The Whāriki Māori Business Network has partnered with Facebook to offer free digital skills training to grow the Māori digital economy through a new in-person programme.
The seven city roadshow aims to empower Māori businesses with digital skills to attract more customers nationally and globally.
According to Whāriki’s own research, digital technologies have been important for 89 percent of its members since the start of COVID-19. Feedback from members also shows the positive impact of Māori business owners sharing their experiences in encouraging others to upskill to find new markets online.
Activewear company Aria Collection was established in 2020 to help wahine implement positive mindsets, after owner Harmony Huntington was encouraged by positive online feedback.
Harmony joined a panel kōrero at the Eden Park launch on 15th July, which attracted one hundred businesses. “We use Facebook and Instagram to engage with more people and use these platforms for people to understand our kaupapa. Without it, we wouldn’t have the business we own today, so I am really excited for these Boost with Facebook workshops to help upskill Māori businesses in the tools that I know can help their businesses grow,” she says.
Heta Hudson, Whāriki chairperson, says “We know our business community are using Facebook and Instagram, especially our whanau businesses. The large following and level of activity on Facebook groups “Buy Māori Made” and “By Māori” demonstrate the value of these platforms for whānau business owners.”
Online communities “Buy Māori Made” and “By Māori” have over 100,000 and 43,000 followers respectively.
The seven-city programme ‘Boost With Facebook’ encompasses Auckland, Whangārei, Hamilton, Rotorua, Wellington, and Christchurch before concluding in Dunedin on 27 August.
For more about Whāriki visit https://www.whariki.co.nz
Photo above: At the Auckland Boost With Facebook körero – from left, Facebook community trainer Katie Brown, Tuhi Stationery’s Geneva Harrison, Aria Collection’s Harmony Huntington.
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