Te Ao Māori

Connecting with Māori

On its 20th anniversary, The Icehouse is on a greater journey to more authentically connect with the Māori worldview in line with the people of Aotearoa. The rise in te reo and a more inclusive appreciation of Aotearoa’s history and the implications of New Zealand’s colonial past, are valued by The Icehouse and recognised as long overdue moves in a right and rich direction.

The blended universe that was the intent of Te Tiriti at the beginning was encapsulated and symbolised by the blended threshold of land and sea in the place where The Icehouse has operated from the start, the old Mechanics Bay, where Māori and Pākeha first came together to conduct trade and enterprise vital to early Auckland’s survival. This ‘bond’ is part of our history, and one of which we should be proud.  

We understand and participate in a worldview that has implications for entrepreneurs whose success will be measured by more than wealth and we work alongside organisations to help empower the Maori workforce.

A priority for us is to provide a bridge for entrepreneurial Māori and Pākeha, as well as other communities, entrepreneurs and innovators, so that each can learn from the best the other has to offer; to play in the space in-between, to discover new ways of doing business in an innovative, socially aware and environmentally sustainable way by understanding the worldviews of others.

Māori Leadership Development Cadetship

In association with Te Puni Kōkiri and The Icehouse

Introducing The Icehouse and Te Puni Kōkiri (the Ministry for Māori Development) Leadership Development Cadetship.

These new cadetships have been carefully curated to:

• Support the development of a skilled, productive and resilient Māori workforce and to promote more productive and connected businesses
• Support structured and tailored mentoring, training and development for Māori staff in permanent roles

What is covered and how much is the cadetship?

Te Puni Kōkiri is the Government’s principal policy advisor on Māori wellbeing and development.

The cadetship is for up to $10,000 per recipient for approved programmes delivered by The Icehouse such as the Owner Manager Programme or Leadership Development Programme supported with one-to-one coaching as appropriate.

Your Icehouse Customer Growth Partner will work with you and employer to determine what the most appropriate approved programme is for you.  

Are there any obligations that go with the cadetship?

Yes:

• There is a minimum investment of $4,960 paid toward the approved programmes delivered by The Icehouse in addition to the cadetship amount. This amount could be greater depending on the programme you choose.
• Permanent employment of the recipient for at least six months after receipt of the cadetship.
• Provide profile information such as age, iwi affiliation, gender, location, skills/qualifications on entry and any qualifications currently being studied.
• Agree that the recipients profile, learning programme and progress reports can be shared with Te Puni Kōkiri. Note this information will be anonymous i.e. without recipients name.

Are there any eligibility criteria?

Yes, to be eligible the employer must:

• Apply for and be accepted before June 2022.

The recipients (attendees) must:

• Be of Māori descent.

Te Kaa Development

It’s vital that we enhance our cultural competence at The Icehouse, so we are immersing ourselves in engaging and enriching programmes that will impact on how we leverage off our unique cultural landscape.

In January 2022 we’re participating in the Te Kaa 5-Day Programme run over five months by Maurea Consulting – five full days designed to ignite participants' learning, understanding and experience of Māori culture in a safe and exploratory way.

Tailored towards the busy corporate sector, this programme provides focus on how Māori culture is relevant to us as individuals and the businesses we support.

We’ll be announcing further special initiatives and events for The Icehouse, our network, coworking space and wider community over the coming months.