18 December 2025: Te Ara Pōtiki is pleased to announce the selection of three emerging Māori innovators who will travel to the United States in early 2026 as part of a three-month immersion across the agrifood innovation ecosystem.

Te Ara Pōtiki Associate Director Francene Wineti says interest in the programme has grown rapidly, with this year’s registrations the highest to date.

“We received a breadth of registrations from rangatahi Māori across the country, and selecting the final cohort was incredibly difficult,” she says. “The drive, talent and aspirations shown by these young Māori leaders are inspiring. We’re excited to support them as they gain invaluable experience overseas and return home with knowledge that will uplift their communities and the wider sector.”

The cohort will be placed within organisations across the United States that sit at the forefront of agrifood innovation, drawing on Te Ara Pōtiki’s strong network of U.S. based businesses. Further information about their specific placements will be announced in the New Year.

Te Ara Pōtiki was established in 2023 and co-founded by Arama Kukutai, Francene Wineti and Dean Tilyard to address a critical gap between tertiary study and long-term career development in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and mātauranga Māori (STEMM).

“Te Ara Pōtiki was created to build a post-study pathway for career development in STEMM, which is critical to New Zealand’s economic development,” says Wineti.

“It is also critical for the Māori economy to keep taking steps forward. While the Māori economy has grown significantly, it remains heavily weighted towards natural resource investment - land, farming and fisheries - with increasing momentum now emerging in areas such as renewable energy. Te Ara Pōtiki help ensure Māori talent is equipped to lead and diversify where that economy goes next.”

The establishment of Te Ara Pōtiki was supported through seed funding from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), enabling the programme to develop its international partnerships and pilot new pathways for rangatahi Māori.

Te Ara Pōtiki also acknowledges the generous support of Waikato Tainui for the 2026 cohort, alongside other private and values-aligned supporters who contribute through a range of sponsorship and partnership pathways to enable these opportunities.

“Our sponsors play a vital role in making opportunities like this possible,” says Wineti. “Their commitment ensures our rangatahi Māori can step onto the world stage with confidence and strong cultural grounding. We warmly encourage other iwi and organisations to explore how they might support future cohorts — it’s a powerful way to invest in the next generation of Māori talent and strengthen our collective impact.”

2026 Te Ara Pōtiki Cohort

Tahuariki Ross-Hotene (Ngāti Hauā)
BSc (Physics), PGDipSci (Environmental Science), MSc (Energy Science & Technologies)
Supported by Waikato Tainui

Tahuariki brings a strong academic background in energy systems, sustainability and environmental science. He is eager to approach the programme with an open mind and share insights from his experience with communities in Aotearoa.

Sidney Robcke (Waikato Tainui)
BSc & MSc (Environmental Science, University of Waikato)
Supported by Waikato Tainui

Sidney specialises in ecology and environmental science, with growing interests in restoration ecology, hydrodynamic modelling and climate-related research. She is passionate about inspiring rangatahi - particularly young wāhine - to explore pathways in STEM.

Taylor Rewiti-Hibbard (Ngati Rangi)
PhD (Biotechnology, Victoria University of Wellington)
Supported by private sponsor

Taylor, a biotechnologist and independent thinker shaped by both research and startup environments, is looking forward to engaging with the U.S. agrifood landscape. He is particularly interested in deepening his connection to the Māori economy and representing the programme as a strong ambassador.

Impact of the Programme

Previous participant Erena Calder-Hawkins says the experience reshaped her understanding of what was possible.

“The experience opened my eyes to possibilities I hadn’t considered. It made me realise I could push myself further, take on new challenges, and look for a role that aligned more closely with the kind of impact I wanted to make.”

Looking ahead

Registrations for the 2027 Te Ara Pōtiki cohort will open mid-year. Young Māori innovators interested in gaining hands-on experience in the United States agrifood ecosystem are encouraged to keep an eye on Te Ara Potiki’s channels for updates and key dates.

For media enquiries, interviews or further information, please contact:

Francene Wineti
Telephone: +6421375125