September 09, 2014
Business network fosters whanaungatanga
Maori businesses in Otago and Southland have been celebrating their success and building whanaungatanga to help them on their journey.
The business network Te Kupeka Umaka ki Arai Te Uru, better known as KUMA, held its annual hui last weekend in Te Anau on the theme of Making Business Pay.
KUMA chair Richard Kerr-Bell says the network includes about 140 businesses who get together for monthly breakfasts and the annual hui.
He says it's a great way to grow the kumara vine.
" Word of mouth is very strong. Getting together to share expertise, to share knowledge and wisdom I think that's one of the strengths certainly of KUMA is, it's not about competitiveness among members, it's like our whakatauki if you like that we are guided by is – kia tipua tahi ai, growing together developing together. So that's certainly the spirit of what happens " he says.
Richard Kerr-Bell says this year's KUMA Suzanne Spencer Memorial Award, for making business pay went to Invercargill insulation and sustainable energy business Awarua Synergy.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH RICHARD KERR BELL CLICK ON THE LINK
http://www.waateanews.com/play_podcast?podlink=MjE5MzQ=
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