alex Hannant said the partnership was about developing the capability of future social entrepreneurs.

“Social enterprise is business for good – it’s business with a social purpose at its heart. Partnering with a Whānau Ora Alliance makes sense because we can use the power of business to bring about sustainable social change,” he said.

Central PHO Director of Māori Health and Te Tihi Implementation Manager Materoa Mar said the Te Tihi o Ruahine team was excited about offering this journey to whānau to benefit Māori in the wider community.

“There are talented and passionate people in the Manawatū, Tararua and Horowhenua areas and, with the right support and opportunity, they can make a positive difference in our communities,” said Mrs Mar.

Mr Hannant said the Thrive programme had recently been run in the Far North in partnership with the Far North District Council. He said New Zealand Post Group’s support meant Ākina could expand their regional efforts and would be developing social enterprise hubs, alongside local partners, to deliver capability building, innovation process and development support.

He said the 14 Thrive Manawatū “Kia Puāwai te Pitomata – Growing Potential to Fruition” participants will enhance their skills in creating a community social enterprise. “Thrive helps people develop their personal and business skills as well as test their ideas using social business models. The beauty of Thrive is it delivers not just solutions but builds capability and confidence in communities, with the ripples felt widely regardless of when specific social enterprises result,” said Mr Hannant.

Mrs Mar said the theme of this programme was about supporting helping whānau to thrive, which was reflected in the programme title “Kia Puāwai te Pitomata – Growing Potential to Fruition”. It was expected to benefit both successful applicants and the wider community.

The pōwhiri opening the programme starts at 9am at Whakapai Hauora Marae, 140-148 Maxwells Line.

ENDS

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