Social enterprise organisation the Hikurangi Foundation has changed its name to Akina, the Maori word used as a call for bold action.

The Foundation says the name better demonstrates its evolving approach and better capacity to support the New Zealand social enterprise sector.

Akina says it will raise awareness about social innovation and support social enterprises by facilitating new market and investment opportunities. In February it announced it would run four key programmes this year, having received new funding from the Department of Internal Affairs and Contact Energy.

They are workshops and clinics, advisory services, a pilot accelerator programme and an incubator. The Launchpad accelerator calls for 10 business ideas that address a social or environmental problem in New Zealand and offers coaching over six months from October 2014 to March 2015.

“We’ll take them through an intensive six-month coaching programme and help them transform their ideas into thriving, self-sustaining businesses,” Akina says.

The Todd and Tindall Foundations launched Hikurangi Foundation in 2008 to support action on climate change and the environment.