Poutama & AgResearch whānau – pictured
An important new partnership between AgResearch and Poutama will maximise the skills, networks, and capabilities of both organisations to help whenua-based (land-based) businesses and communities flourish.
Poutama is an independent charitable trust established to provide business development services to Māori, and shares with AgResearch the value of kotahitanga (unity) and a vision to support those communities and businesses, while also contributing to social, environmental, cultural, and economic outcomes for current and future generations. This includes a commitment to providing the right research solutions to meet the needs of today and tomorrow.
Fittingly, the partnership between the two organisations is called the Kotahitanga Agreement.
Tai Harmer (Pae Tuhono, Mātai Ahuwhenua), says it is also a fitting collaboration when the stepped pattern of the poutama represents the various levels of learning and intellectual achievement and the whakataukī (proverb) Āta Mātai, Mātai Whetū that was gifted to AgResearch from kaumātua Tom Roa means to remain grounded and relevant to the needs of today, whilst shooting for the stars to address the needs of tomorrow.
“The opportunity to partner with Poutama presents greater opportunity for AgResearch to support Māori needs alongside a long-standing, trusted and respected Māori organisation,” Tai says.
“This partnership also enables Poutama initiatives to leverage the relationships and capabilities that AgResearch can offer.”
“Together, we aim to prepare and position the Māori primary sector to respond and develop resilience for continuous disruption, develop a flow of research collaborations to progress identified and yet to be identified opportunities, and accelerate the development and direction of cluster interest groups among Māori, non-Māori and international business. One of these cluster interest groups spearheaded by Poutama is the Movers in Hemp Innovation (MiHI) group. Through our partnership, we aim to accelerate the development of MiHI through active management involving AgResearch.”
Poutama Chief Executive Richard Jones says Poutama is pleased to consolidate its relationship with AgResearch, which is the result of many years of idea and experience sharing.
“The signing of the Kotahitanga Agreement demonstrates that both organisations are committing to work together to help develop and drive initiatives in support of whenua-based enterprise. In addition to both parties working on the development of MiHI, work is also underway with Poutama’s other collaborative efforts such as with the Wairoa Group and Waiū Dairy. Both organisations see lots of potential for expanding and accelerating a collaborative approach to supporting Māori enterprise through the fusing of tikanga and mātauranga Māori with connections, science and research.”
Richard says Poutama has a focus on “connecting the disconnected.”
“By that it is meant that often Māori enterprises are so busy running their activities that they sometimes do not connect the dots. This is where Poutama’s connections, relationships, and networks come into play.”
