Māori and Pasifika whānau wanting to grow their disposable household income have been given the chance to turn their own business ideas into reality.
Photo: antonioguillem/123RF
Te Wharehukahuka is a Māori-led social enterprise and the largest indigenous e-commerce training company in the world which has been on a mission to improve the lives of 10 million indigenous people.
One big way they are doing this is through their e-commerce scholarships worth $1.3m in total, dedicated to indigenous whānau.
E-commerce is the selling or buying of goods and products online such online shopping, business transactions, trading, and services.
The scholarships worth up to $7500 each are available through the company's flagship three month e-commerce and digital marketing programme 'Ka Hao i te Ao'.
'Ka Hao i te Ao' has received some government funding and donations.
The 12-week programme guides Māori and Pasifika students from all ages and backgrounds towards kick-starting their own online business.
The e-commerce training looks to increase disposable income for households and continue to grow the number of indigenous entrepreneurs.
Travis O'Keefe is the chief executive of Te Wharehukahuka and said Ka Hao i te Ao seeks to improve the lives of whānau not just financially but holistically.
"At the end of the day, this is more than just e-commerce, it's about improving family lives because behind every e-commerce entrepreneur we teach, there is a family and the amount of money they generate helps that family unit to overcome the hardships they face.
"We can train Māori and Pasifika from all walks of life in e-commerce, our previous students have been mothers at home, beneficiaries, professionals to even business owners.
"The e-commerce training, we provide can look to increase income into the home, whether it's $100, $250, $1000 a week. This way of course has a multiplier effect, improving health, education, justice and social; thus, having a massive social impact," O'Keefe said.
In 2020, 57 students completed the Ka Hao i te Ao programme.
Participants with no prior business experience or e-commerce store were able to earn between $50 to $1898 in their first week of their store going live and those who did have prior retail business, but no e-commerce experience made between $6850 to $27,980 over the month of November 2020 when they applied their learning from the course.
The 2020 participants included: Former New Zealand professional boxer Shane Cameron (Counter Punch); Māori fashion designer Nichola Te Kiri (Nichola); Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa woman Benita Tahuri (Ihi Free to Fly) and Gisborne single mother of three Holly Maitai (Dirty Mulle).
Shane Cameron, who now owns his own gym, said he was really interested in the online space.
He has had his own boxing brand 'Counter Punch' for the last four years but said participating in Ka Hao i te Ao helped to enhance his business skills and knowledge.
"The Ka hao i te Ao programme certainly brought it to life, it brought me to life.
"We all had a team, a really supportive team, a really smart team."
He said the course gave him the confidence he needed to drive 'Counter punch' further.
"I learnt a lot, it was a great course.
"Now I can actually see what money I make, each day, each week, each month, each year, so I can break it down and I can set myself goals now.
"There were tasks that put you outside your comfort zone which is most important for people to grow in any walk of life," Cameron said.
Applications for Ka Hao i te Ao close mid-August, more information can be found on the Te Wharehukahuka website.
