After noticing a lack of mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) in the marketing of New Zealand bottled water and lack of interest from bottling companies to incorporate it, the 17-year-old has taken things into his own hands. As part of the 2021 Young Enterprise Scheme, Tamatea Ngāpō-Lipscombe has created a unique reusable water bottle called Wai Huarere (The Water that Flows) sharing the story of Putāruru’s Te Waihou River in both te reo Māori and English. Joseph Pearson/Stuff The Blue Spring near Putāruru is the same water found in 70 per cent of New Zealand’s bottled water. Ngāpō-Lipscombe said he was pleased to see how far his business was taking him and for the platform to spread awareness of Māori culture. “I am passionate about my culture and if I didn't take this opportunity to spread awareness it would have just gone to waste.

Source: Stuff July 11, 2021 23:26 UTC