Latest news with #Rotorua-based
Scoop
17-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Rotorua Non-Profit Recognised For Excellence In Māori Innovation And Shaping New Zealand's Digital Future
Wednesday, 18 June 2025, 7:37 am Press Release: Digital Natives Academy Members of Digital Natives Academy and M.A.T.C.H celebrate at the 2025 Matihiko Awards in Ōtautahi Christchurch.L–R: Te Ata Rikihana (M.A.T.C.H Project Lead), Te Mana Turner (DNA Rangatahi Representative), Nikolasa Biasiny-Tule (DNA Co-founder/CEO), (DNA Rangatahi Representative), Potaua Biasiny-Tule (DNA Co-founder) A Rotorua-based non-profit that's helping rangatahi re-engage with education and build real-world tech skills has been recognised on the national stage. Digital Natives Academy (DNA) received the Kaupapa Tōtara Award at the 2025 Matihiko Awards in Ōtautahi Christchurch. A prestigious honour celebrating long-term, kaupapa and community driven leadership in the digital and technology sectors. Founded in 2014, DNA was the first non-profit of its kind in Aotearoa New Zealand. It was created to empower rangatahi through culturally anchored tech training in coding, esports, game development, animation, 3D modelling, and digital storytelling, leading to further qualifications and pathways into high-value careers. "We've always believed that when you honour culture and meet young people where they're at, you unlock incredible potential, not just for them, but for their whānau, their communities, and our wider economy' said Nikolasa Biasiny-Tule, co-founder and CEO of DNA. 'When rangatahi are empowered to thrive, everyone benefits.' 'This award recognises over a decade of that vision in action, and the rangatahi who show up every day ready to learn, create and lead.' The Kaupapa Tōtara Award is one of the highest accolades in the Māori tech sector, recognising sustained impact and leadership over time. DNA's approach blends Te Ao Māori (Māori worldviews) with cutting-edge digital education to ensure rangatahi gain both confidence and credentials. 'Our mahi isn't just about teaching digital and creative tech. It's about strengthening identity, building confidence, forming friendships and creating futures. We see young people who felt invisible in mainstream systems light up when they realise they love learning. The skills they gain with us, confidence, motivation, trust all enable them to contribute back to their communities.' 'We're building more than a tech academy, we're building a movement. This win isn't just for DNA. It's for every rangatahi (young person) who feels that they don't belong in tech. We're showing them they absolutely do.' M.A.T.C.H (Māoriland Tech Creative Hub) based out of Otaki, took out the Kaupapa Tipu award which recognises emerging initiatives that demonstrate early-stage impact, innovation, and strong potential to influence the future of Māori participation in the digital and tech sectors. About Digital Natives Academy (DNA) Digital Natives Academy is a non-profit based in Rotorua that supports the community to thrive through culturally grounded exploration of digital and creative tech with a focus on digital wellbeing. Founded in 2014, DNA's vision is to inspire the next generation of digital leaders. About Native Tech Native Tech is the accredited education arm of DNA, delivering NZQA-approved programmes in digital and creative tech. Based in Rotorua, Native Tech blends Te Whare Tapa Wha with hands-on training in coding, content creation, AI, cybersecurity, robotics, game design, internet infrastructure and data governance. Its vision is to illuminate meaningful education-to-employment pathways, while building a future-ready, highly skilled regional tech workforce. © Scoop Media
NZ Herald
25-05-2025
- NZ Herald
Controversial plan to move prisoner reintegration facility takes next step
It was the brainchild of reformed drug lord Billy Macfarlane, who works as general manager, and is run by Tikanga Aroro Charitable Trust, with a contract from the Department of Corrections. Pūwhakamua has been operating on the leased site since 2018 and Corrections has funded it at least $4.6 million since November 2022. The trust aimed to develop a new site on nearby Māori land behind Rotokawa Baths, but landowners successfully sought an injunction through the Māori Land Court, meaning it had to find another new home. The trust applied for resource consent in October to relocate to Waikite, about 40km south of Rotorua. It had requested limited notification be carried out for immediate neighbours and that submissions be invited through a formal process. Community members told councillors last year they opposed the facility relocation, fearing the rural setting increased safety and security risks. They called for full public notification, allowing wider submissions. About 80 people attended a Rotorua Lakes Council meeting in November, most of them for a petition opposing a resource consent application. Photo / Laura Smith The Rotorua Rural Community Board was advised in a meeting on Tuesday the application would be publicly notified. The trust's application said the rural environment meant a 'focus on cultural values can be fostered away from the distractions of an urban environment'. 'Full support and care are provided through the programme via on-site resident staff and external agencies. Residents commit to pursuing lasting change through support with daily life tasks, upskilling programmes, vocational education, personal development and employment.' The trust hit consent issues at its current site this year. On March 5, the council sent an abatement notice ordering the 'unconsented' facility to cease operations and take steps to gain consent. Rehabilitation centres could be considered community housing under the District Plan, but must only have up to eight residents, whose movements could not be legally restricted – including by parole conditions. Pūwhakamua was hosting 14 parolees in February when the council inspected after neighbours raised concerns. The abatement notice was cancelled on March 24. Council destination development group manager Jean-Paul Gaston told Local Democracy Reporting an investigation into activities on the site was ongoing. He declined to comment further, saying the council did not intend to conduct the investigation through the media. Billy Macfarlane, founder of Rotorua-based organisation Pūwhakamua. Photo / Aleyna Martinez Trust chairman Doug Macredie said the abatement notice was a 'non-event based on incorrect information' and was quickly cancelled. 