March 22, 2021
Dunedin, Otago
New Zealand
For Immediate Release
Virtual Production Dojo and INNOV8HQ officially partner to empower more creatives in Otepoti – Dunedin and greater New Zealand. INNOV8HQ recently launched their flagship Mana Rangatahi (MR) youth programme (aged 18-24yrs) developed in January 2020 by Heidi Renata, Co-founder and CEO of INNOV8HQ based on frameworks adapted from Mātauranga Māori.
MR applies a whole-person approach focusing on re-establishing life skills and aligning these with life, career ambitions and related skill pathways. Rangatahi are introduced to critical thinking and resilience practice for the modern world of mahi, work. An integral part of the success of Mana Rangatahi for leadership development is based on applying a tuakana-teina (older sibling – younger sibling) teacher/learning model designed by youth for youth.
A brand new Mana Rangatahi APP has been developed and officially launching end of March 2022, this comes at a perfect timing for the partnership with Virtual Production Dojo, New Zealand’s first industry-specific training academy specialising in emerging technologies for virtual production for the screen and gamification industries.
The contemporary training programs offered through Virtual Production Dojo will add industry work ready skills to the youth graduating from the Mana Rangatahi programme to learn more about emerging technologies, filmmaking, game engine technologies. Virtual Production Dojo is working towards empowering more Ethnic and Indigenous creatives to tell their own stories as independent filmmakers and creators by offering specialist skill sets and industry leading commercial software tools as part of their program to every participant joining the program.
This partnership is a step towards elevating and empowering more Maori, Pacifica, Pan Asian and Ethnic communities within the emerging technology industries.
