INITIATIVE TO ASSIST MĀORI AND PACIFIC RANGATAHI IN THEIR FIRST YEARS OF UNIVERSITY
Māori and Pacific are dramatically underrepresented across Aotearoa’s key sectors. In the healthcare industry, only 6.7%
identify as Pacific and 12.7% as Māori. To address this, The Middlemore Foundation have today launched The Future Forecast, a data-led project to equip corporates, c-suite executives and journalists with the information they need to include
Māori and Pacific rangatahi in their business development plans for the future.
The data tells a difficult story. By 2040, over 35% of the population will be Māori and Pacific Island. Yet, our
rangatahi growing up in South Auckland face deep inequities that are holding them back in alarming ways. This project
sets out to change that.
Says Middlemore Foundation’s CEO, Margi Mellsop “We are proud to stand alongside Middlemore Hospital to change the game for rangatahi and our community . The Health
Science Academies established by the Hospital in partnership with local high schools have successfully helped 1000’s of
students realise their potential in a health or science career. The Middlemore Foundation Scholarship Fund will equip
these students with the tools they need to take the next steps towards their career. With so many Academies working hard
to retain students over lockdown – this could not come at a more crucial time.”
Lemisio Andy, Occupational Therapist at Middlemore Hospital believes that “by supporting initiatives like this, we can continue to
guide the next generation with similar backgrounds to me towards creating positive health outcomes for our Māori and
Pacific populations.”
Hosted online, The Future Forecast tells the true depths of inequities South Auckland rangatahi face to make their way in the world, particularly in the
healthcare system which sees drastic under-representation.
With interactive graphs, illustrations and outlinks to data sources, it makes an extremely compelling case: if those in
positions of power do not change their hiring practices and invest in the future talent, these deficits will perpetuate
and their business will be left behind with it.
To launch, CEOs of some of Aotearoa’s most influential companies have received a tag in their inbox from the Google
Presentation. An investment as small as $5,000 into their future budget forecasting will equip one young person with
extra financial support they can use to get through their first years of university.
This project is not just a one-off commitment. This data will be tracked over the coming years as a way for us to stay
accountable for the future of Aotearoa.
The Future Forecast is accessible for reading, sharing, investing-in, presenting and downloading here.