A Māori agribusiness programme has been launched at the University of Waikato.
Called Tupu Rangatahi – Tupu Ahuwhenua, the course will start next year and will train future leaders and workers in the $23 billion Māori food and fibre agribusiness sector.
The three-year programme will teach agribusiness and include topics that explore agribusiness in a Māori context and world view.
It will be delivered in an environment that is deeply connected to Te Ao Māori, with tailored experience modules, field trips, and events. Students can also choose to submit assignments in te reo Māori or English.
The programme was initiated by the New Zealand Institute of Primary Industry Management and was revealed at the organisation’s annual conference at Mystery Creek.
NZIPIM president Rob Macnab said rural professionals have a role to play in developing Māori agribusiness. NZIPIM’s board started discussions with Waikato University to see how they could collaborate to help boost the sector.
“From there, the genesis of Tupu Rangatahi – Tupu Ahuwhenua took place.”
Macnab said the new programme will help give Māori agribusiness a future. It was also well supported in the commercial world by companies such as Fonterra, Miraka and Rabobank.
NZIPIM will also have an important role to play in this new programme as role models and as connectors for young Māori and Māori corporations, he said.
“We now have an avenue to grow our rural professionals, to introduce te reo Māori to the experience. The more we put in, the more we will get back.”
It provides a new avenue for Māoridom that will give control over their whenua and give mana back to the rural professional industry, he said.
