Ngā kōrero mō TupuToa
Our Vision
Aronga Matua
Growing Māori and Pacific leaders
for a greater Aotearoa
TupuToa seeks to ensure corporate Aotearoa is representative of our country, by developing and empowering our people and building the cultural capability of our partners.
TupuToa was borne from the need to see increased Māori and Pacific representation in leadership positions in the corporate sector. Māori and Pacific peoples make up a quarter of our population and yet are largely invisible in corporate New Zealand. This is more pronounced in corporate leadership.
No NZX listed company has a Māori or Pacific CEO and only 17 per cent of New Zealand’s top 60 firms have an executive who identifies as other than European/Pākehā. This lopsided demographic creates a knowledge gap, deprives businesses of the benefits of diversity, and inhibits business growth.
Our programmes aim to address the persistent inequalities facing our communities and disrupt intergenerational disadvantage. We work to reduce entry and advancement barriers which are biased against Māori and Pacific communities and support organisations in successfully recruiting and onboarding Māori and Pacific peoples.
Our Initiatives
Kaupapa Hou
Internship Programme
Our flagship programme provides internships for tauira creating a pathway into a professional career and enables our partners to diversify their workforces.
TupuToa Alumni
Over time, we will produce a powerful network of Māori and Pacific leaders who are culturally intelligent, innovative, creative and globally connected.
Kōkiri Workshops
Kōkiri Workshops are a work-ready programme designed to support Māori and Pacific people to find their way in the competitive job market.
Kete TupuToa
Through statistical analysis, we are developing a stronger understanding of the factors contributing to the challenges impacting the career development of Māori and Pacific peoples. This will support TupuToa and other organisations in designing initiatives to address barriers.
Māori Cadetship Programme
The TupuToa Cadetship Programme in association with Te Puni Kokiri Ministry of Māori Development empowers rangatahi Māori to achieve their professional goals in the workplace, whilst highlighting the mana of connection to their identity, their whānau, hapū and iwi.
We do this by securing employment opportunities through our business and corporate partners.
Tupu
Ka tupu te moko taro me aravei i te vai ora.
Young taro shoots will grow if they meet life giving water.
Tupu is about flourishing, thriving and growing into who you were meant to be given the best conditions. Metaphorically, tupu also connects us to our ancestors (tupuna). Our heritage is an integral part of our identity.
Toa
Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini.
My strength is not that of a single warrior, but that of many.
Toa means courage. It is the name of the strongest tree found in the Pacific, casuarina
equisetifolia, used to make weapons for warfare. Toa is the name used for a warrior or a
hero, and refers to bravery and boldness.
We are driven by the following values:
Manaaki tauira
Student centric: our students and graduates are at the core of our programme and service
Kia ū ki te tikanga ā iwi
Culturally driven: we are driven and guided by the Māori and Pacific communities we serve
Mahi ngātahi
Collaborative: we work in partnership with corporate Aotearoa, public sector, tertiary institutions and Māori and Pacific communities, as well as build wider strategic alliances
Kia mana ai ki ngā mahi
Respectful: we are an honest and purpose-led organisation with integrity
