On Friday 7th July the inaugural Matihiko Awards are being hosted by Te Hapori Matihiko founded by Lee Timutimu and Katie Brown. The awards are designed to empower and celebrate Māori in tech from across the motu. The Matihiko Awards will recognise excellent Māori contribution across a range of digital and tech kaupapa. The celebration and visibility of this success is an important step in creating leadership pathways for our rangatahi.
Through this mahi, our kaupapa hopes to support an increase in Māori representation and participation in the digitech sector, both in Aotearoa and abroad.”
With eleven categories ranging from Kaitiaki to Change Maker, the awards acknowledge both a “Totara” (someone who has been in the industry for 7+ years) and a “Tipu” (someone who is new to the industry or early in their career). Following the awards a relationship between the Totara and Tipu is facilitated by event organisers, this is to enable a partnership with the intention of skill sharing between the two and externally to the wider Māori community.
DECA is committed to being Te Tiriti-honouring in practice and intent, and supporting tino rangatiratanga processes for Digital Equity. The Matihiko awards is a by Māori, for Māori, of Māori initiative we are thrilled to be supporting.
You can learn more about the Matihiko awards and purchase tickets here: https://www.matihiko.nz/te-hapori-matihiko-awards