'That said, we've taken the opportunity to review our land use in accordance with tikanga, and will continue in humility and thankfulness.' Macredie said the Waikite Valley consent notification was for the council to decide. 'We are progressing with the full support of our network and observing improved accuracy of information resulting in greater public support.' He previously said no one who could not be safely managed in the community could live at Pūwhakamua and everyone referred was assessed while still in custody. Active gang members were not considered, community safety was the 'No 1 priority' and Pūwhakamua staff were on-site at all times. A Corrections spokesperson said finding safe accommodation for people lawfully required to be released from prison was one of its 'most significant challenges'. 'Without supported accommodation, they could be homeless and living on the streets or in cars. This would present an unacceptable safety risk to communities.' According to Corrections statements, the number of men living on site at Pūwhakamua had fluctuated from eight when the notice was cancelled to nine about two weeks ago and six as of Wednesday. Eight other participants in the programme lived off-site. Corrections' communities, partnerships and pathways deputy chief executive Sean Mason told Local Democracy Reporting last month that it met with trust and council after the abatement notice. He understood the trust sought independent advice to ensure Pūwhakamua was compliant and was keeping Corrections informed. The department had developed a contingency plan in place to safely house the residents if they had needed to leave Pūwhakamua. Mason said reintegration services were important in reducing the risk of reoffending. A communication from the council to the trust, sent to Local Democracy Reporting by Corrections, said the abatement notice was cancelled to allow time for an independent planning consultant to consider an assessment undertaken on behalf of the trust. Laura Smith is a Local Democracy Reporting journalist based at the Rotorua Daily Post. She previously reported general news for the Otago Daily Times and Southland Express, and has been a journalist since 2019. – LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
NZ Herald
16-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Forestry: Rotorua consultant warns of tough times for NZ log exports to China
Since 2019, New Zealand's isolating export log prices have occasionally 'come back' to sub-$100 per cubic metre from an average of $132. At the lower level, he said harvesting for most of the small forests' estate was not viable and, because there was little or no domestic demand, they shut their gates. Tombleson said he had not witnessed such a 'negative outlook' for the industry in his 50-year forestry career. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade report, released in December, said property investment in China fell 10.2% in the first seven months of 2024. October data showed an improvement in housing sentiment. However, the overall picture remained 'challenging' with both investment in real estate and the number of new builds dropping by their fastest rate in October year-on-year. Weak market The MFAT report said structural change in the property sector had weakened economic activity in related sectors of construction and furniture-making, both of which import New Zealand logs and wood products. 'This impacts demand and global prices for New Zealand logs.' MFAT said China's total imports of logs had fallen 36% from 2021-2023 (NZ$16.4 billion to NZ$10.3 billion). The current property slump has been a 'hard market demand correction', meaning that while demand for logs would eventually stabilise, it's likely to do so at a level lower than the heights of 2020-2021. Tombleson said a bulk of New Zealand's log exports initially went to Japan and Korea which completed the same cycle of demand to build infrastructure. 'Then China came in overnight,' he said. 'They could do what no others could in terms of scale.' Tombleson said predictions of a downturn in log exports to China in the next decade 'came forward'. Increasing demand On a brighter note, Tombleson said there was increasing demand from companies such as dairy giant Fonterra in its move away from fossil fuels to wood pellets and wood chips to power boilers. He said regrettably, the increasing demand for biofuels would not be a substitute for the high prices paid by China required to make forestry profitable, particularly for more than 4000 smaller forest owners who were mainly farmers. Fellow forestry consultant Dennis Neilson was similarly concerned about the log trade to China, which he helped initiate in 1985. Following a 'building frenzy' which started in 2008-2009, he said the past four years had seen the sector 'crash quite quickly' in China. This stemmed from factors including an oversupply of logs in relation to previous demand, closure of construction companies through financial issues, and the Covid pandemic. A frequent visitor to China for his Rotorua-based business, Neilson said he did not predict the severity of the downturn in the log trade there. 'It's likely to be subdued for several years before it comes back.' US tariffs While China was not a huge market for sawn timber from New Zealand, the organisation representing sawmills and timber treatment companies was 'nervous' about that sector's biggest trading partner – the United States. New Zealand Timber Industry Federation chief executive Jeff Ilott said proposed tariffs on exports of sawn timber from New Zealand to the US were not due to be introduced until later in the year. 'We will wait and see.' Ilott said for the year to December, exports of sawn timber to China increased from 210,000 cubic metres to about 250,000 cubic metres (returning around $331 per cubic metre). However, he said this did not represent a 'big return' for New Zealand's annual billion-dollar sawn timber export business. NZ Forest Owners' Association board member Marcus Musson said overall, it's not all doom and gloom for the industry, with supply matching demand the key. Fluctuations in the Chinese market were 'not unusual', he said, with some commentators predicting a rebound in construction next year. Musson said the furniture market – NZ logs processed in China and exported to the US – has remained strong, but the proposed tariffs have created some uncertainty. On the home front, he says more biofuel opportunities need to be pursued, as does 'mass timber building' in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors.
