Our team
We’re a small group of passionate professionals who understand Māori businesses and see innovation as a crucial pathway to success for Māori.
We’re here to tautoko your business by connecting you to the right research and development (R&D) services and co-funding, and the right opportunities and networks, to help you innovate, commercialise and grow faster.
E hara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini.
Who we help
- All entities, iwi organisations, land trusts, incorporations and businesses that self-identify as Māori.
- Companies acquired by Māori as major shareholders.
Pātaka Raraunga
Pātaka Raraunga is a new hub of Māori data, created by Callaghan Innovation in partnership with Figure.NZ. The free tool brings together data from more than 175 different organisations, including government agencies, and presents it in searchable topics and easily digestible charts and tables. It's an essential tool for anyone wanting to make informed decisions that will help Māori and all of NZ thrive.
Sowing the seeds
From Ruatorea to the world – pharmaceutical firm Rua Bioscience is going public to help it take medicinal cannabis products global.
Healthtech innovator Emergency Q named Hi-Tech Māori Company of the Year
In the midst of helping the nation respond to the COVID-19 crisis, healthtech innovator Emergency Q has been recognised with two NZ Hi-Tech Awards.
Read more about Healthtech innovator Emergency Q named Hi-Tech Māori Company of the Year
It’s about whenua and whanau
Wakatū is a Māori family-owned business based in Te Tau Ihu (the top of the South Island). A business of land and sea, Wakatū has three parts: Manaaki, Whenua and Kono
Kōkiri
Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and Callaghan Innovation have teamed up with influential sector leaders to create and roll out Kōkiri
Are you eligible?
We need more Māori businesses to invest in and pursue innovation, commercialisation and growth.
If you are ready, willing and able for R&D, our team is here to help.
You will need:
- A clear commercial proposition and pathway to market for your innovation/product.
- A clear project plan requiring R&D to create the innovation (we can help with this).
- To be ready, willing and able to finance the R&D, then take it to market.
Note: If you are not yet at this stage, please visit one of our Regional Business Partners.
Our services and initiatives
Below are links to some of the initiatives and services available to eligible businesses.
R&D funding
A range of R&D funding to add scale, depth and return to your R&D investment.
Innovation skills
Giving you the knowledge, skills, and motivation to innovate and succeed.
Te Whare a Māui - The Māori Innovation Hub
Connect with other Māori businesses and work alongside Callaghan Innovation's experts at our purpose-built hub for Māori innovators.
Further insights and inspiration
- Ka tū papahū a “Kōkiri” ki Kirikiriroa
- Nuku ki te Puku - turning 'food for thought' into 'food for tech'
- Figure.nz - Find and use figures about our country, for free.
- Business.govt.nz - Tips, tools and advice for New Zealand businesses
- E Rere - The action plan for He kai kei aku ringa.
- Māui Rau: Adapting in a changing world (KPMG)
- Wish we'd thought of that: Amazing Māori innovation (Idealog)
Get in touch to find out how we can help you.