19/02/2026
Last week we wrapped up another incredible season of the Toi Ki Tua Professional Māori Internship Programme 💛
And this year felt extra special. We are now five years into this kaupapa.
Five years of backing tauira Māori.
Five years of building employer partnerships.
Five years of watching tauira step into spaces and realise they belong there.
We came together to celebrate our interns, their whānau, and the employers who helped make this journey possible.
Watching this cohort grow over the summer has been something special. Each intern stepped into new and unfamiliar environments with courage. They built confidence, strengthened networks, and proved what happens when talent is supported by opportunity and community.
To our employer partners, thank you for continuing to open your doors. Hosting an intern isn’t just a summer placement. It’s succession planning. It’s leadership development. It’s actively shaping the future workforce of the Bay of Plenty.
To our interns, we are incredibly proud of you. You leave with more than experience. You leave with belief, clarity, and proof that you belong in the rooms you’re walking into next.
This year alone, we received far more applications than we had placements available. The demand is growing. The talent is undeniable. The opportunity ahead of us is even bigger.
Five years in and we’re only just getting started.
Ngā mihi nui to everyone who stands behind this kaupapa. Your support makes this possible.
