The Southern Initiative

📣 New Report: New Tech Horizons and the Pasifika Workforce

We're pleased to share the release of New Tech Horizons and the Pasifika Workforce, a new report exploring the impacts of technological change on the Pasifika workforce in Aotearoa.

The future of work is changing rapidly. Artificial intelligence, automation, and emerging technologies are reshaping industries, jobs, and skills requirements at a pace we have not seen before.

Yet many Pasifika workers remain concentrated in industries that are more vulnerable to technological disruption, creating both challenges and opportunities for our communities.

This report explores the sources of future technologically driven vulnerability, resilience, and opportunity for the Pasifika workforce, and identifies areas where action is needed to help ensure Pasifika are not only prepared for the future, but positioned to help shape it.

Fa'afetai tele lava and thank you to the many whānau, community stakeholders, employers, workforce intermediaries, technology experts, learning partners, and contributors who generously shared their knowledge, experiences, and insights with Uptempo and this research over the course of the programme.

We hope this research contributes to the growing conversation about how we build a workforce that is resilient and equipped to succeed in a changing world.

🔗 Read the Reports here: https://www.uptempo.nz/reports
🔗 Read the Full Report here:https://cd12b735-d938-4c4f-a951-2a99bff8ee12.filesusr.com/ugd/b105e7_2821bd94e196464d991bfa0f4f301464.pdf
🔗 Read the Executive Summary here:https://cd12b735-d938-4c4f-a951-2a99bff8ee12.filesusr.com/ugd/b105e7_72382410367c49aa8e2731978eba6bed.pdf

Last year, The Auckland Co-Design Lab marked 10 years as an Aotearoa New Zealand public sector innovation initiative.

To reflect on this milestone, they have recently released a report exploring what they have learned about system level innovation from a decade of working alongside whānau, hapori, The Southern Initiative, and partners across the motu to address complex social challenges.

One of the clearest lessons is that enduring change cannot be delivered through programmes alone. It requires systems that can learn, adapt, and respond to complexity in ways that are grounded in place and connected to the realities of whānau and hapori.

If the first decade of The Lab was about demonstrating what is possible, the next is about making these ways of working more common across the public sector.

We look forward to sharing more of the stories, insights, and learning from The Lab over the coming months.

Read the full report: https://www.aucklandco-lab.nz/the-lab-blog/ten-years-of-the-lab

This week, we welcomed 15 rangatahi to Auckland Council to mark the beginning of their Rangatahi Pathways placements.

Delivered in partnership with Community Climate Action (Mātātahi Taiao), the programme is the first initiative of its kind across Auckland Council and provides rangatahi Māori with paid work placements across the organisation. Over 8-12 weeks, participants will gain workplace experience, develop skills, and explore potential career options while contributing to mahi that supports Tāmaki Makaurau. The programme aims to grow talent and support the next generation of leaders across the region.

Over the coming weeks, participants will be based across Auckland Botanic Gardens, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, Healthy Waters, Libraries, Auckland Emergency Management, Technology, Tūpuna Maunga Authority, and Community Climate Action, gaining insight into the diverse career opportunities available across council.

It was a privilege to welcome our rangatahi and their whānau and celebrate the start of their journey with Auckland Council. We look forward to seeing what they achieve over the coming months🤗

One of the many hands-on experiences at our event - The Niu Horizons: Tech Futures - saw VAKA invite rangatahi to design their own taonga using digital design tools and 3D printing technology 💻🖨️

The workshop helped show how technology can be used as a tool for storytelling, identity, creativity, and innovation - connecting culture with emerging digital skills in a hands-on and accessible way.

Today, the finished taonga were delivered out to schools - here are students from Te Kāpehu Whetū with their finished creations 💜💚

That’s a wrap on The Niu Horizons: Tech Futures for 🚀

Across the day, we welcomed over 120 rangatahi from 8 schools across South and West Auckland to explore technology - creating space for young people to see themselves in industries shaping the future of Aotearoa and the world.

Students took part in fireside talanoa sessions with Māori and Pasifika tech leaders working across AI, digital/creative tech, health tech, and green tech, alongside a hands-on Tech Playground featuring 3D printing, esports, VR, coding, PC building, digital creativity, and plenty of interactive tech experiences 🎮🤖🕶️⚡

More than just a tech event, the day was about visibility, inspiration, and curiosity - planting the seed and helping māori and pasifika rangatahi see that there is a place for them in technology (and, boy did they hear and see it!)

A huge thank you to our talanoa guest panellists - Julia Pahina, Lui Hellesoe, Amy Dove, Tyrone Tangata-Makiri, Will Fleming, Doug Healey, Kat Lintott, and facilitator/MC Allyssa Verner-Pula - along with our Tech Playground exhibitors and partners including WayFYnders, Buzzly, Tū Ātea, GameTan, VAKA , and Te Ngahere for helping bring this event to life 💜💚

📸 Ask Q / Keu Iorangi

Tomorrow, 120+ rangatahi from across ten South and West Auckland High schools will come together at our booked out Techweek event The Niu Horizons: Tech Futures 💜💚

Joined by many friends of The Southern Initiative - including Ngahere, Buzzly, Tū Ātea, VAKA, and GameTan - the day will feature an interactive Tech Playground with hands-on experiences exploring emerging technologies, alongside inspiring fireside talanoa sessions with Māori and Pasifika leaders - including Julia Pahina, Lui Hellesoe, Amy Dove, Tyrone Tangata-Makiri, Will Fleming, Doug Healey, and Kat Lintott.

“You cannot be what you cannot see.”

We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone tomorrow and creating space for inspiration, curiosity, and possibility. ✨

Māori entrepreneurs - this one’s for you (and closing soon!)🔥

Tū Ātea’s Te Ara Pakihi incubator is designed to back Māori founders to grow and scale their businesses - with access to the support, networks, and capital needed to take that next step.

Fully funded (no fees, no equity), with up to $35,000 of support per business - this is about unlocking growth and building in the digital economy, on our own terms.

If you’re in tech, digital, or creative sectors and ready to scale - back yourself and apply today - EOIs close on 18 May.

Learn more 🔗 https://www.tuatea.nz/incubator

It was a big week for MPTT 👏🏽

Last week, TSI MPTT held their annual Projekt YOU Day - bringing together over 80 ākonga and partners for a day grounded in whanaungatanga. It was all about building relationships and strengthening the collective support around where ākonga are heading.

They then carried that momentum into the Amotai Meet the Buyer event at Go Media Stadium, which was a great opportunity for them to connect with industry and strengthen pathways into opportunities for their ākonga.

We look forward to seeing these connections grow and momentum continue 🙌🏽