Pou Kapūa Academy of Indigenous Arts and Technology:

Sharing our knowledge and skills for the creation of unique cultural taonga, expressed in art pieces, design forms and technologies as we work towards enhancing the Mauri (life essence), Wairua (spirituality) and the Mana
(integral prestige) for the health, wealth and well-being of our peoples.

The Pou Kapūa Academy will set a new international standard in Māori, Pacific and Indigenous Arts and Technology. The Academy supports the aims of Aotearoa/New Zealand and its peoples to participate more fully in the knowledge society and economy by enhancing education, stimulating innovation, and identifying opportunities for creating wealth from ideas and knowledge. The Academy will be a crucial enterprise for the development and transmission of traditional and contemporary knowledge and will focus on several aspects of development, namely: teaching and learning; research and creative work; economic advancement; and Indigenous business incubation.

(i) Teaching and Learning

We will provide a teaching and learning experience within an enjoyable environment that encourages academic excellence and critical reasoning, whilst advancing each participant’s skills, abilities and competencies.

We will retain a strong commitment to research-based teaching and learning of traditional and contemporary arts and technology, including:

• Whakairo: all aspects of traditional wood carving – taonga, whare, waka
• Sculpture: in all media inc. wood, stone, metal, glass, ceramic, pounamu
• Kōhatu (stone), pounamu
• Kōwhaiwhai: drawing, painting
• Raranga: weaving - kete, mats, baskets, flowers, animals, birds
• Kākahu: clothing, cloaks, korowai, tāniko
• Ta Moko: tattoo
• Furniture & Furnishings
• Music & dance: all aspects music, song and dance, kapa haka, waiata
• Kai: nutrition, hospitality
• Digital technology: software, hardware, games, graphics, web design
• Film and Television

(ii) Research and Creative Work

We will carry out research and creative work which seeks to understand the complexities and dynamics of Māori, Pacific, and Indigenous people’s culture and people. The works will provide for their cultural expression through multiple media, spanning arts and technology, and will lead to positive outcomes for them and those with whom they engage.
We will promote research alliances and collaborative partnerships, both indigenous and non-indigenous with other academic institutions, public agencies, the private sector, and communities, across Aotearoa/New Zealand, and internationally.

(iii) Economic Advancement

The Academy will promote, foster and strengthen any initiatives and programs that encourage enterprise and entrepreneurship encourages and enhances self-leadership and self-management, and advance the economic self-determination of Māori, Pacific and Indigenous peoples. We aim, with the assistance of strategic partners within central government (inc. Ministry of Economic Development) and local government (inc. Manukau City Council), private sector (eg. TelstraClear); and communities (inc. Marae) to help build profitable, high-growth businesses.

(iv) Indigenous Business Incubator

The Academy would encouraging clustering, and includes the development of a business incubator with comprehensive programmes built around:

• Visioning, Organisational Culture
• Product Development – resources, processes
• Intellectual Property – position, strategies
• Business Planning – strategic, financial,
• Market Validation – market research, messaging, positioning, distribution
• Networks, Relationships, Partnerships
• Good governance and management – processes, tikanga, ethics, leadership
• Compliance – accounting, legal, reporting
• Operations – processes and planning
• Funding – strategies, partnerships, investment

The Academy will be purpose-built and will provide an exciting and energising place and space for excellence to flourish. It will be a place where teaching and learning, research and creative works, and business development will be enjoyable and memorable.

It will be a place where all will benefit from the core values of the Academy, namely, Tapu and Mana, Whanaungatanga, Manaakitanga, Kaitiakitanga, Rangatiratanga, Tohungatanga, Kotahitanga and Tino Rangatiratanga.

What we need to help make this a reality:

People – People – More People
- with expertise, energy, passion and time
Resources – Resources – More Resources
- land, buildings, goods (e.g. equipment), services (e.g. legal, architectural)
Funding – Funding – More Funding
- for everything ..........

If you want to be involved in creating something truly incredible .......
Contact Tania now on:
- Mobile: 021 389 169
- Email: tania.wolfgramm@xtra.co.nz