October 28, 2020
Maori business networks get members online
An Ōtaki Māori consultancy is helping Māori business networks from Nelson to New Plymouth boost their members’ online presence.
Amatiatia director Horiana MacGregor says the launch of the Hokohoko Māori Mall website revealed that many Māori businesses, especially those run by wahine, didn’t have a digital presence.
Many can’t afford their own website, so Hokohoko gives them a platform at a site where vendors benefit from sharing traffic.
The initiative has been backed by a $200,000 grant from Te Puni Kōkiri.
Leigh Rau from Kanikani Kids, which makes contemporary kapahaka uniforms and Māori resources including school colours, says she had put websites in the too hard basket, but COVID forced her to look at what else she needed to do to keep her business alive.
She says Hokohoko has given her access to new markets, including overseas schools which want resources for national days.
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