Excellent response from Māori innovators to new award

Excellent response from Māori innovators to new award

The new Māori innovation category at the 2016 Hi-Tech Awards has attracted a high number of entries, with 22 Māori organisations putting themselves forward.

The Hi-Tech Awards highlight the increasingly important contribution New Zealand’s innovative technology companies make to our economy.

Callaghan Innovation has supported the Hi-Tech Awards since its creation in 2013. It works with many of the high tech companies featured in the awards.

This year Callaghan Innovation has helped create a category to recognise Māori commercial innovation.

“We were expecting to get about 10 entries for this new category, so to get 22 is excellent,” says Hi-Tech Trust chair Wayne Norrie.

Hemi Rolleston, Callaghan Innovation’s General Manager Māori Economy says the number of entries reflects the increasing amount of innovation Māori businesses and other organisations are doing.

“Māori are embracing high tech innovation, as are many businesses in New Zealand. Callaghan Innovation is here to help them succeed.”

“Innovation is critical to New Zealand’s economic future, including for Māori. With their asset base and the opportunities technology is creating or amplifying, Māori have huge potential to succeed through innovation.”

ENDS

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