NEWSROOM
New university study tour aims to inspire Māori entrepreneurship
11 March 2024
Kurutao is a new programme from Waipapa Taumata Rau, the University of Auckland, designed to expose Māori tauira (students) to the world of entrepreneurship.
Conceived by Engineering student Hiraia Haami-Wells, the study tour aims to shed light on the myriad of opportunities an entrepreneurial mindset provides Māori youth with while honouring and incorporating Māori cultural values. Kurutao is delivered by the Business School’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) and is open for application from Māori students, undergraduates, postgraduates and doctoral, of all faculties at the University of Auckland.
Hiraia believes that the lack of awareness and visibility among Māori regarding entrepreneurship serves as the driving force behind the creation of Kurutao. Inspired by her participation in CIE’s Vanguard programme, which offers select high-potential students an immersive seven-day tour of California’s entrepreneurship landscape, Hiraia recognised the need to adapt such initiatives to the unique cultural context of Māori communities.
While the Vanguard programme provided invaluable insights into the entrepreneurial mindset, Hiraia observed a notable disparity between the individualistic nature of entrepreneurship in America and the collective values intrinsic to Māori. In response, Kurutao endeavours to bridge this gap by showcasing Māori excellence within the entrepreneurial ecosystem here in Aotearoa. Kurutao aims to mirror the transformative exposure provided by the Vanguard programme. Kurutao will see participants visiting various entrepreneurs and innovators in Auckland and Gisborne, Site visits, speakers and workshops will showcase Māori entrepreneurialism and the various careers and opportunities in the indigenous and non-indigenous ecosystem. This will include indigenous science-based venues, Māori with careers in technology and investment, and the Māori investment vehicles focused on Māori ventures.
CIE Programme Coordinator Maru Maxwell, who is working with Hiraia in bringing Kurutao to life, says “We have been talking to a variety of Māori entrepreneurs, and they all have a common goal. They are not just doing it for themselves, they are doing it for their iwi and their people. I think the key reason why they are doing this is to create more awareness of what’s out there for our people and to foster the potential of our people”
Unlike Vanguard, which targets individuals already well-versed in entrepreneurship, Kurutao serves as a starting point for Māori students with limited prior exposure. The programme allows space for wānanga (shared conversation) and a chance to look at the ecosystem from a Māori point of view. Kurutao aims to inspire Māori youth and raise awareness for entrepreneurial opportunities within their cultural context.
Hiraia says “I also think the resources that come with having some sort of ecosystem are really valuable, as you don’t know what you don’t know. The biggest barrier is obviously money, but if Māori know the avenues for getting funding and how to use the resources out there, it would be a whole different story”.
Through Kurutao, Maru and Hiraia hope to open doors to new possible futures already avaliable to Māori, enabling Māori students to explore entrepreneurship and make meaningful contributions to their communities.
Applications for Kurutao close on Wednesday 17 April.
11 March 2024
Kurutao is a new programme from Waipapa Taumata Rau, the University of Auckland, designed to expose Māori tauira (students) to the world of entrepreneurship.
Conceived by Engineering student Hiraia Haami-Wells, the study tour aims to shed light on the myriad of opportunities an entrepreneurial mindset provides Māori youth with while honouring and incorporating Māori cultural values. Kurutao is delivered by the Business School’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) and is open for application from Māori students, undergraduates, postgraduates and doctoral, of all faculties at the University of Auckland.
Hiraia believes that the lack of awareness and visibility among Māori regarding entrepreneurship serves as the driving force behind the creation of Kurutao. Inspired by her participation in CIE’s Vanguard programme, which offers select high-potential students an immersive seven-day tour of California’s entrepreneurship landscape, Hiraia recognised the need to adapt such initiatives to the unique cultural context of Māori communities.
While the Vanguard programme provided invaluable insights into the entrepreneurial mindset, Hiraia observed a notable disparity between the individualistic nature of entrepreneurship in America and the collective values intrinsic to Māori. In response, Kurutao endeavours to bridge this gap by showcasing Māori excellence within the entrepreneurial ecosystem here in Aotearoa. Kurutao aims to mirror the transformative exposure provided by the Vanguard programme. Kurutao will see participants visiting various entrepreneurs and innovators in Auckland and Gisborne, Site visits, speakers and workshops will showcase Māori entrepreneurialism and the various careers and opportunities in the indigenous and non-indigenous ecosystem. This will include indigenous science-based venues, Māori with careers in technology and investment, and the Māori investment vehicles focused on Māori ventures.
CIE Programme Coordinator Maru Maxwell, who is working with Hiraia in bringing Kurutao to life, says “We have been talking to a variety of Māori entrepreneurs, and they all have a common goal. They are not just doing it for themselves, they are doing it for their iwi and their people. I think the key reason why they are doing this is to create more awareness of what’s out there for our people and to foster the potential of our people”
Unlike Vanguard, which targets individuals already well-versed in entrepreneurship, Kurutao serves as a starting point for Māori students with limited prior exposure. The programme allows space for wānanga (shared conversation) and a chance to look at the ecosystem from a Māori point of view. Kurutao aims to inspire Māori youth and raise awareness for entrepreneurial opportunities within their cultural context.
Hiraia says “I also think the resources that come with having some sort of ecosystem are really valuable, as you don’t know what you don’t know. The biggest barrier is obviously money, but if Māori know the avenues for getting funding and how to use the resources out there, it would be a whole different story”.
Through Kurutao, Maru and Hiraia hope to open doors to new possible futures already avaliable to Māori, enabling Māori students to explore entrepreneurship and make meaningful contributions to their communities.
Applications for Kurutao close on Wednesday 17 April.
EMAIL
CIE@AUCKLAND.AC.NZ
POSTAL ADDRESS
THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND BUSINESS SCHOOL
PRIVATE BAG 92019, AUCKLAND
