Digital Storytelling for Entrepreneurs

Digital Storytelling for Entrepreneurs

Māori Development Minister Hon Te Ururoa Flavell helped celebrate the achievements of five Māori entrepreneurs in Manukau yesterday who are about to hone their digital marketing skills.

The entrepreneurs had all graduated from a Mai Biz course offered by Māori Women’s Development Inc., in partnership with Auckland Council (Te Waka Angamua), and been awarded scholarships to a KIWA SLAM™ workshop to create their own marketing app.

The KIWA SLAM™ is a unique learning programme for entrepreneurs that uses KIWA’s cutting edge technology to tell their business story. The entrepreneurs work with facilitators to story-board ideas, write content, source illustrations, design interactivity, and record narration in one or more languages; producing a high quality marketing app accessible to their customers through the App Store.

The accelerated development of the company’s “voice” by the founder provides a unique opportunity to create brand and positioning, and gives the entrepreneur a platform on which to develop and grow their business idea.

In celebrating their achievements, Mr Flavell said, “There is nothing more inspiring and uplifting than to celebrate Māori success and innovation.”

He said the leadership of Māori Women’s Development Inc., with the support of Te Puni Kōkiri and Auckland Council, and collaboration of KIWA, “has created a real buzz that is a powerful catalyst for success”.

“KIWA itself is an excellent example of how Māori business can expand and export its goods and its services overseas. While most Māori wealth is currently concentrated in the primary sectors, it’s in areas like ICT where there is huge potential for Māori people and the national economy to grow. “

The scholarship winners presented with iPADS by Mr Flavell are:

Tamara Rachael Wharerau - Tamara Star
Robyn Manuel - Hike Bike AKO Waiheke Island
Dawn Wihongi - Professional Horticulture and Landscaping Solutions
Mischell’e Tohu - Tohu Ora
Howard Winiata - Hawkes Bay Water
The KIWA SLAM™ programme for entrepreneurs has been run in a series of workshops for Māori Women’s Development Inc, including the workshop in Manukau and a national rollout of the programme is planned.

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