Tahia Te Ara Ki Te Ao Marama: Educating for What?

Ropata Taylor knows his place in the world. Originally from Otepoti in Dunedin, Ropata is a project manager for Wakatu Incorporated - one of the country's largest Māori owned corporations. Wakatu Incorporated has a diverse commercial portfolio in seafood, land and property.

"In some ways it was a hard decision to come and live in Nelson, as opposed to Tokyo, or New York or Sydney where there are large populations, where there'd be challenges all the time."

Ropata's indecision was fuelled by his feelings of being at home in a global society, knowing he belongs and has something worthwhile to contribute. "I do think being Māori means being part of a global society. The world does want to know us, we're an important part of the world, and lifelong education is key to this."

At 29, Ropata holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Graduate Diploma (distinction) from Otago University, and a Certificate in Company Directorship from the New Zealand Institute of Directors. He intends studying for a Masters Degree in Business Administration.

Work-wise, Ropata has been a lecturer Māori studies at Otago polytechnic, a teacher and dean at Nelson College, and part time visiting lecturer supporting te reo Māori teachers at Christchurch College of Education. He is on the Nelson, Marlborough conservation board, the Ngati Rarua Atiawa iwi trust and Te Awhina marae committee of management. He's also a former trustee of the Te Atiawa iwi trust, and former member of the Māori advisory committee on resource management in Tasman Bay. All evidence that Ropata keeps an eye on the bigger - global - picture.

"Governance is something I have a passion for, as Māori we have always been good at forecasting what's going to happen in the future. We often talk about our mokopuna and tamariki and those generations to come, and that's essentially what governance is about - having that bird's eye view."

And governance is the focus of Ropata's one-year internship with Wakatu where he is aligning the company's business practice with the values and principles of tikanga Māori.

"An example is, say, making sure it's possible to have a locker blessed when a Māori employee passes away," he says.

He's also interested in how good governance helps the connection of Māori and non-Māori cultures in business practice and communication. "In the business world people say Māori attachment to land is not the best, you want to have a contractual relationship with your assets, not an emotional one, or you're not in a position to liquidate and turn it into equity. What I'm saying is there are different ways to do things.

"Sure, it involves a bit of analysis and looking at both sides of the coin, but for too long the Māori view has been marginalised as not important or relevant. What I'm trying to show is that it is important - it can add value."

Successful connection of the business and Māori worlds can been seen in the country's only Māori winery, Tohu. Jointly owned by Wakatu (50 percent), Ngāti Rarua, Ngāti Atiawa Trust (33 percent), and the Wi Pere Trust (17 percent), Tohu's wines are extremely popular with native Americans.

"It comes from our land and waters, and all our land and water is ancestral, so we market these resources as part of us. It makes sense because the profits we generate are used to support our people so they can achieve self-determination and independence."

In five years they hope to be one of New Zealand's larger exporters of wine.

"Our point of difference is it's high quality wine made by indigenous people. It's marketed as a gift from our lands, from the place that time began which has been really successful - the international world loves it."

At just 24 Jarrod Buchanan has a lot of overseas-based education under his belt. In Tasmania, Australia, he achieved a four-year Bachelor of Applied Science (aquaculture) with honours, during which time he spent a year in Canada on a university exchange scholarship.

After finishing his degree, he taught in Japan for a year, where he snagged another training scholarship, this time with Japanese fisheries company, Nissui.

Studying overseas was prompted - in part - by his mum, who saw Te Ohu Kai Moana (TOKM), or the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission, scholarships advertised in Mana magazine.

"She pointed out the scholarship which provided the opportunity to study aquaculture in Tasmania - I had a quick read, and decided it was me! Things moved from there, and with the support of my whānau and the endorsement of my iwi, I applied, was interviewed, and was off!"

Actually Jarrod had long been interested in aquaculture. His uncle was in the industry, he'd researched paua-culture techniques for a school project and just before his interview, he'd written an essay on the pros and cons of aquaculture for a seventh form biology exam.

Now back in New Zealand, Jarrod has started a year-long contract as a fresh fish analyst with Nelson-based firm, Sealord. Here, he assists with developing the company's new high return growth area - fresh-fish trading. Mostly Jarrod builds and maintains relationships with quota holders - primarily iwi, fishermen and processors. Together they work to get the best price for their products while maintaining top quality and reputation.

"I'm also going to get involved with aquaculture strategic development - it's all cutting edge, exciting stuff where I'll be out talking to and working with iwi.

"Fisheries is important to Māori and to New Zealand," says Jarrod. "We're major stakeholders in the industry, primarily through quota holdings and iwi-based enterprises and companies. But also through TOKM subsidiaries like Sealord and Moana Pacific. The number of Māori employed in the industry is also significant, and so too are the customary rights and rangatiratanga issues connected to this resource," he says.

Originally from the Hutt Valley, Jarrod takes great pride in working for a company with 50 percent Māori ownership, and where he can make a positive impact.

"I'm going to do the best I can here. I plan to get a feel for Nelson, become a mentor for Māori secondary school students by getting stuck into the reo, and kapahaka, and see where I can go from here."