M¯aori women’s success in spotlight at H¯awera event

Ma¯ ori women are more powerful than they know, a woman who uses diversity as a tool for business success says.

‘‘Coming from a diverse background actually gives us a cultural advantage in the marketplace and society in general, instead of trying to assimilate,’’ Columbianborn entrepreneur Lilian Gil Valetta told 90 women gathered for the Impact Wa¯ hine forum in Ha¯ wera yesterday.

‘‘New Zealand gets its diversity and heritage from the Ma¯ ori culture, and the country would be that much poorer without that.

‘‘It’s so easy to try and fit in and forget where you came from, but there is strength in diversity, I call it cultural intelligence,’’ she said.

‘‘A lot of people think diversity is just skin colour, but it’s actually the diversity of thought, the way that you filter things around you, the way you do problem-solving, it’s much broader than the label.

Valetta, who is an awardwinning entrepreneur and World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, came to New Zealand as the guest of Wa¯ hine Toa, an initiative of United States ambassador’s wife, Nancy Gilbert, which was set up to showcase the achievements of Ma¯ ori women.

‘‘We found out Lilian was coming, and we were keen to host something, to grab the opportunity to have her here,’’ Te Rununga o Ngati Ruanui kaiarataki Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said.

The day-long event was intended to empower women who want to make real change in their communities, she said.

‘‘The timing post-election is good, a time of new beginnings,’’ Ngarewa-Packer said.

Other speakers included IronMaori founder Heather Skipworth, Parininihi ki Waitotara chair Hineangi Raumati and iwi leaders Ngarewa-Packer and Puna Wano-Bryant (Parihaka Papakainga Trust chair).