Top Māori tech entrepreneur joins ATEED Board

One of New Zealand’s most dynamic tech entrepreneurs and leading strategists on Māori economic development, Mike Taitoko, has been appointed as a director of Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) – the region’s economic growth agency.

Of Ngati Maniapoto descent, Mr Taitoko will join the seven-strong ATEED Board on 1 November and replace Richard Jeffery, who has been a director since 2010, the organisation’s first year of operation.

Mr Taitoko is the co-founder and Managing Director of Waiora Pacific, a technology company commercialising geospatial internet-based analytics services, and the founder of his previous company, Tuia Consulting – a professional advisory firm focusing on the commercial growth and economic development of the Māori economy – which has seen him become a trusted advisor to central and local government agencies.

He is also a director of a number of businesses and organisations including Mercury (NZ) Ltd (was Mighty River Power), Cognition Education, and The Committee for Auckland; an advisory board member of Massey University School of Business; and was formerly a director of Industrial Research Ltd (which became government agency Callaghan Innovation).

ATEED Board Chair David McConnell says: “Mike’s outstanding skills, experience and great connections will help boost our delivery of a major priority for Auckland – to unlock the potential of Tāmaki Makaurau’s Māori economy.

“Sir Pita Sharples has already made an outstanding contribution since he became the Board’s strategic advisor on our Māori responsiveness, and I’m looking forward to Mike combining with Sir Pita to form a powerful, highly respected, force towards this crucial aspect of our region’s economic transformation.”

Mr McConnell says Mr Taitoko’s digital technology application expertise will also add to the Board’s already strong capability to identify strategic opportunities in one of the globally competitive advanced industries fuelling the region’s emergence as an Asia-Pacific innovation hub.

Mike Taitoko says: “My roles with various organisations have led to a number of touch points with ATEED’s excellent work. I’m looking forward to bringing my passion for the Māori sector, technology and innovation that will help to drive Auckland’s economic growth to the ATEED Board.

“I’m also looking forward to working with the other directors to identify opportunities to deliver new opportunities for all Aucklanders in today’s global economy.”

In the same round of council-controlled organisation board appointments announced by Mayor Len Brown, Danny Chan and Helen Robinson were re-appointed to the ATEED Board for three-year terms, and Franceska Banga and Deputy Chair Norm Thompson re-appointed for one-year terms.

For more information about ATEED’s leadership visit www.aucklandnz.com/ateed/leadership.

ENDS

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