Unlocking Maori potential

Awhina August will fill her new role as Kaihautu Ohanga Maori (Bay of Plenty Maori Economic Development Navigator). Supplied photo.

Fostering the Bay of Plenty's Maori economy by unlocking the potential of the emerging Māori workforce is a key focus of Awhina August's new role as Kaihautu Ohanga Maori.

Awhina of Ngati Ranginui, Ngai Te Rangi, Ngati Rangiwewehi and Te Whanau a Apanui iwi affliations, will play a key role in the implementation of the Bay of Plenty's He Mauri Ohooho Maori economic development action plan, part of the Bay of Plenty Regional Growth Study.

He Mauri Ohooho co-lead Te Horipo Karaitiana says Awhina's role will focus initially on supporting Māori education and skills initiatives.

She will also connect investment opportunities already identified by He Mauri Ohooho over the last two years and enable better coordination of regional initiatives to help build awareness of what's working well across sectors, to achieve better outcomes for Maori.

'The Kaihautu Ohanga Maori role will help to advance projects focused on our Maori ecosystems including horticulture, Maori land utilisation and water,” says Te Horipo.

Over 40,000 new jobs are expected in the region by 2050 and He Mauri Ohooho say it is essential that young people are prepared.

'To meet workforce demand we need to connect young people to pathways that improve skills and opportunities into jobs.

'A collaborative approach is needed and ‘He Rangatahi, He Anamata' – a call to action encourages collaboration across the Bay's industries, education sector, local Iwi and Maori organisations to build pathways into meaningful opportunities for Maori youth,” says Te Horipo.

Awhina August says she is passionate about seeing Maori succeed and brings her significant experience in business and community leadership to the role.

She has spent the last three years establishing key relationships with iwi, local and national government agencies, tertiary providers, schools and community partners.

Her recent major projects include the Mataatua me Takitimu ki Tauranga Secondary Schools Kapa Haka Regionals called Te Haka a Toi 2017, The Bay of Plenty Regional Council's Maori Capability Conference – Te Oniao 2016 and the National Maori Housing Conference 2016.

The Kaihautu Ohanga Maori (Bay of Plenty Maori Economic Development Navigator), has been funded in partnership between Bay of Connections, the region-wide economic development strategy, Te Puni Kokiri and Priority One.

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6 comments

Wow

Posted on 15-10-2017 13:48 | By Papamoaner

What a lovely woman, and oozing intellect. Were I forty or even fifty years younger, I would be down there grovelling on my knees. Dammit, there;s no justice in old age.


Cooking pot mentality?

Posted on 15-10-2017 17:23 | By MISS ADVENTURE

About time to blow the dust off it would seem?


Whiskey

Posted on 15-10-2017 17:24 | By MISS ADVENTURE

Does what it does, mate you are as young as the woman you feel ...


Steptoe

Posted on 15-10-2017 19:53 | By maildrop

I'm sure she will be thrilled that all her hard work gaining qualifications, experience and respect from peers has an old man dribbling onto his keyboard.


what about....

Posted on 15-10-2017 23:12 | By Captain Sensible

.........and what about us insignificant second class kiwis guilty of the very NZ crime of being born with no maori blood?


Second class comments from second class

Posted on 16-10-2017 12:04 | By R. Bell

people. Missy and the cap'n show their ignorance yet again. Well done Awhina you are the face of the future. You have more brains than the two losers here put together, better looking too, or is that not p.c. anymore. Robin Bell.


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