Celebrating Māori in business leadership

Renowned journalist and musician Moana Maniapoto opened the Aotearoa Māori Business Leaders Awards with her award-winning voice and was the MC of the evening, which brought together hundreds of guests from Auckland and afar.

The awards, held in the University of Auckland's B201 building, an award-winner itself thanks to its innovative and sustainable design, celebrated ground-breaking Māori leaders and entrepreneurs.

Winners were joined by whānau, and some by their hapū, to share in the recognition of their contributions to Māori business.

This year saw wāhine take home the majority of awards, highlighting the impact of women in leadership; breaking barriers, building resilience and navigating the business world, while uplifting their communities.

Among the winners was Vanessa Hayes (Ngai Tai, Whakatohea), co-founder of Torere Macadamias in Ōpōtiki, which developed significantly thanks to a ten-year strategy to expand organic macadamia farming. 

However, the company's ambition and success didn't come without challenges. Vanessa, a cancer survivor, shared her story of resilience through a particularly difficult period when her business faced severe financial hurdles in the early 2000s.

“Having to let go of employees was difficult and took a toll financially and emotionally, and as a result, I unfortunately got cancer," she said.

Her son later revived the business, embodying the vision of thriving, sustainable macadamia farming on their whenua. At the awards, Vanessa won the Entrepreneurial Māori Business Leader award.

Karleen Everitt (Te Iwi Mōrehu, Te Aupouri, Ngāpuhi Nui Tonu) received the Dame Mira Szászy Alumni award, which recognises an alumnus demonstrating excellence in commerce locally and globally.

With a masters degree in management and a postgraduate diploma in Māori management from the University of Auckland, Karleen was appointed Kaitohu Rautaki Māori (Head of Te Ao Māori Strategy) at ANZ in 2021.

Previously, she founded Manaaki Solutions Ltd and became the first wāhine and Māori to chair Northland’s Regional Economic Development Agency, Northland Inc.

Karleen’s advocacy for the social and economic empowerment of wāhine continues to impact local and global communities.

The Outstanding Māori Business Leader award went to Harry Burkhardt (Ngāti Kuri).

Over two decades, he and his partner have created a successful plastics recycling and manufacturing operation in New Zealand and Australia, with products distributed worldwide. In 2008, Harry joined the Ngāti Kurī Trust Board.

Throughout his journey, Harry says he has always valued moral integrity and accountability, qualities that have kept him grounded.

Traci Houpapa (Ngāti Maniapoto, Waikato, Taranaki, Ngāti Tūwharetoa) was awarded the Māori Governance Leader award, in recognition of her leadership across governance roles which has significantly shaped the Māori business landscape.

Traci’s diverse background spans roles as a tour guide, lab technician, social worker and a project leader setting up kōhanga reo centres.

She was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2012 for her contributions to business and Māori.

The Kaitiaki Business Leader award was presented to Moana New Zealand, a 100 percent iwi-owned seafood enterprise, dedicated to sustainable fisheries management and reflecting a strong commitment to safeguarding Aotearoa’s marine resources.

The Mānuka Henare award went to Māori Women’s Development Inc., a charitable trust led by Māori women that supports wāhine in business with financial loans and holistic support services.