JULY Newsletter
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July 2011
- Poutama Trust Celebrates its 23rd year of Operation
- Matariki in USA
- Alpaca Farming - Tessa and Peter McKay
- iLearn Interactive - Ross & Chris Perkinson
- Natural Born Builders - Wilfred Kereru
- The Tale of the Red Dragon Tourism
- Poutama hosts successful TRENZ Function in Queenstown
- Rugby World Cup 2011 tourism projects
- Business NZ - a voice for business
- What is Export NZ and how can it help your business
- “Rewa”: Jewel in the Tohu Crown
- Poutama Out & About - May & June
- Contacts
Poutama Trust Celebrates its 23rd year of Operation
Today July 5th marks the Poutama Trust’s 23rd year of delivering an innovative and flexible range of business development services to Maori.
Borne out of the 1984 Hui Taumata, Poutama was established July 5th 1988. Over the years Poutama has evolved its operations and services to fit with the changing environment that Maori businesses interact with. The ability to be lean and flexible, apolitical, innovative and globally astute whilst operating off a platform of mobility and technology has assisted Poutama to extend its reach locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.
A no-nonsense approach unencumbered by bureaucracy or politics has enabled Poutama to position itself as one of Aotearoa-NZ’s premium business development providers to Maori. Poutama’s focus and kaupapa are centred on assisting Maori to be key participants in the NZ and Global business environments. Integral to this focus and kaupapa is Poutama’s ability and willingness to change with the times, seek out new horizons and be entrepreneurial and edgy tempered with pragmatic risk taking.
The future for Maori commercial activity is looking brighter particularly when combined with a growing small business and entrepreneur sector, a collective spirit among asset holders, the utilisation of Treaty Settlements, a global outlook and a willingness to collaborate.
There is still much to be done though for Maori to fully capitalise on their competitive and comparative advantages and it is Poutama’s intention to be at the forefront of developmental activities. Poutama will remain innovative and entrepreneurial on how it interacts and delivers tangible services to Maori.
As Maori work to become a thriving, exciting and successful segment of the NZ and Global business environments Poutama aims to be right alongside for now and into the future. We celebrate our 23rd year of operation while fully intending to be around for the next 100 years!!
Ka nui ta matou mihi kia a koutou katoa e tautoko ana te kaupapa o Te Roopu Whakatau o Poutama, Mauri Ora!
Matariki in USA
For the past 4 years Poutama has supported the holding of tourism, food and beverage, art and culture events in the USA. The events first started off in Hawaii then moved to Huntington Beach in Los Angeles. The 2010 event was themed around Matariki and was held at the Air NZ Koru Lounge at Los Angeles airport.
The 2011 event was once again themed around Matariki and with strong support from Air NZ was held again at the Air NZ Koru Lounge at Los Angeles airport. A bit of logistical gymnastics were required in cooking hangi just outside the terminal then getting the kai from there through security and up into the Air NZ lounge. But it was done with over 300 people being fed both in the koru lounge and as they waited in the departure lounge for flights to NZ.
Hangi set up outside LAX terminal fully certified by LA Fire Dept!!
The event in the Air NZ Lounge was well attended and in addition to people waiting for departing flights to NZ it included representatives from the LA City Council, the NZ and British Consulates, actor Temuera Morrison, celebrity chef Annabel Langbein and former olympian, Rod Dixon. There were also representatives from the tourism and hospitality industries. Cultural entertainment was provided by the Air NZ Kapa Haka group and Air NZ’s CEO Rob Fyfe flew in from NZ specially to attend and support the event.
Rod Dixon, Kingi Morrison & LA Councillor Tom LaBonge
A great array of kiwi food and beverage accompanied the hangi kai including mussels, oysters, clams, cheeses, beer, water and wine. Maori tourism and art was also promoted at the event.
Whilst Matariki was the theme for the event its key purpose was to promote Maori produced food and beverage, Maori tourism, art and culture. Support for the promotion was also provided by LA based tourism businesses as well as food and beverage businesses, this included representatives from Wholefoods Market, the world’s largest retailer of natural and organic foods www.wholefoods.com. Among the attendees at the event was former Otorohanga Maori Boy, Doug Pye. Doug and his whanau run a wine distribution company in Los Angeles.
Doug Pye & his team along with Poutama boy RJ
The support of Air NZ was invaluable leading up to and during the event and many thanks must go to the Koru Lounge staff for all the work they did in particular negotiating with LA Airport security to make things happen!!
There is no doubt that the Matariki celebration in LA is getting bigger and it has obviously outgrown being held in the Air NZ Koru Lounge. In this respect planning has begun on holding a larger Matariki event in Los Angeles for 2012. As part of this planning the Poutama CEO and John Panoho from Navigator Tours met with Los Angeles City Councillor, Tom LaBonge to discuss LA City supporting the Matariki event. Among matters discussed was the idea of bringing Ngati Whatua’s inflatable waka to LA and using it as a venue for holding a series of events over a 3-5 day period.
