Emerging talent

Potiki Poi founder Georgia TF Latu talks finding success and authenticity at age 13

At just 13-years-old, Georgia Tiatia Fa’atoese Latu has started her journey to create and sell authentic, Aotearoamade poi. After winning People’s Choice at the Soda Inc NZ Startup Bootcamp and the Supreme Award at the 2019 Girlboss Awards, Po- tiki Poi has launched into market with a purpose – and a bit of a fan following. Here, we spoke to Tiatia Fa’atoese Latu about what it means run a business while still in school.

Potiki Poi is a business run by Tiatia Fa’atoese Latu and the help of her whanau. Days are spent making authentic Maori Poi of different styles, all which are created with authenticity, sustainability, and community in mind.

At just 13, Tiatia Fa’atoese Latu says the idea came from a gap in the market for authentic pois, which she saw and wanted to change.

“It’s funny that a lot of our native specialty items are made overseas,” she says. “If you visit gift shops even the airport, their products will be made in China, and I’m like, ‘How does this work?’ So, we really wanted to provide people with a proper choice.”

Tiatia Fa’atoese Latu and her mother Anna were contenders in the Soda Inc NZ Startup Bootcamp, where for two days she learnt how to pitch and promote her business. And though she modestly says she had no idea what she was doing, the teenager – with help from Anna – took out the People’s Choice Award.

“I was shocked. Mum and I didn’t have a clue what we were doing when we went to that bootcamp, we just heard about it and thought okay let’s give it a go. I came out of that bootcamp a whole new person, we learnt so much and I don’t think we would be here right now if we hadn’t have gone,” she says.

Since then, the business has grown, as has Tiatia Fa’atoese Latu’s profile. She also recently received the supreme Trailblazer Award at the 2019 GirlBoss Awards, which were founded by another young trailblazer, Alexia Hilbertidou.

For Tiatia Fa’atoese Latu, she says that although people love the idea behind Potiki Poi and believe in her vision, her age is still a barrier.

“An issue I find is that I talk to people about the business, and they really like the idea, but they still think I’m not fully capable because of my age. But I have had the best mentors, and a great whanau who have given me heaps of support along the way…I get a lot of help within the business from my mum, dad and wider family. Pretty much everyone that can help comes over to lend a hand.”

Potiki Poi also has a social enterprise component that aims to offer employment to people of diverse backgrounds and abilities. Tiatia Fa’atoese Latu’s younger sibling

Apiteniko was born earlier this year with Down Syndrome, which has inspired her to ensure that those like him are welcomed and employed by the business.

“I hope that someday, Api might be able to continue my dream and run the business himself,” she says.

Overall, making sure Tiatia Fa’atoese Latu’s vision is followed in the most authentic way possible has been the ethos of her business. She says that even as she grows alongside the business, its goal to provide products with heart will stay the same.

“It’s important for us to be authentic because I want our story to be known, I want people to know who we are at Potiki Poi, so people know were not just another made in China company. I want people to know that there is a lot going on with poi, it’s not just a ball on some string, it’s precious and it has meaning, and it’s Aotearoa original.”

Her advice to any entrepreneur, no matter the age, is surround yourself with people who believe in your vision and take the learning opportunities as they come.

“That’s how I’ve managed, is having my whanau so close. Get the right people around you from the start… That includes your community too, when I went to the GirlBoss Awards, that was just so inspiring. They were probably the most inspiring group of girls I have ever seen. Their stories are so real, and they’re so truthful, and it means so much to be able to see young girls like me being able to do what they want to do and see these new leaders emerging into the community.”

The pois are now stocked in places such as Te Papa Museum in Wellington and in other gift shop locations around the country. Tiatia Fa’atoese Latu says it’s a huge accomplishment, although she would never have thought in her life that things would see the success that they have.

“Thing’s definitely have not gone the way I thought they would. I never anticipated how big this would get. It’s pretty much been a dream come true, but we still have to do the mahi to get the treats. It doesn’t stop here… We’re just going to go with the flow and trying to keep up with demand.

“At the moment, people are asking what the next thing for us is going to be, and honestly, I have no idea, I’ll let the universe decide what happens for Potiki Poi.”

It’s important for us to be authentic because I want our story to be known, I want people to know who we are at Pōtiki Poi, so people know were not just another made in China company. I want people to know that there is a lot going on with poi, it’s not just a ball on some string, it’s precious and it has meaning, and it’s Aotearoa original.