New digital hub aims to boost business and learning opportunities in Northland

A business and digital technology hub opened last week in Kaikohe with the aim to create employment and training opportunities for Ngāpuhi and help Kaikohe businesses thrive.

Te Kona Digital, Business and Learning Hub was built by Kaikohe's Te Kotahitanga E Mahi Kaha Trust which will use new classrooms to deliver training programmes in primary industries and horticulture, expanding later into business administration, building and carpentry.

The building was officially opened and blessed last Friday (April 9) and was attended by supporters including Foundation North staff.

The building includes conference rooms for meetings, hui and wānanga, hot desks for hire, video conferencing facilities including a Zoom room, training areas and reliable wi-fi.

“Foundation North is honoured to support this important mahi and to see it come to fruition by being blessed and opened is great,” said Peter Tynan, Foundation North Chief Executive.

“The learning opportunities and development possibilities for the community of Kaikohe and Te Tai Tokerau is immense. I am excited to see the burst of innovation and creativity that comes from Te Kona in the coming years. It is a seed that I hope will grow into something much bigger.”

In December 2020, Foundation North approved an Impact grant of $250,000 towards meeting costs of fitting out Te Kona interior. A Community grant of $110,000 was also approved in 2019 which helped towards operational development and organisational leadership.

Te Kotahitanga E Mahi Kaha Trust has played a vital role for Māori in and around Kaikohe through education and training; youth and whanau support services; health and fitness and economic development.

Along with Foundation North, Te Kona has received support from the government’s Provincial Development Unit, as well as the J R McKenzie Trust and Tindall Foundation.