Kōrero Whakamua is time set aside for you and your pakihi. We sit down together, kanohi ki te kanohi or online, and talk about where you’re at, what you’re proud of and where you want to head next. Then we work out together how to get you there.

Whether we’ve met before or this is our first kōrero, you’re part of the Whāriki whānau and you’re always welcome.

Grounded in Te Tai Tokerau

From Te Rerenga Wairua to the Kaipara, pakihi Māori are at the heart of our communities. You’re creating mahi for whānau, looking after whenua and moana, keeping mātauranga alive, and showing rangatahi what’s possible right here at home.

We know doing business up north comes with its own realities. The distances are big, some markets feel a long way off, and the right connection isn’t always easy to find. But there’s real strength here too: deep whakapapa, strong whanaungatanga, and people who’ll back each other.

Kōrero Whakamua builds on those strengths. We’re local, we know the rohe, and we’re well connected across it, so when we kōrero, we can link you with people and opportunities that make sense for where you are.

How it works

1. We kōrero
We start with you: your pakihi, your whānau, where you’re at and where you want to go. No forms to fill out beforehand and nothing you need to have figured out.

2. We connect
We link you with the people, opportunities, resources and support that can help, through Whāriki and our wider network across Te Tai Tokerau and beyond.

3. We walk alongside you
We check in along the way to see how things are moving, help you through what comes up, and celebrate the wins with you.

Who it’s for

Kōrero Whakamua is open to pakihi Māori across Te Tai Tokerau, at any stage:

• You’ve got an idea and you’re ready to test it
• You’re just starting out
• You’re growing and working out your next move
• You’ve been in business for years and you’re ready for something new

What could we work on together?

• Finding new customers, markets or contracts
• Telling your story and refreshing your brand
• Taking your skills, products or services somewhere new
• Building relationships and partnerships that open doors
• Looking at a sticky challenge with fresh eyes
• Mapping out your next move and how you’ll get there

The details

📍 Where: Kanohi ki te kanohi [locations/how you travel to people] or online
⏱ How long: [session length]
💲 Cost: Kore utu | Free

Pātai | Questions

What should I bring?
Just yourself and whatever’s on your mind. If you’ve got a business plan, website or something you’re working on, feel free to share it, but you don’t need to.

Can I bring someone with me?
Of course. Plenty of pakihi are a whānau effort, so bring whoever makes sense.

What happens after the kōrero?
We’ll follow up with any connections, resources or next steps we talked about, and keep in touch to see how you’re going.

Keen to kōrero?

Tell us a bit about you and your pakihi, and we’ll be in touch to find a time that suits.

Nau mai, haere mai. We can’t wait to hear what you’re building.