Lincoln tauira becomes youngest member of Asia New Zealand Foundation Leadership Network

The Leadership Network brings together graduate and early to mid-career New Zealanders to strengthen leadership capability, deepen understanding of Asia, and build long-term connections across the Asia-Pacific region.

Having access to the Network will help Matt work towards a global career in land and property, supporting his studies and interests in the wider property and commercial sector.

Matt was selected from a pool of several hundred applicants, joining 41 new members welcomed at a recent induction in Auckland. The weekend emphasised whakawhanaukataka (relationship building), with shared discussions around values and perspectives of Asia.

“The atmosphere in the room was so cool – being surrounded by these amazing leaders from such a wide range of professional backgrounds was really motivating,” Matt said.

“As the youngest in the group, I’m in a unique position. I’m really looking forward to learning from others and developing my understanding through the experiences and perspectives of the cohort.”

Matt is currently in his second year of a Bachelor of Land and Property Management, majoring in Urban Property Valuation and Global Business. He sees the Network as a valuable opportunity to support his studies and develop a future-focused perspective, with a particular interest in innovation, sustainability, and long-term outcomes across the land and property sector.

“My focus is around property, investment, and infrastructure in a global setting.

“Learning from international thinking and practice helps inform how we approach challenges back home, so that’s a crucial thing I’m looking to do.”

Matt’s interest in Asia also stems from early experiences travelling through the region.

“I was fortunate enough to travel through Asia when I was younger, visiting these wonderful, diverse communities and seeing reflections of our culture, especially tikanga Māori and our shared community values, throughout the region. As a tauira Māori, this is something I really value.

“There are opportunities to go to offshore conferences in places like Singapore or Shanghai, whether climate-related or trade-focused, but most importantly for me it’s about building those relationships within the Asia-Pacific region.”

Leadership has been a strong part of Matt’s life for some time. As former Head Boy of Nelson College, he received national recognition for coordinating student support during the 2022 Nelson floods.

At Lincoln, he has continued developing his leadership skills through the Future Leader Scholarship programme, Lincoln’s Māori Students’ Association Te Awhioraki, and his role as President of the Lincoln University Investment Society.

“Being part of the exec of Te Awhioraki has increased my awareness of the impact leaders can have on a group of people. Relationships are incredibly important to a community, especially at a small university like Lincoln.”

The Lincoln whānau is incredibly proud of Matt’s achievements. He’ll begin activities with the Network in the new year as he enters his second-to-last year of study at Lincoln.

The new 2025 Leadership Network members