May 07, 2018
Winners give back to Maori society
A business award that doesn't just measure success by money.
That was the annual Maori Business Awards hosted by the University of Auckland school of business.
Among the leading lights acknowledged at Friday's gala ceremony were Rachel Taulelei from Nelson-based food and beverage conglomerate Kono, Whale Watch Kaikoura chief executive Kauahi Ngapora and Whaimutu Dewes for his extensive contributions to governance of Maori firms and organisations.
The outstanding business leadership award went to the Iwi Collective Partership, which has drawn a number of iwi together to get better returns for their fisheries assets, , game developer Maru Nihoniho took home the Maori entrepreneurial leader award, and financial literacy software developer Kendall Flutey was judged young Maori business leader.
Carla Houkamau, the associate dean of Maori and Pasifika for the business school, says all the businesses are financially successful but they have other targets.
"Their success is measured by what they are giving back to their whanau, to their communities. The values of the business are about contributing to Maori society generally and that is a really important part of our awards. We are recognising what those winners are doing for Maori," she says.
Dr Houkamau says the awards are an example for students of what they can achieve through a career in Maori business.
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