2 minute read
Creating pathways to the future
By sponsoring Ko Māui Hangarau, a for rangatahi Māori by Māori tech event, Parininihi ki Waitotara is making sure that young Taranaki Māori are ready for the future.
The event was held to help create pathways for rangatahi Māori to get into careers within the technology and innovation sectors with a foundation based on tikanga Māori.
Mitchell Ritai, General Manager Shareholder Engagement, says that PKW got behind Ko Māui Hangarau because it saw a chance to engage the leaders of the future in something new.
“We saw an opportunity to expose rangatahi to a topic they might not get in a normal school curriculum. And at PKW we are really aware of the need to embrace technology and innovation,” says Mitchell.
Above: Morgana Watson of MW Consultancy (Te Atiawa, Taranaki Nui Tonu, Te Atihaunui a Pāpārangi and Ngāpuhi)
The event was led by Morgana Watson of MW Consultancy who hails from Te Atiawa, Taranaki Nui Tonu, Te Atihaunui a Pāpārangi and Ngāpuhi.
A stellar line up of Māori entrepreneurs was brought in to speak to about 100 senior Māori students from high schools around Taranaki at both events held in Waitara and Hāwera in July this year.
“The rangatahi were quiet throughout all the kōrero from the guest speakers which is really unusual, so that’s an indication that the subject really interested them,” says Morgana.
Māori entrepreneurs Vincent Egan and Jordan Tuhura from Māui Studios in Christchurch showed the rangatahi their creation of graphic novels.
“Vincent is a Taranaki whānau from Ngāti Ruanui. He and Jordan blew the rangatahi away with their creation of graphic novels that use augmented reality – books on devices that talk using both sound and visuals. Their creation takes reading and storytelling to a whole new level,” says Morgana.
Lee Timutimu from Arataki Systems in Tauranga presented his creation of the Cultural Trails app which tells stories about a place on location, also using augmented reality.
“Lee has created an amazing app for people who are visiting places and want to find out, on location, the stories about that place. He is still building up the stories but it is available in Tauranga when visiting Mauao maunga.”
Hiria Te Rangi, who Morgana describes as so intelligent ‘she thinks like a computer’, presented her Whare Hauora creation - sensory devices that measure the health of a home.
Morgana is looking forward to making the 2020 event in Taranaki even better.
“My ultimate utopia is to make this event an annual one. We were so fortunate to get the Māori entrepreneurs that we did speaking at it and I know they are definitely all go for the next Ko Māui Hangarau.”
