In 2020 NZ Opera applied to Toi Māori to host an intern for 6 months and was accepted as one of only three organizations nationwide to host a Toi Māori intern in 2020, alongside Te Tairāwhiti Arts Festival and Te Pou Theatre. Awhimai Fraser (Waikato, Ngai Tāmanuhiri, Ngāi Te Ipu) was selected as the Toi Māori intern and she was charged with the organisation, scheduling and managing of a new initiative 6:24 Voices of Aotearoa . With the tautoko and support of Tanea Heke (Ngāpuhi), Toi Whakaari Director and Toi Māori mentor, the placement was incredibly successful with Awhimai enhancing the NZ Opera whānau immeasurably. Her presence alone has increased our awareness and progressed our journey towards becoming a more diverse and bi-culturally aware organisation. She now remains with the Company as Kaihere Ao and Participation Co-ordinator.