Impact is a Journey
EHF’s vision is that Aotearoa NZ inspires global leadership and solutions for future generations
We are still in the early stages, but here are a few highlights of the EHF journey so far….
Kiwi Connect Launches
Matthew Monahan, Brian Monahan and Yoseph Ayele launch Kiwi Connect, to develop a bridge to New Zealand for impact-driven individuals and startups.
Collaborations with Immigration NZ
Kiwi Connect teams up with Immigration New Zealand to open new doors and attract global entrepreneurial networks, promoting New Zealand on the world stage.
2014
2015
New Frontiers
The New Frontiers gathering started as a convergence of local and global changemakers to explore new pathways for a better word. The vision of Aotearoa New Zealand as an Incubation Nation for positive global impact was born here.
A New Visa Concept
Nigel Bickle, the head of Immigration New Zealand, speaks at New Frontiers and plants the seeds for what became the Global Impact Visa. Immigration NZ and Kiwi Connect convened ideation sessions with ecosystem leaders across NZ and in key global hubs, to co-design the world’s first Global Impact Visa.
2016
The Global Impact Visa Becomes Policy
12 months from inception (and hundreds of conversations) the New Zealand Government creates the Global Impact Visas (GIVs) - a 3-year work visa with a path to permanent residence. 400 visas are made available for high-impact entrepreneurs and investors during a 4-year pilot.
The Edmund Hillary Fellowship (EHF) is Born
The Hillary Institute and Kiwi Connect partner together to create EHF, designed to implement the Global Impact Visa as a Fellowship initiative. The Kiwi Connect team moves to build EHF, and EHF signs a 7-year partnership contract with Immigration New Zealand to bring the Global Impact Visa to life.
2017
EHF Launch
EHF launches in January 2017 and opens applications for global entrepreneurs and investors as well as Kiwis to join two cohorts a year, and incubate global solutions from Aotearoa New Zealand. Once accepted into EHF, Fellows can apply for the Global Impact Visa, to live and work in New Zealand.
EHF Partnership with Te Ātiawa
EHF starts the journey of partnership with Te Ātiawa Taranaki Whānui at Waiwhetu Marae, the Mana Whenua (indigenous people of the land) from Wellington, the birthplace of EHF. Te Ātiawa elders generously offer to educate Fellows on Te Ao Māori and help them land in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Welcoming the EHF Inaugural Cohort
28 Fellows are accepted into EHF’s inaugural cohort from a pool of 390 applicants and welcomed in Waiuku, Auckland. We start the tradition of naming each cohort with an native plant, gifted by Te Atiawa, and Cohort 1 is named Kawakawa.
Te Reo Māori meaning of name: A resilient native plant, revered for its healing properties, gifted to this inaugural hapori (group) of Fellows as they lead the way, ushering in a new era of planetary healing for humanity's benefit.
2018
Piripiri (Cohort 2) Join EHF
38 Fellows join Cohort 2, and are welcomed into the Fellowship 5 months after Kawakawa, in the Wellington area.
Te Reo Māori meaning of name: Piri means to cling to, to keep close, together, to be loyal, supportive, committed. ‘Piripiri’ was gifted as the name of this hapori (group) due to the nature of this close-knit group.
New Frontiers
The New Frontiers summit becomes a heartbeat for Fellows and the NZ ecosystem to connect, exchange ideas, and build meaningful collaboration for positive impact. Johan Rockström receives the Hillary Laureate Award, and at New Frontiers he plants the seeds for new climate-focused collaboration with the New Zealand Government.
Kopakopa (Cohort 3) Join EHF
EHF welcomes 42 new Fellows to join Cohort 3, bringing the Fellowship to just over 100 Fellows from over 20 nationalities (under 10% acceptance rate), and over 25% are New Zealanders. New Frontiers convenes 300+ changemakers from all over the world, and the 8th Hillary Laureate Meagan Falloe is welcomed at New Frontiers.
Te Reo Māori meaning of name: Kopa, meaning bent or hindered potential, inspired the name 'Kopakopa' for this hapori (group), symbolising their integral role in fostering alternative thinking and being outside mainstream systems and processes.
2019
Kohia (Cohort 4) Join EHF
33 Fellows join EHF’s fourth cohort, adding more critical mass to impact areas, such as climate solutions, decentralised web, renewable energy innovations, the creation of new industries in NZ, and more. New Frontiers attracts 400+ participants to connect and collaborate with the growing Fellowship.
