June 25, 2024 –
Te Hapori Matihiko is proud to announce the winners for the 2024 Matihiko Awards.
A strong, diverse line up of Māori who are making significant contributions to te ao matihiko, digital and technology in Aotearoa and internationally were recognised at the Awards’ ceremony on Saturday 22 June in Auckland.
Categories include Emergent Icon, Living Icon, Changemaker, Kaitiaki o te Taiao, Innovator, Rangitiratanga and many others.
“All winners are making such a massive contribution on the local and international stage,” says Te Hapori Matihiko CEO Katie Brown.
“We saw winners in climate tech, AI, iwi tech and global technologies among others. This underpins the purpose of these awards, to shine a light on the incredible contribution Māori tech is making. We know that there were plenty of rangatahi in the room who saw the potential of where they could go.”
The diverse list of sectors represented across all categories shows how broadly Māori business leaders are reaching to progress digital and technology.
The theme of the night centred on intergenerational leadership with Corporate Change winner, Isaac Morounga from Microsoft acknowledging his role, “tonight I represent the four generations of my whānau who had no voice in te reo Māori and no standing in te ao Māori. Four generations who practised tikanga Māori without ever naming it that, four generations who showed up for most when they had very little. Tonight as a first generation high school and university graduate, first generation corporate worker, son of a concrete layer and bank teller, I raise the flag.”
For Katie Brown, this is at the heart of why the awards were created, to encourage Māori in tech to be celebrated, and to inspire the next generation.
“These awards aim to shine a light on the many Māori who are achieving tremendous things, contributing to our digital and tech economy and lifting up our culture. These are awards are intergenerational and we look forward to seeing more tangata Māori inspired by these leaders join us in tech.”
Corporate Change
Tipu: Isaac Morunga (Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa)
Tōtara: Riki Hollings (Ngāti Ranginui)
Innovator / Auahatanga
Tipu: Michael Puhara (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, Ngāti Porou)
Tōtara: Shanon O’Connor (Ngāti Porou, Ngāi Tahu)
Pakihi
Tipu: KDM
Tōtara: Kiwa Digital
Kaiāwhina
Tipu: Engie Matene (Ngāpuhi, Kuki Airani) & Ashley Riddell (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāi Tahu)
Tōtara: Eva Riddell (Ngāti Porou)
Public Sector
Tipu: Henare Royal (Ngāti Tamatera, Ngāti Whanaunga)
Tōtara: Bruce Jepsen (Tūwharetoa, Tainui, Ngāti Raukawa)
Kaitiaki o te Taiao
Tipu: Cecilia Kumeroa (Te Atihaunui-a-Paparangi)
Tōtara: Mere Takoko (Ngāti Porou, Te Whānau a Apanui, Rongowhakaata)
Whiua ki te Ao
Tipu: Sara Smeath (Ngāpuhi)
Tōtara: Grant Straker (Ngāti Raukawa)
Rangatiratanga
Tipu: Aleisha Amohia (Te Atihaunui-a-Papārangi, Ngāti Maru, Ngāti Hāua)
Tōtara: Melissa Gollan (Te Rarawa)
Daniel Karehana Memorial Scholarship
Recipient: Jasmine Amohia (Te Atihaunui-a-Papārangi, Ngāti Maru, Ngāti Hāua)
Graeme Everton Honorary Award
This award honours a lifetime of contribution to Māori in technology. The Everton whānau accepted this special acknowledgment in memory of the late Graeme Everton. Moe mai rā e te rangatira.
Kaupapa
Tipu: Pera Barrett (Ngāti Toa, Te Atiawa ki Whakarongotai, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga)
Tōtara: Tōnui Collab
Change-Maker
Tipu: Kirialana Wilson (Te Ati Haunui-a-Papārangi)
Tōtara: Māui Studios
Emergent Icon
Winner: Vincent Egan (Ngāruahinerangi, Ngāti Ruanui)
Living Icon
Winner: Antony Royal (Ngāti Tamatera, Ngāti Whanaunga)
For interview requests and imagery please contact Tess Woolcock 0212755344 tess@poppublicity.co
(ENDS)
