Awhina August is on a mission to increasejobs, improve wealth and enhance wellbeing for Maori
Fostering the Bay of Plenty's Maori economy by unlocking the potential of the emerging Maori workforce is not just a job, but a passion for 31-year-old mother of two Awhina August.
The Bay businesswoman has recently been appointed Kaihautu Ohanga Maori - Bay of Plenty Maori economic development navigator.
August, of Ngati Ranginui, Ngai Te Rangi, Ngati Rangiwewehi and Te Whanau-a-Apanui iwi affiliations, is passionate about seeing Maori succeed, particularly young Maori and Maori women.
She would like to see more Maori women promoted as role models.
"There needs to be more promoting of women succeeding at all levels across sectors right up to the prime minister. There are so many incredible Maori women across the country and around the world doing things, we just need to promote them more and their stories."
Supporting others and especially women is a key part of her business and life philosophy.
"As a wahine Maori, I believe it is essential that we continue to support each other, to uplift one another and promote each other in our work. To unlock the potential of the Maori workforce for women starts with appreciating our uniqueness as women and more importantly as Maori women. Wahine Maori are fierce and beautiful and their potential is endless."
Raised in the Bay, August is bilingual in Te reo and lives in Mount Maunganui on the tribal lands of Ngati Kuku with her fiancé Joel Ngatuere, daughter Te Whei Ao, 7, and son Te Otinga, 5.
She brings considerable experience in business and community leadership to her new role, something she says was instilled in her from a young age.
"I was raised in a bilingual speaking household and my family installed strong values and work ethic in all of us children from a young age."
As a child she attended a local kohanga reo, then went on to Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Otepou in Welcome Bay before completing secondary schooling at Bethlehem College.
"I have always had a passion for helping others and in particular Maori."
At school she enjoyed getting involved in platforms like kaupapa Maori events, volunteering at events such as the Tauranga Moana Tauranga Tangata Festivals. She learned management skills by project managing school art exhibitions and fashion shows.
"As a young person I was always encouraged in leadership roles and to be in the service of others. I have always enjoyed project management and have a passion for seeing Maori succeed. This has, on reflection, been my reason for the path I have shown in my career."
After attending Auckland University, August returned to the Bay to set up her own company, Maoriworks, a project management company that she still runs that provides custom management services with an authentic kaupapa Maori flair.
"We deliver project management for community, corporate and whanau events, print and online branding, strategic planning and administration. Our point of difference is that we are kaupapa Maori driven. This means that our approach to each project is from a Maori perspective in which we exercise manaakitanga (hospitality and kindness), whanaungatanga (inclusiveness) and mahi tahi (collaboration and working together)."
Her recent major projects include the Mataatua me Takitimu ki Tauranga secondary schools kapa haka regionals called Te Haka a Toi 2017, the Bay of Plenty Regional Council's Maori capability conference - Te Oniao 2016 and the National Maori housing conference 2016.
August is also general manager of Te Puna i Rangiriri Trust - a local arts and cultural trust that strives to uphold kaupapa Maori initiatives in Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty.
"With my work with Te Puna i Rangiriri Trust we continually support community events that are focused around waka kaupapa, mau rakau and kapa haka activities. We work in collaboration with iwi, organisations, local and central government, Maori trusts, tertiary providers and schools to deliver these activities as well as our iconic events such as Matariki ki Mauao and the Tauranga Moana Tauranga Tangata Festival."
The recent Matariki festival at the base of mauao has become a popular event with locals.
Building up these experiences over the last three years led her to her most recent appointment at Priority One where she will play a key role in the implementation of the Bay of Plenty's He Mauri Ohooho Maori economic development action plan, part of the regional growth study. Initially her focus will be supporting Maori education and skills initiative - a business goal very much aligned with her passion for helping people be the best they can.
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The strategy is ultimately about increasing jobs, improving wealth and enhancing wellbeing for Maori. This role aligned to my personal aspiration to help people.
"There are a lot of Maori achieving amazingly in the workforce right up to holding ministerial portfolios in the New Zealand Government, however our statistics in the Bay of Plenty are still showing that only a third of our people are employed and doing well, one-third are working in low income jobs and the rest are not working.
"To achieve its long-term potential, the wider Bay of Plenty economy must make the best use of all available resources. Maori can make an even greater contribution to the future growth of the region as they make up a large proportion of, and own a significant asset base across, key sectors in the wider Bay of Plenty economy."
Relationships are everything, she says, and for the past three years she has had key relationships with iwi, local and national government agencies, tertiary providers, schools and community partners.
"I have been taught to respect others and approach every kaupapa with integrity and in this day and age people respect that. Building relationships is easy when you are genuine in wanting to get to know people. This approach is used when building and strengthening relationships with Maori as well as non-Maori."
One of her focuses will be growing leadership pathways for Maori youth.
"Forty-four per cent of our Maori population in the wider Bay of Plenty are under 15 years old so we have a very youthful population. By 2050, over 40,000 new jobs are expected in the region and it is essential that our young people are prepared."
An Annual Leadership Summit for Maori Youth in the Bay of Plenty will launch on February 27-28. The summit will call 150 young Maori leaders across the Bay to explore what the priorities and aspirations are of our young people and focus on leadership, pathways, enterprise and innovation.
As well as youth, August is focused on empowering Maori women in the workforce. She would like more women to realise their worth and individual strengths. She also encourages women to pursue their aspirations in business or whichever pathway drives them.