The Southern Initiative

28/05/2026

One of the many hands-on experiences at our event - The Niu Horizons: Tech Futures - saw VAKA invite rangatahi to design their own taonga using digital design tools and 3D printing technology 💻🖨️

The workshop helped show how technology can be used as a tool for storytelling, identity, creativity, and innovation - connecting culture with emerging digital skills in a hands-on and accessible way.

Today, the finished taonga were delivered out to schools - here are students from Te Kāpehu Whetū with their finished creations 💜💚

28/05/2026

That’s a wrap on The Niu Horizons: Tech Futures for 🚀

Across the day, we welcomed over 120 rangatahi from 8 schools across South and West Auckland to explore technology - creating space for young people to see themselves in industries shaping the future of Aotearoa and the world.

Students took part in fireside talanoa sessions with Māori and Pasifika tech leaders working across AI, digital/creative tech, health tech, and green tech, alongside a hands-on Tech Playground featuring 3D printing, esports, VR, coding, PC building, digital creativity, and plenty of interactive tech experiences 🎮🤖🕶️⚡

More than just a tech event, the day was about visibility, inspiration, and curiosity - planting the seed and helping māori and pasifika rangatahi see that there is a place for them in technology (and, boy did they hear and see it!)

A huge thank you to our talanoa guest panellists - Julia Pahina, Lui Hellesoe, Amy Dove, Tyrone Tangata-Makiri, Will Fleming, Doug Healey, Kat Lintott, and facilitator/MC Allyssa Verner-Pula - along with our Tech Playground exhibitors and partners including WayFYnders, Buzzly, Tū Ātea, GameTan, VAKA , and Te Ngahere for helping bring this event to life 💜💚

📸 Ask Q / Keu Iorangi

20/05/2026

Tomorrow, 120+ rangatahi from across ten South and West Auckland High schools will come together at our booked out Techweek event The Niu Horizons: Tech Futures 💜💚

Joined by many friends of The Southern Initiative - including Ngahere, Buzzly, Tū Ātea, VAKA, and GameTan - the day will feature an interactive Tech Playground with hands-on experiences exploring emerging technologies, alongside inspiring fireside talanoa sessions with Māori and Pasifika leaders - including Julia Pahina, Lui Hellesoe, Amy Dove, Tyrone Tangata-Makiri, Will Fleming, Doug Healey, and Kat Lintott.

“You cannot be what you cannot see.”

We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone tomorrow and creating space for inspiration, curiosity, and possibility. ✨

06/05/2026

Māori entrepreneurs - this one’s for you (and closing soon!)🔥

Tū Ātea’s Te Ara Pakihi incubator is designed to back Māori founders to grow and scale their businesses - with access to the support, networks, and capital needed to take that next step.

Fully funded (no fees, no equity), with up to $35,000 of support per business - this is about unlocking growth and building in the digital economy, on our own terms.

If you’re in tech, digital, or creative sectors and ready to scale - back yourself and apply today - EOIs close on 18 May.

Learn more 🔗 https://www.tuatea.nz/incubator

06/05/2026

The energy says it all 🙌🏽 Love to see it TSI Māori and Pasifika Trades Training 👏🏽

28/04/2026

It was a big week for MPTT 👏🏽

Last week, TSI MPTT held their annual Projekt YOU Day - bringing together over 80 ākonga and partners for a day grounded in whanaungatanga. It was all about building relationships and strengthening the collective support around where ākonga are heading.

They then carried that momentum into the Amotai Meet the Buyer event at Go Media Stadium, which was a great opportunity for them to connect with industry and strengthen pathways into opportunities for their ākonga.

We look forward to seeing these connections grow and momentum continue 🙌🏽

19/04/2026

📣 Upcoming Practice Foundations Session: AI Civics in Practice: Strengthening Agency for Whānau and Hapori

In this upcoming session, The Auckland Co-Design Lab is excited to welcome Tyrone Tangata-Makiri (Kūki ʻĀirani, Ngāpuhi) as our kaikōrero, sharing his experiences working with AI alongside hapori and within his own whānau.

Using real examples, Tyrone will explore how whānau and hapori are engaging with these tools - and how they can be used in ways that support whānau aspirations and enable more collective forms of decision-making.

Date: Wednesday 6 May
Time: 9:30am - 11:00am
Location: Online

🔗 Join the mailing list to receive an invite directly: https://aucklandco-lab.us11.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=bbd6d8e3097b59dd94a37167a&id=8c3788c29b

Practice Foundations is a monthly online public sector community of practice, hosted by The Auckland Co-Design Lab and Healthy Families Far North, where practitioners share practical tools, insights, and real-world examples of whānau-centred and mātauranga-led approaches making a difference across Aotearoa. Learn more about Practice Foundations: https://www.aucklandco-lab.nz/practice-foundations

15/04/2026

📣 Check out this upcoming exhibition by the Kākano Youth Arts Collective.

The rangatahi of Kākano Youth Arts Collective have been back in the studio - exploring a range of techniques from printmaking and painting to clay and spray work - bringing together a fresh and diverse body of work. Now, they’re ready to share it.

This exhibition is free - come along and support these emerging artists and experience the creativity coming through our communities. 👇🏼

ANNOUNCING OUR NEXT EXHIBITION!!💥 ⚡️RUN IT BACK⚡️

A new exhibition by the rangatahi of

Our young artists have been creating new work in the studio and we’re excited to share it with the community.

📍 Barrel Store –
📅 20–24 May 2026

✨ Opening Event
Wednesday 20 May - 11 AM

Free entry - all welcome.

Save the date and come support the creativity of our young makers!

Check the event here: https://www.facebook.com/share/1HW22Qp7Vm/

13/04/2026

⏰ Just one week to go - and only a few tickets left!

If you’ve been thinking about coming along to Amotai 's Meet the Buyer events, this is your sign.

The Meet the Buyer events bring together a powerful room of buyers and suppliers - real kōrero, real connections, and real opportunities. This year, they're heading back to Go Media Stadium for the largest Meet the Buyer event - Tāmaki Makaurau!

Expect an evening of:

✨ Kanohi ki te kanohi connection
✨ Insights into upcoming procurement opportunities
✨ A room full of businesses committed to more inclusive supply chains in Aotearoa

And the best part - it’s free for all Amotai suppliers.

🎟️ Final tickets available: https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/meet-the-buyer-tamaki-makaurau-tickets-1981096552117?aff=odcleoeventsincollection

11/07/2023

FREE EVENT - Papatoetoe Matariki - Hāngi Hakari

Come join us to celebrate Matariki this Saturday 15th July, 10am - 1pm, outside New World Papatoetoe.

We wil have workshops, activities, and games for kids, all day sausage sizzle, fruit smoothies, cultural performances, concluding the day with a Hāngi Hakari.

Bought to you by Papatoetoe Business Community Collective, Papatoetoe Food Hub, New World Papatoetoe & The Roots: Creative Entrepreneurs

Sponsored by Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board