The Bay of Plenty has a unique Māori profile with one third of the entire Māori economy in this region. Our demographic profile shows that we have a young and growing population with over 35 Iwi, more than 230 hapū and over 163 marae not to mention our region has the 3rd largest Māori population in the country. Despite these macro drivers, our people still experience major disparities across all social and economic indicators.

Toi Kai Rawa’s strategic focus is to strengthen high value pathways for Māori in this region across education, training and employment.

Our focus:

• Deploy the Māori STEAM Strategy Action Plan
• Deploy the Digital Innovation Hubs in communities which seeks to increase digital fluency and ability for young Māori
• Deploy the Electric garden initiative as part of our Digital innovation hubs which is a simple to use digital tool designed to increase rangatahi engagement in school communities that have school gardens. The concept engages rangatahi through growing food whilst also providing innovative ways for teachers to deliver the new technology and the Hangarau Matihiko curriculum.