This could include a one-day tourism trade show followed by a food & beverage day and then a film and television day along with a series of cultural activities culminating in a Matariki evening showcasing the best of Maori. Holding the event using the waka would certainly help Maori and NZ gain exposure and would also be a unique and attention-grabbing venue.
Councillor LaBonge was enthusiastic in wanting to support the event and offered some venue options for consideration. LA also has a sister city relationship with Auckland and a subsequent meeting was held with the person that manages this relationship. They were also very supportive of holding a Matariki event using the waka. So what it all means now is that a lot of hard work and planning has to be put into action to pull everything together for Matariki in LA in 2012 but it can be done!!
LA City Councillor, Tom LaBonge, John Panoho & Poutama CEO RJ
Alpaca Farming - Tessa and Peter McKay
Iwi – Ngati Tuwharetoa
Pete and Tessa McKay own Mesa Farms a 670 acre working sheep and cattle farm in the Maraekakaho valley, 30 kms south west of Hastings. They began breeding and farming Alpaca’s about seven years ago. ‘We had two pet alpaca’s and it all progressed from there’ says Tessa.
‘Alpaca’s are originally from the Altiplano of the South American Andes and herded by the ancient Aymara people and are members of the camelid family and are an extremely sustainable and versatile breed’ says Tessa.
They farm and currently breed alpaca animals for fibre and Peter and Tessa McKay established New Zealand’s first Alpaca Fibre Mill at Maraekakaho five years ago and have seen a steady growth in the number of Alpaca fleeces processed through the mill from Alpaca breeders and hobbyist all over New Zealand. It is the only mill of its kind in New Zealand.
New Zealand has about 15,000 alpaca and 700 registered owners, and the McKay’s have 65 in their own herd.
As farmers, Pete and Tessa understand the need to focus on the breeding of animals for the highest quality fleeces and meat products, but they also realised that like other farmed species there were huge opportunities to explore around the use of the rest of the animal as the original Aymaran herders did – meat and pelts. They feel very strongly about the sustainability of farming Alpacas in New Zealand. By sensible and careful culling of genetically unsuitable and non productive stock they are hoping to ensure the continued growth and quality of Alpaca in this country.
Tessa said that after over two years of investigating and after seven months acquiring risk management approval enabling the animals to be processed for the meat trade in New Zealand. Just five years after establishing a mill at Maraekakaho for the premium fibre from their flock has now spread to the restaurant table with the arrival of homegrown alpaca on the menu in New Zealand for the first time. Alpaca meat is lean and high in protein, making it a natural for cuts to make their way to the table in New Zealand for the first time.
Peter and Tessa collated the first 43 animals to be processed at Venison Packers Feilding Ltd and after working through the approvals of its risk management plan (RMP) amendments. As a first for New Zealand and MAF, it has taken some time to finally get approval for release of the meat for sale and consumption.
A mix of chilled primal cuts and lesser-quality frozen packs has been released from the store in Feilding. Peter and Tessa are presently in the throes of planning promotional activities and have retained quality meat suppliers Grande Gourmet of Hastings for distribution, using the brand "Aymara”. A full range of conventional gourmet cuts has emerged, including strip loin, shanks, neck chops, French racks, shoulders and back straps.
Tessa said ‘we are rolling out tasting packs to all the top end restaurants through Grand Gourmet who already has a well established relationship with high end restaurants and lodges throughout New Zealand. We are adding a range of small goods to the Aymara Alpaca meat product range as well’.
Glen Anderson, the executive chef at Mangapapa Lodge says “I was really excited when approached to experiment with Alpaca meat and found it an exciting new dish for our menu. It responds well to Asian type flavours and is excellent as meatballs seasoned with chilli and lime or New Zealand flavours such as Kawakawa and Horopito”
For further information visit their website www.mesamill.co.nz
iLearn Interactive - Ross & Chris Perkinson
Iwi – Te Arawa, Ngati Pikiao
A New Beginning – New Beginnings becomes iLearn Interactive
New Beginnings NZ was set up in 2003 by Ross and Chris Perkinson of Maungaturoto. Both are trained teachers with a passion for education and saw the benefits of children learning languages early.
They started the business offering foreign language products by importing CD’s and DVD’s to sell to parents to teach their children languages – Maori, French, Chinese and Spanish etc. Over the years they’ve specialised in providing schools with language resources and have now moved into online subscriptions.
Their brand ‘New Beginnings’ which was targeting preschool language learning was no longer suitable for where they were going. iLearn Interactive was birthed out of New Beginnings with a focus on online learning resources for schools and homes.
Poutama advisor, Vonese Walker caught up with them at the recent Education Expo where they introduced two new programmes. Chris said “We are so proud to introduce these two amazing products and are very excited with the new direction the business is taking”.