Scoop
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Aronui Announces The Return Of The Matariki Drone Show
Press Release – Aronui Arts Festival The free outdoor event that will feature hundreds of drones painting stories across the night sky in a mesmerising blend of light, sound, and narration created by Ngti Whakaue/ Te Arawa artists. The stars are set to align once again above Kouramāwhitiwhiti (Rotorua Lakefront), as Aronui Arts Festival prepares for the launch of a brand new drone show this Matariki June 19 & 20. The free outdoor event that will feature hundreds of drones painting stories across the night sky in a mesmerising blend of light, sound, and narration created by Ngāti Whakaue/ Te Arawa artists. The performance- set to begin at 8pm each night- will honour those who have passed in the last year since the rising and setting of Matariki, lifting their memory to the stars where they will be forever remembered by their loved ones. 'It's more than a show — it's a spiritual moment,' says Mataia Keepa, the Rotorua-based tohunga reo on the creative team. 'It's a time to reflect, to grieve, and to remember together under one sky.' Last year, Aronui's drone show attracted over 30,000 people, combining cutting-edge technology with ancient knowledge in a world-first tribute to the Māori New Year. Aronui CE/ Artistic Director Cian Elyse White says the positive response from the community inspired a bolder return; 'The energy last year was electric- there was such a positive vibe in the city, with people travelling from across the motu to see the show. Matariki holds deep meaning for Māori, and it's wonderful to see the new year being embraced by the wider community'. This year, tohunga reo/ taonga puoro artist Dr. Anaha Hiini joins the team, crafting a live soundscape using traditional Māori instruments to accompany the visual storytelling alongside taonga puoro artist Riki Bennett. For the first time, the entire performance- narrative and music- will be broadcast live on Te Arawa FM, expanding its reach across the region. 'I want it to illuminate the stories, meanings, and traditions behind this sacred time. The show should offer both education and inspiration, helping people not only to understand Matariki, but to feel its presence, history and relevance in our lives today' says Dr. Hiini. The Matariki drone show is the centrepiece of a larger celebration. From 5pm to 9pm each evening, an expanded Rotorua Night Market will showcase food, crafts, and stalls from past Aronui Māori Market vendors alongside regular favourites – turning the lakefront into a vibrant place to spend the Matariki long weekend.
Scoop
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Aronui Announces The Return Of The Matariki Drone Show
The stars are set to align once again above Kouramāwhitiwhiti (Rotorua Lakefront), as Aronui Arts Festival prepares for the launch of a brand new drone show this Matariki June 19 & 20. The free outdoor event that will feature hundreds of drones painting stories across the night sky in a mesmerising blend of light, sound, and narration created by Ngāti Whakaue/ Te Arawa artists. The performance- set to begin at 8pm each night- will honour those who have passed in the last year since the rising and setting of Matariki, lifting their memory to the stars where they will be forever remembered by their loved ones. 'It's more than a show — it's a spiritual moment,' says Mataia Keepa, the Rotorua-based tohunga reo on the creative team. 'It's a time to reflect, to grieve, and to remember together under one sky.' Last year, Aronui's drone show attracted over 30,000 people, combining cutting-edge technology with ancient knowledge in a world-first tribute to the Māori New Year. Aronui CE/ Artistic Director Cian Elyse White says the positive response from the community inspired a bolder return; 'The energy last year was electric- there was such a positive vibe in the city, with people travelling from across the motu to see the show. Matariki holds deep meaning for Māori, and it's wonderful to see the new year being embraced by the wider community'. This year, tohunga reo/ taonga puoro artist Dr. Anaha Hiini joins the team, crafting a live soundscape using traditional Māori instruments to accompany the visual storytelling alongside taonga puoro artist Riki Bennett. For the first time, the entire performance- narrative and music- will be broadcast live on Te Arawa FM, expanding its reach across the region. 'I want it to illuminate the stories, meanings, and traditions behind this sacred time. The show should offer both education and inspiration, helping people not only to understand Matariki, but to feel its presence, history and relevance in our lives today' says Dr. Hiini. The Matariki drone show is the centrepiece of a larger celebration. From 5pm to 9pm each evening, an expanded Rotorua Night Market will showcase food, crafts, and stalls from past Aronui Māori Market vendors alongside regular favourites - turning the lakefront into a vibrant place to spend the Matariki long weekend.
