Peer-to-peer koha lending supporting pakihi Māori to thrive

Growing a koha economy

Access to capital remains one of the biggest barriers to growth for pakihi Māori. Traditional funding pathways often fail to reflect the realities, values, and aspirations of our communities, creating a gap that continues to limit the potential of the Māori economy.

Te Whare Manaaki is IndigiShare’s response. A peer-to-peer koha lending platform connecting Pakihi Māori (Māori businesses) with Kaituku Pūtea (Investors) who want to tautoko their growth through zero-interest, repayable loans, offering a highly relational way to support impactful ventures.

By breaking down barriers to entry, the platform enables entrepreneurship within our communities and supports pakihi Māori to start, pivot, and thrive. Te Whare Manaaki’s mission is simple: to open new pathways of capital for Pakihi Māori through the support of whānau as Kaituku Pūtea either collectively or individually. When funds are repaid, kaituku pūtea can choose to pay it forward to future pakihi, contributing to a circular model of intergenerational wellbeing.

Te Whare Manaaki is currently in its pilot phase, working with select hapū and operating under regulatory clearance through the FMA prior to being a licensed peer-to-peer intermediary. We are now inviting expressions of interest from kaituku pūtea and pakihi interested in being part of this pilot.

How it works

Grounded in reciprocity, Te Whare Manaaki creates a two-way flow of support where hapori can back pakihi Māori, and in turn, see that support returned over time. It is about building economic resilience across whānau and communities, where capital is shared, recycled, and used to create lasting impact.

Through the platform, pakihi Māori are connected with kaituku pūtea who choose to tautoko ventures aligned with their values and aspirations. In turn, pakihi can access the capital they need to realise their growth potential and advance their impact goals.

Step by step, this process enables pakihi to access capital and builds a circular model supported by those who believe in their vision.

Pakihi apply for pūtea

We work alongside hapū to identify pakihi Māori seeking capital, understanding their funding needs, business goals, and the impact they aim to create.

Kaituku pūtea pledge funds

Kaituku pūtea register as koha lenders, explore approved pakihi seeking capital, and choose one or more ventures to tautoko through koha, aligning with the kaupapa they want to support.

Pūtea is loaned to pakihi

When a pakihi’s funding goal is reached, koha is collected from supporting kaituku pūtea and provided to the pakihi as a zero-interest microloan.

Pakihi thrive and grow

Pakihi use the pūtea to grow their business and repay the loan over time. Once repaid, kaituku pūtea can choose to reinvest, supporting future pakihi and building a circular economy.

Registering to koha

Te Whare Manaaki is open to anyone who wants to support pakihi Māori through a values-based, koha-driven model. Kaituku pūtea can explore approved pakihi and choose where to tautoko through koha. Rather than focusing on financial return, this model is about contributing to collective impact, with the option to reinvest repayments and continue supporting future pakihi.

To be eligible, kaituku pūtea must be:

  • An individual aged 18 years or over with a valid New Zealand bank account; OR

  • A collective (trust or company) registered or based in Aotearoa New Zealand, with a valid New Zealand bank account, and IRD number.

Once registered, kaituku pūtea can:

  • Pledge koha from $25 up to a maximum total of $2,000 during the pilot

  • Option to reinvest repaid koha into future pakihi

A different way to think about capital

Te Whare Manaaki is not a donation platform, a traditional lending model, or transactional crowdfunding.

It is a koha-driven approach to capital, grounded in whanaungatanga and collective impact. Rather than focusing on financial return, it creates a values-led, highly relational way to support impactful ventures, where pūtea moves with purpose – shared, returned, and passed forward, forming a circular economy.

At its core, Te Whare Manaaki is about hapori supporting pakihi Māori, strengthening pathways for sustainable growth and intergenerational wellbeing.

Applying for pūtea

Te Whare Manaaki supports pakihi Māori seeking capital to start, grow, or evolve their business. During the pilot phase, pakihi are referred through participating hapū, with a focus on ventures that demonstrate strong kaupapa, clear goals, and meaningful impact.

To be eligible, pakihi must:

  • Be Māori-owned and referred by a hapū participating in the pilot

  • Be a New Zealand–registered business with a current NZBN

  • All directors/shareholders of business living in New Zealand

Once approved, pakihi can expect:

  • Opportunity to raise capital through a pledge campaign supported by kaituku pūtea

  • Once fully pledged, access a zero-interest loan of up to $15,000 (excluding loan establishment and account management fees) during the pilot phase

Koha in action

Te Whare Manaaki is proud to support and empower Māori entrepreneurs, startups, and SMEs to create impact within our communities. We believe that funding is more than just a means to an end; it’s a catalyst for growth, change, and intergenerational prosperity.

Fe Roofing, Waiariki, Bay of Plenty

We recently partnered with Waiariki based, Fe Roofing, as a pilot loan recipient of Te Whare Manaaki. With over 17+ years of combined experience, FE Roofing offer custom roofing solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of their clients guided by tikanga Māori.

Through the support of our Kaituku Pūtea, we are able to tautoko Fe Roofing in realising their aspirations and help them achieve their goal of becoming a premier Māori roofing company in the Bay of Plenty.