MĀORI TEAM NAMED AMONG FINALISTS IN A GLOBAL PHILANTHROPIC CAMPAIGN

A Māori family-owned company based in Auckland has been announced as one of the twelve finalists in the ‘Taiwan Excellence: Sharing is Caring’ campaign, a global campaign which aims to promote sustainability and community wellbeing using innovative products endorsed by Taiwan Excellence Awards.

Māui Energy’s solar energy solution could deliver environmental, economic and social benefits addressing inequities such as energy and financial hardship faced by Māori communities.

They are looking to start with a pilot programme and provide free electricity to two Marae. If successful, this model could be scaled up to other indigenous communities throughout New Zealand and abroad, including Taiwan, the ancestral homeland of Māori people. A short video presentation of the proposal can be viewed at the campaign’s official website.

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The campaign has received 781 robust proposals from 61 nations. The other finalists come from Philippines, Vietnam, Israel, Nigeria, Kenya, Tunisia, USA and Taiwan.

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Three winners of this new global philanthropic initiative will be revealed at a virtual press conference at 6pm on 26 January, 2022 (NZ time). For registration of the press conference or further enquiries, please contact the Economic Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Wellington by email tecowec@taipei.org.nz or phone 04 473 6474 ext. 721.