Entries double for KUMA Māori Business Awards
From emerging businesses through to experienced Māori business owners who’ve been operating successfully for decades, the prestigious Te Kupeka Umaka Māori ki Āraiteuru (KUMA) Māori Business Awards are an expression of Māori creativity and entrepreneurship in the southern region.
Now in their eighth year, the biennial awards are becoming highly sought after with more than double the number of entries this year, compared with 2021.
Queenstown, Wānaka and Central Otago are well represented with high calibre entries from digital and film, hauora (Māori health), construction, consultancy (business, government and research) and tourism and hospitality.
The awards will be presented at a gala dinner at Queenstown's Te Atamira on Saturday, 30 September.
And a showcase of events is also being held across Queenstown this coming week, open to the public from Tuesday, 26 September, says KUMA Board member and organising chair Karmela Rapata.
“The showcase is an extension of the awards and a further way to celebrate Māori businesses,” she says.
"There’s an open invitation to all to experience manaaki and whanaungatanga in action. This series of collaborative events is an exciting opportunity to explore how Te Ao Māori influences and enriches business, something we want to share with our communities.”
These include a Māori Pacific Designer Show, featuring fashion, jewellery, and millinery, two Whānau Table experiences at Blue Kanu, the first anchored by local kaumatua Hud Rapata.
“Hud will share his cultural connections with kōrero with an intimate group of 11 guests.”
Hud and writer, director and actor Julian Noel will also hold a ‘soul to stage’ workshop about how to honour your story and take it to the stage as a performance. “They draw on their Māori upbringing to create powerful stories for diverse audiences.”
There's also a breathwork workshop where people can experience Te Hā (the breath of life) through various techniques guided by Kyle Pauro of Holistic Performance.
A Māori Market Day at Remarkables Market on Saturday, 30 September, will feature intricate carving, traditional Māori cloaks – koroawai, and flax weaving designs from SIT tutor Roka Cameron and her students.
On the same day, Darren Rewi, Te Ao Marama Apiata and Chris Jansen from Leadership Lab will facilitate a kōrero – a conversation about incorporating Te Tiriti into today’s modern life, which is open to all.
A feature this year is the new Te Tohu Tangata Tiriti – Te Tiriti Partnership Award. “The judges are looking for a strong commitment to upholding the principles of partnership, co-design, equity and connectedness with Māori as set out in Te Tiriti o Waitangi,” Karmela says.
It's been challenging trying to select the finalists with an extremely high calibre and significant number of entries. The judging panel comprises experts in iwi development, business, and finance - Karen Roos – Te Puni Kōkiri, Jeff Broughton – FINDEX and Amy Young - Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Puna Pakihi.
He Tohu Maumahara ki a Suzanne Spencer – the Supreme Award, celebrating the legacy of one of KUMA’s highly regarded founding members, goes to the Business of the Year, and voting for the People’s Choice Award opens soon.
Karmela and her sister, Maria, of Check In Queenstown, award-winning Queenstown restaurateur Karen Hattaway and Wānaka’s Niche Design all won awards in 2021.
“It’s such an incredible event that allows whānau to celebrate, empower and inspire others in business,” Hattaway says. She paid tribute to local representatives Karmela and Maria, who’ve played an integral part in collaborating and planning the event.
“There’s certainly a fantastic buzz in the air.” Receiving her 2021 award was a real honour and “very humbling experience”. "It certainly gave us the confidence and encouragement that we’re doing something right.”
Other award recipients say the recognition propelled their businesses forward in connections, partnerships, and new business opportunities, and helped build confidence and motivation.
This year’s winners will be the guardians for the year of a tohu – carving, being created by local master carver Steve Solomon (Ngāi Tahu, Ngati Whakue, Ngati Pikiao, Te Whanau a Apanui). “KUMA is honoured that Steve is creating these tohu that will be held in perpetuity for future KUMA members to aspire to,” Karmela says.
Māori Business Category Awards:
Te Tohu Rangatira Whakahaere Leadership Award
Te Tohu Pito Mata Emerging Business Leadership Award
Te Tohu Manaakitanga Customer Excellence Award
Te Tohu Whakawhanaungatanga Collaboration Award
Special Awards:
Te Tohu Tangata Tiriti – Te Tiriti Partnership Award
Te Tohu Kōwhiri o te Whānui – People's Choice Award
Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Puna Pakihi - Recognition of Achievement Award
Supreme Award:
He Tohu Maumahara ki a Suzanne Spencer
Māori Business of the Year Award
