Empowering Māori Talent - Workforce & Innovation Achievements 2025–2026

After four years of engagement with Māori and Iwi across Aotearoa, it’s clear what our communities want: high-value jobs, thriving businesses, and opportunities that benefit individuals, whānau, communities, and Iwi. Our mission is to help Māori flourish while contributing meaningfully to New Zealand’s economy and global positioning.

Our Achievements: 2025–2026

The work that we do through our Future Māori Leaders Programme and Tech Innovation Programme delivers tangible outcomes for Māori on engineering, technical, and leadership pathways. Key outcomes achieved through these programmes include:

• Innovation Lab: Launched a fully equipped lab with a private 5G network, tools, and equipment for learners and innovators.

• Workforce Platform: Online platform launched, providing access to training, learning, and community-building opportunities.

• Learning Opportunities: Over 50 courses, workshops, and webinars delivered to date.

• Scholarships: 12 university-level scholarships for electrical and electronic engineering students and 20 vocational scholarships for technical, leadership, and innovation programmes.

• Māori Participation: Over 300 Māori have engaged with our programmes.

• Innovation Support: 10 Founders have participated in our Innovation Programme.

• Sister Hub Network: Access to specialist expertise from other hubs, accelerators, incubators, and labs.

• Data Analytics: Every step is tracked to ensure we’re growing a vibrant, skilled workforce and fast-tracking commercial pathways for Māori innovators.

• Culturally Grounded Team: Our team supports Future Māori Leaders and Innovators, all fluent in Te Reo and experienced in Māori worldviews.

Through the mahi we do, Tū Ātea is not just creating opportunities - we’re building a pipeline of Māori leaders, innovators, and skilled professionals. By combining technical training, mentorship, innovation labs, and scholarships, we’re ensuring Māori have meaningful, high-value pathways into the telecommunications and technology sectors.