Technology giant Microsoft has joined Amotai
18 December 2020
Technology giant Microsoft has joined Amotai as an Aukōriki buyer member to support more Māori and Pacific businesses into what is considered a ‘non-traditional’ sector.
Dan Te Whenua Walker (Ngāti Ruanui, Ngā Ruahinerangi, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa, Tuhourangi, Maniapoto) is the Global Co-Chair of Indigenous at Microsoft. A new role he helped create within the company which seeks to improve the internal culture of Microsoft for Indigenous and also looking at ways their technology and software can support and enhance Indigenous communities.
“We created a global Indigenous diversity pillar at Microsoft, where we help build a strategy on how Microsoft can engage with Indigenous communities and how we can design and develop software that will benefit Indigenous peoples around the world,” he explains.
Microsoft adopted a supplier diversity model into their business practice when the concept was first established in America, then continued to follow it with their regional offices around the world as the movement grew into Canada and Australia.
Walker says they have been watching the Indigenous tech space in New Zealand for a while and is hopeful more Māori and Pasifika communities see the value in investing and being a part of the industry.
“Being an Aukōriki buyer member of Amotai means we are able to build a closer relationship with our community and build better partnerships with Māori and Pasifika. Amotai has guided us along this journey in terms of how we engage with local communities and how we can provide software and technology that will create intergenerational change for Māori and Pasifika,” he says.
“There are very few Māori technology organisations. Eight have registered with Amotai so far, so we are very keen to connect and support them and others who want to come through Amotai. Another goal is to help iwi support Māori entrepreneurship through their organisations and help them become Microsoft partners, also.
“I know it’s something unconventional for iwi who usually focus on the primary sector of fishing, forestry and farming but, it will do them well in the future. If we are to truly grow globally, we must also focus on non-traditional sectors like tech,” Walker explains.
Microsoft are proud of their mahi with Indigenous communities and have, to date, celebrated the launch of a te reo Māori artificial intelligence translator and, a version of Minecraft that explores Te Ao Māori with Whetu Paitai and Tiki Studios, which is also the first Indigenous Minecraft in the world. They also implemented digital initiatives with iwi including Ngāti Whātua ki Ōrākei, Ngāti Whātua ki Kaipara, Waikato-Tainui and Ngāi Tahu.
“There are 135 Micosoft employees across New Zealand,” shares Walker. “We may be small in the pool of 150,000 employees globally but we are a mighty team and have been doing amazing mahi with Māori and Pasifika. We know Māori and Pasifika grow when we invest in local communities, hapu, iwi and whānau. If you’re in it for the right reasons, Amotai connects you with the right people.”