The launch in October last year by 2degrees of the world’s first te reo Māori smart phone is one example of how the ICT industry can fill the appetite that Māori have for their language and culture content in the digital world.

The Huawei smart phone enables users to text, Tweet, Facebook and Google each other in te reo Māori; on a network where there is a significant Māori stake.

2degrees is partly owned by the Hautaki Trust, a subsidiary of Te Huarahi Tika Trust which came about in 2000 to enable Māori a right of purchase over the 3G radio frequency.

A key aim of Te Huarahi Tika is to encourage Māori participation in the knowledge economy through engagement in ICT.

The Minister of Māori Affairs took the first call on the smart phone from Te Huarahi Tika Trust Chair, Daphne Luke.

During the smart phone launch two further initiatives were also announced; both aimed at rangatahi. Accelerating Aotearoa targets senior Māori high school students and connects them with career guidance about ICT training and employment.

The second was $50,000 per annum scholarships for Māori to undertake study towards ICT qualifications at Auckland University; followed by internships at 2degrees during study.

2degrees Director and Hautaki Trust Board member Bill Osborne said that combined; the new handset and initiatives demonstrated the value of the Māori investment in the cell phone company. A report by Venture Consulting showed $2.24 billion of benefits to the economy have already flown from the creation of 2degrees.