Stories from Te Tairāwhiti: Tāiki E

We’re proud to launch a dedicated blog series highlighting the incredible mahi (work) made possible through InternetNZ’s community funding in Te Tairāwhiti (the East Coast region of the North Island). Each post in this seven-part series will spotlight the people, projects, and partnerships creating impact across Aotearoa New Zealand.

Our first case study takes us inside Tāiki E Impact House, a unique collaboration hub that’s empowering local communities through creativity, technology and connection. Over the coming blogs, we’ll share the stories, voices, and creative energy behind this kaupapa, and the difference it’s making on the East Coast.

Pictured above: Tāiki E! founders Cain Kerehoma (far left) and Renay Charteris (third from left) with InternetNZ's Ciara Arnot, Senior Community Advisor (second from left) and Ana McAllister, Community Engagement Manager (far right).

Community funding in action

At InternetNZ, we believe the Internet should be a force for good — opening up opportunity, strengthening communities, and enabling a better Aotearoa New Zealand for everyone. But we also know the most impactful change comes from those who understand their communities best.

That’s why we’re proud to partner with Tāiki E!, a kaupapa Māori organisation in Te Tairāwhiti (the East Coast region of the North Island) that’s redefining what digital equity and entrepreneurship look like when led by Māori, for Māori — and in doing so, creating ripple effects that benefit the entire region.

What is Tāiki E!?

Tāiki E! (meaning "to step forward, to advance") is a charitable trust supporting Māori entrepreneurship and innovation. They lead with aroha, with a commitment to systems change and supporting rangatahi, whānau and communities in Tairāwhiti to thrive. Their kaupapa is rooted in Māori values, focusing on whanaungatanga (relationships), manaakitanga (hospitality and care), and kaitiakitanga (guardianship). Every day is different. They work in everything from policy and tech, to entrepreneurship and community development. 

On their website, they highlight the significance of their name. 

"This famous chant is commonly used within Māori karakia to signal that the group is united and ready to progress the purpose of their coming together. ‘Tāiki e!’ is a powerful unifying statement and call to action; a statement of shared commitment to proceed forward with the important work that needs to be done.”

They see technology as a tool with the potential to be transformational, opening up employment, business, and development opportunities for their region. They apply collaborative design principles and entrepreneurial thinking to help empower people.

Tāiki E!'s impact

Through their wide-ranging initiatives, Tāiki E! is unlocking potential across the rohe.

• Haututu Hacklab is a thriving creative technology hub that offers hands-on experiences for entrepreneurs to explore and innovate. It offers training, laser cutting, 3D printing, coding, podcasting, IoT, and more.
• Tāiki E! Next Gen — entrepreneurial learning opportunities for rangatahi aged 14-24 years old in Te Tairāwhiti, blending enterprise with culture and identity.
• Hāpori hubs – co-working spaces, mentorship, and wānanga designed specifically for Māori entrepreneurs.
• Pakihi programmes – tailored support and training to help grow sustainable Māori-led businesses.
• Advocacy – promoting policy shifts that enable Māori economic development and digital leadership.

The power of connection

One of Tāiki E!’s greatest strengths is its ability to build hononga — meaningful connections between people, ideas, and systems.

As co-founder Cain Kerehoma puts it:

“Developing soft infrastructure shifts the focus from quick wins to enduring impact… where relationships and trust-building are seen as assets in their own right.”

This values-based approach creates the conditions for transformational change — where rangatahi, entrepreneurs, iwi and hapū can co-create digital solutions grounded in mātauranga Māori.

Next up — part two: flipping the script 

In the next blog, we explore flipping the script on the funding rules and what a community-led funding model could be. What if we stepped back from the overseer role and stood alongside as a partner, giving Te Tairāwhiti the space to decide what mattered most?

InternetNZ funding

This partnership is made possible through funding from our community grants programme, made possible by the people and businesses who choose a .nz domain name. Every .nz helps us give back to communities, supporting projects like this one that grow digital equity, innovation, and opportunity across Aotearoa New Zealand.

We are proud to support Tāiki E’s work through funding, advocacy, and partnership. Together, we are:

• Increasing digital access and literacy among Māori entrepreneurs
• Supporting the creation of Māori-led digital tools and solutions
• Promoting the Internet as a tool for whānau, hapū and iwi development

“We wanted to look at how we could use this really powerful tool — technology — to awhi and support our communities, our people, in all sorts of different ways." — Cain Kerehoma