Inspired by the Stanford d.school, the M膩ori Futures Academy is designed to provide rangatahi with cadetships in tackling complex challenges and in doing so grow the next generation of future-makers who bring leading-edge thinking, research, expertise, and innovative tools to create a better future.
Bennett says, 鈥淥ur vision is that the Academy will provide an opportunity to grow wh膩nau and hap奴 capability so that wh膩nau are empowered to lead change and build solutions that work for them. It is wonderful to be embracing a new and innovative approach to growing our future leaders who will take the iwi forward. If successful we will be an Indigenous remix of Stanford鈥檚 d School with global reach and in time, impact.鈥
Tokona te Raki is a Ng膩i Tahu social innovation lab which operates as a standalone entity with Te R奴nanga o Ng膩i Tahu as its sole shareholder. Over the past two years it has achieved national prominence as a futures lab with expertise in research and unique indigenous design processes to support innovation in a rapidly changing world.
鈥淣ot only does the academy concept fit well with our strategic objective to have a direct and innovative partnership with Te R奴nanga o Ng膩i Tahu, it also offers a vehicle to pioneer degree programmes and micro-credentials, with a particular focus on futures thinking and social innovation on a global scale. This is something new for the university and hugely exciting for us to be a part of,鈥 says Professor Cheryl de la Rey, Tumu Whakarae |Vice-Chancellor of the 麻豆传媒高清.
鈥淭he relationship between the 麻豆传媒高清 and Ng膩i Tahu has been evolving over a number of years through the Ng膩i Tahu Research Centre. The Academy provides an opportunity to further strengthen this relationship and ensure we are delivering on our obligations as authentic Treaty partners.鈥
The M膩ori Futures Academy is set to launch in April. It will bring on board 10 interns per year for the next three years through paid internships. Tokona Te Raki Executive Director, Dr Eruera Tarena (a听UC PhD graduate) says, 鈥淭he M膩ori Futures Academy supports rangatahi through a cadetship in future-focused skills where they are equipped with insights, strategies, and tools before being supported to apply these skills in real-world projects. We train rangatahi as leading-edge researchers, facilitators, innovators, and change makers where they learn by doing and creating impact in our M膩ori communities.
Tokona te Raki Co-director,听Sacha McMeeking听says, 鈥淥ur rangatahi have strong cultural knowledge, technical expertise and the audacity that only youth can bring to help them transform complex challenges into principled solutions and pathways into the future. Supported by seasoned pakeke, our partners gain the double benefit of next generation solutions and a safe pair of hands, while we journey through indigenous innovation.鈥
Philanthropic funders, J R McKenzie Trust and Rata Foundation have confirmed their position as strategic funding partners and as such have both made a three year commitment to the Academy. Start-up funding has also been received from Te Puni K艒kiri.
