Fonterra offers grad pathway for Māori and Pasifika students

At the end of 2018, three tertiary students heading into their last year of study will join Fonterra for a twelve-week paid internship, where they will be exposed to different parts of the business and mentored by senior leaders. 

Managing Director People and Culture Joanne Fair says the new partnership will help broaden the talent source for future leaders and increase diversity of thought.

“Māori and Pasifika make up around 22% of the general population but are currently underrepresented in New Zealand’s corporate workforce. We want to play our part in turning that around,” says Fair. 

“We’re passionate about growing our diverse talent pool which is why we’ve joined forces with TupuToa, who have a proven model for identifying and preparing Māori and Pasifika talent for professional careers.”  

Fonterra says research by McKinsey shows that diverse businesses outperform non-diverse businesses by 35% and notes that diversity is crucial to fostering innovation.

The programme is part of Fonterra’s wider efforts to promote diversity and inclusion.