After hearing many Māori and Pasifika people talk about the pressure to assimilate when they enter engineering and their consequential loss of culture and community connections, Honor Columbus created Māori and Pasifika In Construction [MPIC] in 2018. MPIC is a self-funded, volunteer-run initiative based in Ōtautahi/Christchurch. It aims to connect, encourage and promote Māori and Pasifika people in the industry through a speaker series and social media presence, and by linking members to mentors, scholarships and opportunities.

Honor has run and volunteered at events, spoken on panels and mentored engineering students. Making the most of limited resources, she’s known for her signature corned beef sandwiches as well as her generosity and leadership. She is currently undertaking a Masters in Māori and Indigenous Leadership at the University of Canterbury.

Our judges said Honor has developed a really powerful initiative that builds awareness and embodies inclusion.