A huge mihi to our featured member – Raymond McKay for sharing his journey in Te Ao Matihiko. Scroll down below whanau to read more about his journey!

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Patai 1 – Where are you from & what do you do?

He uri tenei a Pootatau Te Wherowhero, Rongomaiwahine, Porourangi ooku tupunaI was born and grew up on the sunny shores of Te Raki Pai Whenua. I am a Chief Creative Officer and co-owner of a Maaori owned and globally awarded design & advertising agency. I help brands build their capability across storytelling and visual design.Like my ancestor Maui, I am also a tinkerer, a tutu and a dreamer, so this has led me to building apps that turn bad energy into good energy, sound technology that can articulate someone’s āhua and an app that activates a giant animations, a kiss, a wink and a love heart.

Patai 2 – How did you get into your mahi?

I completed a degree in communications and then went into deep end in one of the world’s most creative agencies. I did this for 10 years across most of the large network agencies and then into the RUN waka.

Patai 3 – What advice would you give to other Māori looking for a career in digital & tech?

Use your intuition, your heart and hold your values close and apply them to situations that don’t feel right.

Patai 4 – What’s the coolest project you’ve worked on or, what piece of mahi are you most proud of?

A self initiated project that started on social but then quickly found it’s way into a integrated Kaupapa, including design, sculpture and event, championing indigenous creatives, rewarding those for expanding the space in advertising and a challenge to the racist abuse one can experience online in the advertising industry. It’s called the manaakitanga Pencil. One thing that digital and new tech people coming into this world should keep in mind, is that in the world of creative or design you can create anything using your digital and tech skills.