“Toku toa, he toa rangatira – My bravery is inherited from chiefs, my forebears”
Traditional Māori values meet modern business strategy in many and varied ways. Sometimes there’s great synergy, sometimes it gets complicated, but it is consistently fascinating! We have gathered some of the bravest Māori entrepreneurs to share their stories with us at Inā te Ora – Food future Tairāwhiti, 22-24 November in Gisborne.
Miriana Stephens, Wakatū Incorporation
Wakatū Incorporation and its subsidiary company KONO aspire to be the world’s leading indigenous food and beverage provider. Operating from Te Tau Ihu – the top of the South Island, they have already made big inroads towards this goal. Kono prides itself on living its values of instilling practices its ancestors would recognise and its children will be proud of.
Toro Waaka – Ngati Pahauwera Development Trust Chair and Chris Koroheke – Kairungi, AgResearch – Decision making tools for fragmented lands!
Many Māori owners of land would like to understand how their fragmented land holdings can be collectively configured to best meet their strategic goals. A presentation by Ngati Pahauwera and AgResearch explores a unique project based on the common goal to make significant and lasting impacts for Māori land owners in the best use of their land assets.
Victor Goldsmith, Ngati Porou Miere – Our land, Our People, Our Honey
Hear the story of this fast developing arm of Te Rūnanganui o Ngati Porou from the visionary at the helm. Look forward into the future with Victor and Ngāti Porou landowners.
Steven Saunders, Plus Group
Steven Saunders (Ngāti Ranginui) has 32 years experience in the horticultural sector and is the founder, owner and Managing Director of the Plus Group of companies, specialising in horticulture management consultancy, orchard ownership, global pollen production, robotics development via Robotics Plus, international ventures, applied technology, environmental research and development, innovation and science.
Ngareta Mason, Plant and Food Research – Back to the land: showing rural Māori a future for innovation in horticulture.
We look forward to Ngareta sharing her mahi in community engagement initiatives in Northland, focused on developing opportunities for Māori within the science and food industries. Ngareta is passionate about Māori development and would like to create opportunities for Māori by merging mātauranga Māori with science tools, to develop innovative and sustainable ways to utilise our natural resources.
Vanessa Hayes, Torere Macadamias – Tairāwhiti’s future lead industry!
Hear local legend Vanessa Hayes tell her wonderful success story and learn about the research, funding and land use pathways she navigated along the way. Find out why Tairāwhiti is set to be New Zealand’s Macadamia capital and how you can be part of it!