Access pūtea, grow your pakihi

If you’re a pakihi Māori looking to grow, you’ll know that access to capital can be one of the biggest barriers. Traditional funding pathways often don’t reflect the realities, values, or aspirations of our people, making it harder to secure the support needed to move forward.

Te Whare Manaaki offers an alternative. A peer-to-peer koha lending platform connecting pakihi Māori (Māori businesses) with kaituku pūtea (investors) who want to tautoko your growth through zero-interest, repayable loans, offering a highly relational way to support impactful ventures.

Through this model, you can access capital backed by people who believe in your kaupapa, enabling you to start, grow, or evolve your pakihi. Te Whare Manaaki is built on a simple idea: that capital can be shared collectively, returned over time, and passed forward to support future pakihi, creating a circular system of intergenerational wellbeing.

Te Whare Manaaki is currently in its pilot phase, working with select hapū and operating under regulatory clearance through the FMA. We are now inviting expressions of interest from pakihi who are ready to take the next step in their business journey.

Applying for pūtea

Applying for pūtea through Te Whare Manaaki is a simple and supported process. From application through to funding and repayment, each step is designed to be clear and transparent

Submit your application

Apply to be part of Te Whare Manaaki through a referral from your hapū. Your pakihi will be assessed to ensure it aligns with the kaupapa and is ready to seek funding.

Get approved and go live

Once approved, your pakihi is profiled on the platform, sharing your story, purpose, and funding goal with potential kaituku pūtea, who can then pledge towards your pakihi investment.

Receive a koha as a pakihi loan

Kaituku pūtea pledge koha towards your funding goal. Once fully pledged, funds are collected and provided to your pakihi as a zero-interest microloan to support your growth.

Grow your pakihi and repay koha

Use the pūtea to advance your pakihi and impact goals. Repayments are made over an agreed period and when repaid, can be reinvested by kaituku pūtea to support future pakihi.

What pakihi can apply?

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.

FAQ | Pātai for pakihi

Pakihi must be Māori-owned and referred by a participating hapū during the pilot phase.

Only established pakihi are included in this pilot

Pakihi must be New Zealand–based, have a valid NZBN, and all directors must be over 18 and reside in Aotearoa.

During the pilot phase, pakihi can apply for loans of up to $15,000

 Once approved, your pakihi is listed on the platform where kaituku pūtea can pledge koha towards your funding goal. When the full amount is collated, funds are disbursed as a zero-interest loan.

 Timeframes may vary depending on community support, funds collated and engagement during your pledge campaign.

No. All loans are zero-interest.

Repayments are made over an agreed period and returned into the platform, where they can be reinvested into future pakihi.

Yes. Pakihi benefit from visibility, validation, and connection with a community of kaituku pūtea and supporters.

 Fees may apply (such as establishment or loan-related fees), payable to IndigiShare. These will be clearly outlined during the application process.

IndigiShare works closely with pakihi to manage repayments, however lending terms and criteria will apply.