Te Reo Māori meaning of name: Kohia, derived from 'Kohi' meaning to collect, is a climbing vine that embraces and supports large trees, thriving when surrounded by native plants, such as Kawakawa, Piripiri, and Kopakopa, enhancing the forest floor's beauty.
Karamū (Cohort 5) Join EHF
47 new Fellows join EHF and are welcomed in Queenstown, New Zealand.
Te Reo Māori meaning of name: Karamū was selected to honour the land where this hapori (group) gathered. It's a Ngai Tahu Taonga Species known for aiding focus, concentration, and manifesting desires with confidence and presence.
2020
Cohort 6 Join EHF
83 new Fellows are accepted into EHF, and due to Covid-19, they had a digital welcome until NZ borders open.
Cohort 7 & Cohort 8 Join EHF
268 Fellows get accepted into Cohort 7 and 8, the last two cohorts under the Global Impact Visa pilot. An online welcome programme is offered to all Fellows, and an in person welcoming to take place when NZ borders open.
EHF Completes Global Impact Visa Pilot
EHF successfully completes the 4-year Global Impact Visa pilot, with 533 Fellows from over 40 nationalities selected from a pool of 3,400 applicants across 3.5 years.
2021
A New Era
EHF shifts focus from recruiting new Fellows, to activating and amplifying the 500+ Fellows’ impact in and from Aotearoa New Zealand. EHF merges governance and management with its parent organisation the Hillary Institute to deliver on this new chapter and is joined by a new Chair and new CEO
2022
The Runway is Clear
The reopening of borders (following two years of Covid-related closures), sees EHF welcome more than 250 Fellows to New Zealand during the course of the year, supporting their effective integration into New Zealand.
Activation & Amplification
As we shift into the new phase of EHF, we look to activate the Fellowship in the New Zealand ecosystem whilst amplifying the impact generation across the globe.
Ngā Manu Titi Rere Ao Join EHF
46 Fellows attend their Welcome Experience (August) and are gifted the name Ngā Manu Titi Rere Ao ('The flight of the shining birds of the world') by Te Ātiawa Taranaki Whānui. This Welcome Experience is the first in more than two years following Covid/border restrictions.
Te Reo Māori meaning of name: The flight of the shining birds of the world. Chosen to reflect the high energy of this hapori (group) at Waiwhetū marae during their pōhiri, which was reminiscent of the sound of manu (birds).
Iti Rearea Join EHF
65 Fellows attend their Welcome Experience (October) and are gifted the name Iti Rearea by Te Ātiawa Taranaki Whānui. The name means 'The smallest birds can be found at the top of the tallest tree.’
Te Reo Māori meaning of name: Iti Rearea, kahikatea tei tei, ka taea. Even the small rearea bird can ascend to the great heights of the Kahikatea tree. A whakataukī (Māori proverb) that speaks to the unlimited potential to ascend to great heights.
2023
Manu Tukutuku Join EHF
95 Fellows attend their Welcome Experience (March) and are gifted the name Manu Tukutuku by Te Ātiawa Taranaki Whānui. The name infers to the bringing together of people. The intricate weaving of everything you bring to this space, and the knowledge that we are one part of something so much greater than ourselves. Manu Tukutuku is also a kit, referring to the winding out of the line as the kite climbs. In reference to our collective journey as we have grown together over the past three years and as we shall continue to build on together.
Te Reo Māori meaning of name: Manu Tukutuku: Birds weaving contributions together. This name symbolises unity and growth, much like the Fellows' collective journey.
Ngaa Reo Wheko Join EHF
60 Fellows attend their Welcome Experience (May) and are gifted the name Ngaa Reo Wheko by Te Ātiawa Taranaki Whānui. The name means the singing voices of the many manu (birds) in the forest, and is in reference to the many different voices of the Fellows representing their peoples. Each individual bird develops its own repertoire of sounds and can symbolise abundance, worthiness, warning, guardianship, prediction, awareness and adaptation.
Te Reo Māori meaning of name: The singing voices of the forest's many manu (birds) represent the diverse voices of the Fellows, symbolising qualities like abundance, worthiness, guardianship, and adaptation.