Ko Wai Mātou?

Hāpai Tūhono is a Māori-led career and workforce development organisation dedicated to building pathways that connect rangatahi and whānau into sustainable, meaningful careers while strengthening employer capability across priority industries.  Steeped in Te Ao Māori values, we work alongside communities, whānau, and industry partners to co-design workforce solutions that go beyond traditional employment programmes.  Our approach integrates intensive career mapping, whānau-centred support, and culturally safe recruitment pipelines to ensure Māori not only enter key sectors but thrive within them.

Our mahi focuses on career and workforce development, recruitment, and retention in alignment with our system change projects that are disrupting the status quo.  Through partnerships with employers in social services, urban pest management, and youth work, we provide wraparound services that bridge talent needs with vocational education, including the development of NZQA-aligned micro-credentials and tailored training.  We equip employers with tools to embed cultural competency, retention frameworks, and best practice, ensuring workplaces are not only accessible but empowering for Māori.

Hāpai Tūhono is sector-wide in scope, future-focused, and evidence-driven.  We convene industry collectives, share best practice, and deliver robust evaluation using Kaupapa Māori methodologies and Social Return on Investment analysis. 

By connecting Māori talent to critical workforce needs and uplifting employer capability, Hāpai Tūhono delivers systemic change: a stronger, culturally grounded workforce that benefits rangatahi, whānau, employers, and Aotearoa’s industries alike.