Leadership praise for ‘Maui-preneurs’
"For a lot of my upbringing my entrepreneurial skills weren't recognised by any system." Bailey Mackey
Success really has been sweet for the winner of the University of Auckland’s Young Maori Business Leader award.
Blanche Morrogh (nee Murray) started Kai Ora Honey in 2012, and now exports 50 tonnes of manuka honey to customers in Asia, the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Kuwait.
By 2020, she hopes that will rise to 90 tonnes of the ‘‘black gold’’, which is sought after by buyers for its reputed health benefits.
Morrogh was inspired to start the business by her late grandmother Saana Waitai Murray, who was one of six iwi representatives who lodged the historic ‘‘flora and fauna’’ claim with the Waitangi Tribunal.
Kai Ora Honey is a real whanau business, with Morrogh working alongside husband Liam Morrogh, brothers Tae, Sobieski, Samson and Walter and sister Mabel Murray.
‘‘Kai Ora arose from the vision of our late grandmother and father Rapine Murray. Now we’re living proof that Maori can operate a successful, sustainable business right here in Te Tai Tokerau,’’ Morrogh said.
The other young leader to be recognised was Bailey Mackey (Ngati Porou, Tuhoe, Rongowhakaata) who was given the Maori Entrepreneurial Leader Award for being the creative muscle behind a wave of reality TV shows, including Sidewalk Karaoke, The GC, Kapa Haka Kids, and Angelo’s Outdoor Kitchen.
‘‘I definitely see myself as a Mauipreneur. Maui went out and challenged the status quo. For a lot of my upbringing my entrepreneurial skills weren’t recognised by any system and I was a square peg in a round hole, so it’s great to have these skills recognised, alongside other incredible Maori business leaders.’’
Women won four out of the five categories for individuals in the awards.
‘‘This reflects the strength of wahine in business across all sectors and industries,’’ said Dr Chellie Spiller, associate dean for Maori and Pacific at the Business School.
To inspire the next generation of Maori business leaders, 10 of the 60 tables at the awards dinner in a pavilion in the grounds of Old Government House in Auckland were occupied by students.
Mavis Mullins (Rangitane, Te Ati Haunui-a-paparangi, Ngati Ranginui) won the Outstanding Maori Business Leaders Award. Mullins started out in business running the family shearing contracting firm, and served on many boards, including Landcorp, 2degrees Mobile, and Taratahi Agricultural Training.
Ngaruawahia-born Hinerangi Raumati (Tainui, Taranaki) won the Maori Woman Business Leader Award. Raumati was chief financial officer of the Tainui Group Holdings’ management team which engineered a financial turnaround for the tribe and lifted the financial and operating performance of Te Wananga o Aotearoa.
Liz Te Amo (Waitaha, Ngati Moko, Tuhourangi, Tapuika) won the Dame Mira Szaszy Maori Alumni Award. She has worked in the private and public sector, and is currently executive director of the Maori economic development unit at the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment.
Kahungunu Asset Holding Company received the Outstanding Maori Business Leadership Award for organisations.
It was set up in 2005 to manage the Tiriti o Waitangi fisheries settlement assets on behalf of Ngati Kahungunu. It has grown the $33 million settlement to over $110m in market value, and recently formed a joint venture to buy a deep sea trawler, with plans to develop and export its own branded products.