Meet our inaugural cohort!

This week, we were excited to welcome the first cohort of 16 Māori entrepreneurs to Te Aka Matua, IndigiShare’s new business development programme in Rotorua.

With support from the Booster Foundation, our six-week programme is designed to support Māori founders to develop their entrepreneurial ideas through group wānanga and one-on-one mentoring, turning their business vision into reality.

Participating entrepreneurs at Te Aka Matua wānanga

In our first wānanga, participants engaged in inspiring kōrero, practical business planning, and whanaungatanga. Over the coming weeks, they will dive deeper into financial literacy, strategic planning, and crafting their whakapuaki (business pitch) —tools to help their pakihi thrive.

With backgrounds spanning industries from trades and services to health to retail, each founder brings a unique perspective and set of experiences to the kaupapa.

We’re excited to see how each pakihi’s journey unfolds through Te Aka Matua as they grow and ​develop throughout the programme.

Ngā mihi to the Booster Foundation for making this kaupapa possible!

Indigenous fashion label

Holistic health retreat based in Paradise Valley, Rotorua

Traditional Māori Mirimiri and Romiromi services to tourists and locals

Beauty services including traditional facials, waxing, and eye enhancements

Small to medium load ready mix concrete specialists

Building Warrant of Fitness and compliance and installation and servicing

Coffee cart based on State Highway 30

Dive education training centre utilising mātauranga Māori with a Pākehā tohu

Watersport hire, cultural tours, and escapes

Culinary tour that will focus on and emphasise local produce/ cuisine

Indigenous support system dedicated to empowering wāhine

Online te reo Māori lessons

Research into alternative uses for natural resources such as harakeke

An organic component for the embalming process