We have drawn on the experiences of a group of established business owners who are leaders in a wide range of industries to act as your kaiāwhina. They provide objectivity and will act as sound boards, listening to your ideas and helping you to flesh them out more as well as challenging some of your assumptions. Your kaiāwhina will provide advice and guidance as well as drawing on their own networks to help you realise your business goals.

Over the years, the network has relied on publicly funded mentoring programmes. This has not always served our members well as they were driven by government policy rather than the needs of our membership. The Manaakitanga initiative has been designed by our members and is based in kaupapa Māori.

​Manaakitanga is an informal support programme, it does not have a structure and you may meet only once to clarify a particular situation, or the relationship may be extended on the agreement of the kaiāwhina and yourself. Our kaiāwhina give their time and knowledge on a voluntary basis, those receiving the support are expected to reciprocate with a koha. The koha may be buying a cup of kawhe, some kai or a similar acknowledgement of their time and contribution.