May 04, 2015
Maori business leadership celebrated
Country and city came together at this year’s Aotearoa New Zealand Maori Business Leaders Awards, a sign of the broad range of Maori business success.
The outstanding Maori business leader award went to Kingi Smiler.
The Ngati Kahungunu and Te Aitanga a Mahaaki chartered accountant chairs the Wairarapa Moana Incorporation, which under his leadership has become a cornerstone shareholder of milk processor Miraka.
He also chairs the Tairawhiti Land Development trust, which aims to lift productivity of East Coast farms, and the Ahuwhenua Trophy to promote Maori excellence in farming.
Tainui Group Holdings won the award for outstanding Maori business leadership, reflecting the way it has gone about building Waikato Tainui’s asset base towards the billion dollar mark.
Ngarimu Blair from Ngati Whatua o Orakei was recognised as an emerging Maori business leader, while Atihau Whanganui chair and Two Degrees director Mavis Mullins won the tohu for Maori woman business leader.
Dame Mira Szaszy Maori alumni awards went to academic and broadcaster Ella Henry and London-based entrepreneur Melanie Smith.
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