Te Whare Hukahuka to build next generation

Thursday, 16 June 2016, 4:46 pm
Press Release: Te Whare Hukahuka

Te Whare Hukahuka to build next generation of Māori governance leaders

Education enterprise Te Whare Hukahuka is calling for applications for its governance development programme, aimed at fast-tracking the next generation of Māori business leaders into governance roles.

‘Ka Eke Poutama’, will run part-time over four months, and will help Māori rangatahi aged 23 to 35 years old prepare for governance roles, build confidence, and provide real governance experiences.

Te Whare Hukahuka co-founder Shay Wright says the goal of the programme is to equip young Māori with the skills needed to navigate the changing decision-making landscape for iwi organisations.

“Auckland is on the brink of Treaty settlements. Iwi in Auckland are wanting to ensure that they are planning ahead and growing their next generation of leaders who can confidently lead both business and community organisations,” Wright says.

“True success is looking out 3-5 years and having a cohort of smart and capable young Māori who can take up governance roles across Auckland.”

Te Whare Hukahuka in partnership with The Icehouse business growth hub have worked with more than 500 Māori leaders and emerging leaders from 90 organisations. One of these was Rotorua-based Waiteti Whenua Trust. Director of Waiteti Whenua Trust, Rawiri Bhana, was a participant on the governance and strategy programme in 2014, and says the Trust benefitted hugely from the guidance and networking opportunities from Te Whare Hukahuka.

“At that stage we were transitioning from being landlords into running a farming business ourselves, and we knew we needed to upskill ourselves as trustees,” he says.

“The training workshop, strategy support, mentoring and wrap-around support have provided a lot of benefits. Now we’ve got real clarity, a map, we’ve got instructions so we can move forward as a Trust - and we have done just that.”

‘Ka Eke Poutama’ was originally proposed by several Tāmaki iwi groups and has a number of supporting organisations, including Auckland Council’s Southern Initiative, central Government agencies and local Māori organisations.

Applications for the programme close on 29 June.

ENDS

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