Business Hall of Fame nomination for Mavis
Mavis Mullins finds the accolades she receives for her contributions to business and community a bit difficult to handle because “it is not about me”.
She says what she achieves is always a team effort in which she makes a contribution.
The latest accolade is her induction into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame in July. She will join Sir Graeme Harrison KNZM, John Hynds ONZM, Leonie Hynds and Pam Williams QSO.
The NZ Business Hall of Fame began in 1994 to celebrate individuals who, by their enterprise and success, have made a significant contribution to the economic and social development of New Zealand.
Mavis has received many other accolades, including in 2002 the New Zealand Order of Merit, Business Woman of the Year at the Auckland University Business School, a Maori Business Leader’s Award in 2015, and last year a Westpac Women of Influence Award.
Mavis started out in the Paewai Partnership shearing business which she and husband Koro bought. She proved her practical skills by winning the Golden Shears Open Wool-handling championship twice.
After completing a degree in Business Administration she applied her managerial skills joining the board of Vehicle Testing NZ, at that stage a state-owned enterprise.
She has taken on governance roles in Wool Systems, Landcorp, health boards, Massey University Council, Aohanga Corporation, Atihau Whanganui Incorporation, Maori business trust Poutama and the Taratahi Agricultural Training centre.
She has expanded her interests into 2degrees Mobile to enable Maori a right of purchase over the third generation spectrum (3G) radio frequency auctioned by the Crown in 2000. Many of these organisations reflect Mavis’ philosophy.
When asked why she is in so many organisations she said she is asked and assumes they think she has something to offer.
She accepts when it relates to creating wealth and opportunity for whanau, hapu, iwi and the community, particularly with youth employment and training.
“Then it becomes exciting,” she said.
Her whanau loom large in her life and she treasures their input ranging from helping write Punga and Sam Mullin’s Catching Pen Cafe´ menu to assisting her granddaughter to select a ball gown.
“We have to follow our tupuna’s lead,” she says, referring to Hirua Rangiwhakaewa at Hori Herehere as an example.
“They did cool things in the past and we have to follow their lead.”