Te Hapori Matihiko is pleased to announce the opening of nominations for Ngā Tohu Matihiko, The Matihiko Awards, a prestigious event set to take place in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland on 22nd June. These awards will spotlight and honour Māori for their outstanding contributions, impact, and achievements in the digital and technology realm.
Katie Brown, Chief Executive of Te Ao Matihiko, shared the uniqueness of the awards “Built within kaupapa Māori, the Matihiko Awards are unlike any other; they are a celebration of Māori often working behind the screens, contributing significantly to the digital and tech landscape. In our inaugural event last year, we were blown away by the remarkable work undertaken by Māori in the digital and tech sectors, both locally and internationally.”
Brown encourages nominations, emphasising the importance of showcasing this incredible work. “We’d love people to think about someone deserving of recognition, it could be themselves or their business. There is a category for everyone in the digital and tech community.”
The awards introduce a distinctive feature, with two winners in each category: a Tōtara representing the established leader and a Tipu for the emergent leader. This reflects a commitment to fostering intergenerational leadership within the Māori digital and tech space.
Last year, 22 winners emerged across 11 categories, including Living Icon, Emergent Icon, Change Maker, Kaupapa, Whiua ki te Ao, Kaitiaki o te Taiao, Public Sector, Kaiāwhina, Corporate Change, Innovation, and Rangatiratanga.
Despite the tech sector contributing $20 billion to New Zealand’s GDP in 2022 and employing 118,000 people, only 4.8% of them were Māori. Te Hapori Matihiko aims to address this disparity through initiatives like the Matihiko Awards, promoting visibility and encouraging more Māori participation in the digital and tech industry.
Nominations are currently open until 5th April, and the awards ceremony will take place in Tāmaki Makaurau on 22nd June, 2024.
For more information and to submit nominations, visit matihiko.nz/awards
