About Us

Making a difference at a grass roots level

As an innovation team with a laser-like focus on economic equity, TSI’s interest in MPTT is threefold.

Firstly, our active participation in tertiary education gives us first-hand, real-life experience of the pipeline from vocational education to the labour market. It enables us to gather precise insights on what works and what doesn’t, for whom and why, as well as the ecosystem of the public, private and third sector actors involved. This information directly inputs into our strategic policy and systems change work. Without this first-hand experience, our influencing would lack credibility.

Secondly, Māori and Pasifika peoples are overrepresented in construction and infrastructure. The trades can offer great careers and lots of very successful Māori and Pasifika owned businesses are in this sector (check out Amotai) but, for the large part, Māori and Pasifika workers are in the lowest paid positions. We’re not going to reach a balance any time soon, so we need to work with the current situation so that more Māori and Pasifika peoples get the best of what the sector can offer and not the worst.

Thirdly, whilst TSI is a ‘think-and-do’ tank we must also make a tangible difference to real people’s lives. We know that Māori and Pasifika peoples can’t afford to wait for macro-level or systems changes and whilst this is our ultimate goal, we need to make a positive difference at grass roots level at the same time.

That’s why we have a strong, practical focus on labour market entry, attachment and progression because there is no point in running courses if they don’t make a material difference to people’s finances and disrupt economic inequality at a household level.

The Auckland Council family is a large buyer of construction and infrastructure works. Council is also the third largest employer of ICT professionals in Auckland. Whilst this is not a direct driver, we leverage these things to test and trial different approaches and we’ve learnt that there is a unique advantage in being in both the demand and supply sides when prototyping.

Our Team

Atarau Pouwhare-Ellis | Kaihautū

Ngāi Tūhoe, Rakahanga

Atarau, of Ngāi Tūhoe and Rakahanga descent, was born and raised in south Auckland but calls Ōtara home. Her upbringing in south Auckland has deeply influenced her commitment to supporting and empowering her community, countering negative stereotypes.

With 8 years of experience in local government, Atarau has held the following roles, including Youth Engagement Officer and Youth Innovator in Māori and Pasifika trades training. She later transitioned to Healthy Families South Auckland as a Systems Innovator. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Sociology and a minor in Māori Studies from the University of Auckland. Additionally, Atarau currently serves as a trustee on the Student Volunteer Army Board.

At present, Atarau serves as the Kaihautū for TSI Māori and Pasifika Trades Training. In this role, she leads a consortium of private training establishments, service providers, and employer partners to empower Māori and Pasifika communities towards positive pathways.

Wendy Savieti | Engagement & Community Lead

Talafoou, Aitutaki

Wendy is born and bred in Papakura and is a proud south Aucklander. She has ties to Talafoou, Tonga on her father’s side and on her mother’s side, connects back to Reureu and Arutanga in Aitutaki, Cook Islands.

Previously she worked as a Youth Worker (by trade and at heart) for 5 and a half years- A treasured professional experience that has shaped much of her passion to develop rangatahi in every aspect. She has always been heavily involved in sports from a young age which has been a vessel for many of her connections to community.

Her favourite food would be a tough decision between her mums Kale Sipi (Lamb curry) and some authentic pad Thai. If she could be anything in the world, it would be a stay-at-home Aunty or run a business and employ all her family. The advice that I’d give to my younger self would be to “Take every opportunity you can get and Apply yourself”

A quote that drives the mahi she is involved in at MPTT is “A win for one, is a win for their community”.

Governance

We have a governance group that includes a diverse range of people with expertise and connections in the trades, te ao Māori, Pasifika, training, apprenticeships, economic development, gender equity and employers. The board is chaired by Jenny Solomon who now holds four governance roles, consults on diverse projects, and has extensive business acumen.