Mind your business with Mana Ora
A new Te Wānanga o Aotearoa programme gives tauira the skills to increase their business nous and their knowledge of kaupapa Māori.
Mana Ora is a home-based learning programme in which tauira learn about the basics of building their business while immersing themselves in kaupapa Māori.
Programme manager Home Based Learning, Robert Wetere said the nine-month, Level 3 programme is designed to motivate tauira to consider business ownership and entrepreneurship as a way of creating financial well being.
The programme, which started earlier this month, has a strong focus on mentoring.
Figures from within the Māori business network provide business support and experience to tauira or business start-ups.
“The programme shows tauira how the philosophies and operations of Māori businesses differ from others so it could benefit people needing specific skills in te ao Māori to advance their career prospects,” said Robert.
“People who do this programme will develop their te reo and tikanga Māori skills and will be able to apply this knowledge in both cultural and business situations.”
He said Mana Ora would benefit any person considering business and self-employment as personal aspirations or individuals wanting to work for a Māori business or organisation.
“It can help to movitate these people who have an established business or those wanting to transform an idea into a business with a kaupapa Māori lens,” said Robert.
“The difference with this programme is it takes a te ao Māori approach.”
Data from Statistics New Zealand from 2015 shows that entrepreneurship and interest in small business among Māori is on the increase with 660 significant small to medium Māori enterprises.
About 20 per cent of these SMEs export to 53 countries.
Pūrongo whakahirahira
Featured stories
Turning point inspires commitment to change, community, and career
In 2024, Bryce Marsh faced a major turning point in life that led to him studying Manaaki Tangata at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, setting him on a path of healing, self-discovery and a desire to give back to his community.
A whānau journey of learning at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa
Studying at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa wasn’t just a personal journey for Tania Dargaville (Te Rarawa). It became a whānau journey, shared alongside her sister and son, learning, growing and now graduating together.
Creating second chances for rangatahi
Kaimahi working in Youth Engagement Services at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa play a vital role in empowering rangatahi to discover who they are, build practical skills, and shape futures that feel right for them.
Wānanga study supports career shift into social services
When COVID-19 hit, it changed the direction of Dee Clark’s life. At the time, she was working in airport security as a behavior analyst, but the impacts of COVID-19 caused her role to change and so did her sense of purpose.
Strengthening Indigenous‑led global partnerships
Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and Te Māori Manaaki Taonga Trust to host delegation from Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford Delegation and formalise Māori Curatorial Partnership
Upholding reo Māori beyond kura kaupapa
At 18 years old, Te Tatau Strother walked into his first Te Pīnakitanga ki te Reo Kairangi class at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa feeling like the youngest voice in a room full of experienced reo Māori speakers.
Weaving a shared journey of growth
What began as an opportunity to learn something new for Riri (Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi, Ngā Rauru Kītahi, Pākehā) and Rich Rio (Kuki Airani, Ngāti Maniapoto) grew into a journey of confidence, deeper connection to te ao Māori, and a shared sense of purpose as husband and wife.
Cambridge Museum project guided by wānanga tikanga studies
Cambridge Museum manager, Elizabeth Harvey, is combining her tikanga studies at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa with her passion for local history, to support the museum’s Voices of Cambridge project.
Wānanga launches first of their kind mātauranga Māori certificates, marking a new era for Indigenous knowledge education
Responding to the growing needs and aspirations of tauira, iwi and communities, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa is breaking new ground with the launch of 2 new Level 4 certificates that will be the first standalone programmes of their kind in Aotearoa.
Learning tikanga to strengthen community work
After making the move to Aotearoa in 2014 from Germany, Almaz Bergz set out to gain a better understanding of the people, whenua, and culture that shape life here.
Thriving as a kaiako after He Korowai Ākonga
When Marlena Martin began her studies in He Korowai Ākonga – Bachelor of Education (Primary Teaching) in 2023, she never imagined where it would take her and how much she would grow as an individual.
Te Wānanga o Aotearoa launches new international reo Māori learning
iReo is a flexible, self-directed, online short course made up of 5 standalone modules, each running over 6 weeks. Learners can study at their own pace, weaving te reo Māori into everyday life alongside work, whānau, and other commitments.