The relationship of Māori with the land and water encompasses spiritual and cultural, as well as practical and economic, practices.
Yet, like others in the food and fibre sector, it is often difficult to attract rangatahi to the industries and instil in them, and their whānau, the value of careers in the sector.
Muka Tangata has already started work on initiatives to improve pathways in the food and fibre sector.
For example, the focus of the Entry Level project is to review the Level 2 and Level 3 food and fibre qualifications. We will also scrutinise career pathways into the sector and develop suitable education products and standards that enable a wide range of people, including school leavers, to transition into the workforce and ignite a passion employment in the food and fibre sector
of Aotearoa.
One of the aims of this work is to develop an entry level qualification that can be applicable to different industries within the sector. With many Māori landowners wanting to diversify the industries on their whenua, this approach would make it easier for them to give rangatahi a variety of work experiences within their organisations.
Ongoing actions
14. Work with industry and government to promote positive pathways for Māori within the food and fibre sector.
15. Ensure that Māori industry goals are reflected in the Entry Level qualification development project outputs.
16. Develop a digital tool and template to help organisations develop their own workforce development plans that incorporate positive
pathways for their rangatahi.