Intergenerational prosperity the goal for new digital and tech community
Te Hapori Matihiko launches on December 7th online and in Tauranga. It’s a new community built to empower Māori working in digital and tech.
Digital Technologies contributed an estimated $6.6 billion to the New Zealand economy in 2019, and has only grown since. Despite this growth, according to NZTech research, only about 4% of the technology industry are Māori.
That’s one of the reasons why Lee Timutimu and Katie Brown have teamed up to create Te Hapori Matihiko.
“There’s pretty limited data on Māori in the digital and tech workforce. One way to build a better picture of it is to create a strong and engaged network like this” says co-founder, Lee Timutimu (Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Te Rangi, Tūhoe, Ngāti Porou).
It’s also about connection says co-founder Katie Brown (Rauwaka, Ngāti Whātua)
“One of the problems we’re trying to solve is connection. We know there’s loads of digital and tech pakihi and kaimahi without a community to lean on. We know magic things happen when we come together so we’re keen to be that community.”
The Hapori Matihiko team says they’re casting the net wide to provide a community for Māori working in any roles online. This approach encourages collaboration and won’t replicate existing specialist groups.
On the list of offerings is the ability to connect with someone to tautoko reo and tikanga.
“We know many Māori are working away from their whenua and might feel a bit whakama to carry all things Māori within their workplaces. We’re offering the opportunity to connect into support with te reo and tikanga.”
They’re also kicking off an annual awards event to celebrate Māori excellence and contribution in the digital and tech industries.
Ultimately, the goal is intergenerational prosperity. Te Hapori Matihiko wants to support more young people into digital and tech careers.
“For us, it’s about visibility. To empower and tautoko our leaders and future leaders in this space. We’d love for rangatahi to see someone in our hapori, and think they might like to do that too.”
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