Workshop series helping grow Maori businesses in Tairawhiti

ENCOURAGING INNOVATION: Heta Hudson and Ira Wilkinson of financial services business Crowe Howarth, were in Gisborne last week working as facilitators of the Pakihi - Whanaua: Business Innovation workshop. The aim was to help local Maori businesses look at innovative ways of developing and growing their business. Picture supplied

Innovation and growth was the focus of a business workshop held in Gisborne.

The Pakihi – Whanaua: Business Innovation workshop was the second in a series of workshops being delivered in Tairawhiti this year.

Pakihi is an initiative that provides free workshops and mentoring to help grow Maori businesses and enterprise throughout the country, particularly in the regions.

It is run by Te Wananga o Aotearoa financial services business Crowe Howarth and Maori business education company Aotahi, and is supported by the Maori Innovation Fund.

The first round of the Pakihi workshops for the year was in January and focused on business start-ups.

The second instalment – Whanau: Business Growth targeted established businesses.

It provided training to help businesses expand in employee numbers, product or service offering, or locations.

The workshop was held at Te Wananga o Aotearoa, Whirikoka campus, and was based around business innovation and exploring product diversification and strategy in business.

“We get people to scan their industry for opportunities and challenges,” said workshop facilitator Heta Hudson, who works for Crowe Howarth.

“We also share 10 types of innovation frameworks, which they can apply and use to generate ideas and prioritise ideas for the best chance at success.

“One thing that really stands out from the businesses we have at this workshop is that there is a common theme. That is, they are all telling the story of the Tairawhiti, but in their various industries.”