Ideation Weekend inspires rangatahi and wahine Maori

To kick off TechWeek 2018, Maori Women Development Inc (MWDI), Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) and blockchain company Centrality joined forces to deliver Te Hui Auaha – a gathering of innovation which will be a practical learning experience for Māori as a precursor to the national DIGMYIDEA Maori Innovation challenge.

The DIGMYIDEA Ideation Weekend was a two-and-a-half-day event designed to bring both aspiring Māori digital entrepreneurs and mentors together to help develop and grow ideas into quality business ventures using technology.

Māori Womens Development Inc CEO Teresa Tepania-Ashton says she was "excited about strengthening our partnership with ATEED as well as providing rangatahi, wāhine Māori and their whānau a safe environment to develop their ideas, to consider how technology can impact their business and to learn all the different ways tech can transform the way they do business".

Centrality partnerships and ventures GM Andy Higgs, which is sponsoring this event, says, "This is a wonderful opportunity for Centrality to help build awareness among Māori of the power of blockchain and how this will impact the future of communication, data use, information and connecting with one another.

"We are also grateful to the team from Launch Space who will be running the tech workshops as we want to be part of helping Māori understand and be part of the blockchain revolution".

The weekend kicked off with a special opening event Friday evening and 24 hours of group ideation and development.