Advisory group named for Māori ICT Development

Eight people have been appointed to the the Māori ICT Development Fund Expert Advisory Group, announced by Communications Minister Amy Adams and Māori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell.

The Government allocated $30 million In Budget 2014 for a Māori ICT Development Fund to support Māori economic development and support access to Māori language and culture through digital literacy initiatives.

The group will provide advice about how the fund will work including its objectives and the design of an operational framework. It will also make recommendations to the Ministers' about how the grant should be spent.

"It has important work to do to ensure the fund is used to its full potential and the new members bring a broad cross-section of skills and experience to the group", says Flavell.

The Māori ICT Development Fund Expert Advisory Group will look to confirm the operational framework of the fund and investment priorities later this year.

Adams says, "There are a wide range of initiatives that this fund could support, such as projects to improve digital literacy, scholarships to encourage Maori to study ICT, or programmes aimed at increasing the use of ICT by Maori businesses, so we want to see the fund in operation as soon as practicably possible.

Each member has been appointed for a term of three years.

The five Māori ICT and Business members are:

·       Antony Royal (Chair)

·       George Reedy

·       Vanessa Clark

·       Ian Taylor

·       Warren Williams

Three ex-officio members are:

·       Di Grennell – Te Puni Kōkiri

·       Paul Alexander – Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment

·       Georgina Whata – Callaghan Innovation