"As shareholders in TAGH the rangatahi are effectively owners of this commercial investment company.
"The day was about them learning about TAGH and TAGH learning about them and that there is a career pipeline here at Te Arawa Holdings to come back to. TAGH's mission is about creating wealth and opportunity for the inter-generational benefit of our shareholders and the Rangatahi Business Day enabled TAGH to show some of our rangatahi why we invest, where we invest, what we invest in, who we have key relationships with and where the potential opportunities could be for them."
As well as a visit to Waiotapu and a presentation by inspirational guest speaker and well-respected leader Ian Taylor, founder of technology company Animation Research, the group visited Scion to learn more about the forestry and science business. Ms Neville said Mr Taylor was an encouraging and engaging speaker, who talked about how he saw technology as a platform, especially for young Maori.
The young leaders will all have opportunities for summer internships with Scion, Zespri, Comvita, Waiotapu and Genesis.
Ms Neville said the ones who took part in internships last year did so well the companies want them back.
Waikato University student Roimata Kautai, 21, said it was a great opportunity to be nominated by her iwi. She found the day very inspiring, especially the talk by Mr Taylor about the rapid pace at which technology is changing and how anything is possible for young Maori students.
"It's awesome to see young Maori leaders stepping up in the fields of economics and commerce. It was eye-opening for me as an affiliate and shareholder to learn so much and see the extent of what TAGH does."
Ms Kautai worked as an intern at Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland through the summer holidays and was offered more work during the university holidays.
"I was born and bred in Rotorua and I'm definitely proud to be from Te Arawa and I'll always go back home," Ms Kautai said.