Introducing Maori to www.languagenut.co.nz
Just in time for Maori Languages Week (4-10th July), Languagenut is offering a FREE 2 week trial to all schools.
There are 3 areas in Languagenut – interactive games, interactive songs and interactive stories. At this stage Maori is up and running in the interactive games but not in the songs or stories.
Once they have schools on board, they will get the stories and songs on the site too. Check out the website and have a play in the French or English to see what will be offered in Maori in the future.
Introducing Maths Whizz – online maths tutor for individuals and schools
Welcome to the most exciting, fun and effective programme in Maths. How would you like it if your child were so excited to go on a Maths Programme they didn’t want to go to their rugby game on Saturday morning – Chris got an email from a Mum thanking her as her children loved the programme so much.
Schools are encouraged to trial the programme with two classes until the end of this year, and look at introducing it to all their students in 2012. If you know of a school who may be interested be sure to pass on our details.
If you have a primary aged child or a secondary aged child who struggles with Maths go to their website to sign up for a free trial. The results below speak for themselves.
For further information on iLearn Interactive, check out www.ilearn.co.nz.
Natural Born Builders - Wilfred Kereru
Iwi – Rongomawahine
Wilfred Kereru has been a self employed builder for over 20 years being one of the last graduates of the era of the Maori Trade Training programme. Wil said ‘I started my carpentry apprenticeship in February 1986 with Maori Affairs which was considered to be one of the best trade training programs of its time’.
Once out of my time, I worked for Civil and Civic on the Auckland High Courthouse doing quality finishing and some restoration work. This was followed by numerous private and company contract houses.
In 1998 he left for Australia ... ‘as a stepping stone for my big OE, Danny's Seafood Restaurant on Bondi Beach was to be my first project. After building two homes I was offered set building work for Mission Impossible II. Work on Farscape followed and my dream job on the set of Starwars II. From there I headed to Africa and funded my travels with more set building on Home Alone and commercials.
Wil returned to New Zealand in 2003 with a partner and soon started a family ... ‘with that came a desire for stability and the formation of Natural Born Builders. Natural Born Builders is in the building construction industry providing general building services including laying foundations, framing and finishing of the building structure. Significant buildings that the business has been involved in include construction of an apartment building on the Marine Parade, Napier valued at over $1.5 million each and construction of a house at Craggy Range at the back of Havelock North for an overseas client valued at around $1.9 million.
Natural Born Builders expanded into the steel framing business to take advantage for the demand in the market for steel framing products. ‘I purchased a computerized steel roll-forming machine and set up Future Frames Ltd to produce high quality and light weight steel framing’.
Steel framing is considered by the business to be a more viable option than timber in terms of solidity. Today’s timber appear to be a lot softer as trees are bred to mature a lot sooner with insufficient time to develop the hardness of timber required for timber frames.
The steel frame industry in NZ is in its infancy and growing in popularity and has a major position in the market overseas. Wil says ‘steel framed houses are gradually becoming acceptable with the majority of my builds being with steel framing.’
As with others in the Construction Industry the last 12 to 18 months has been difficult for the business and ‘I have had to take whatever work that was available to keep the business going and a lot have been with traditional timber rather than steel’ says Wil. However Wil adds ‘that things are looking up as I have just completed a steel framed build in Mahia that I got from exhibiting at the Hawke’s Bay Home Show with Poutama support, and I also have work for the next three months.’
For further information visit their website www.naturalbornbuilders.co.nz
The Tale of the Red Dragon Tourism
Our competitive advantage into the future will come from our ability to provide a multiplicity of product and experiences for the China market.
Despite a spate of natural disasters (here and abroad), as well as a record high New Zealand dollar the overall the mood of the tourism sector remains, buoyed by the upcoming rugby world cup and raft of improved international air connections and capacity to New Zealand via Asia – and in particular from China.
Unlike the early days of the Japan market, China (currently our 4th largest inbound market) is growing at a time when technology and global communications are at an all-time high. Not only are today’s Chinese visitors more aware of what is on offer here, they are also well informed on the options provided by competing destinations. Not that long ago, even the major movers out of China such as China Travel Service (CTS) and China International Travel Service (CITS) focused predominantly on the GIT traveller and what we know commonly in the industry as the golden route destinations. Today that mono view has evolved (and continues to do so) with many of those same agencies now dedicating FIT divisions and specialists to focus on ensuring China’s emergent wealthy and globally savvy traveller are being offered a smorgasbord of regionally diverse, personalised, quality product and experiences.
The following is an interesting look at a typical visitor profile of today’s Chinese visitor. Mei Chen is 45 years of age (50% of Chinese female arrivals are aged between 35-54). She is from Guangdong Province (9% of the market) and will be travelling on holiday (64% of the market). It will likely be her first time here (76% are first time arrivals) although her husband has been before and rated NZ 8+ out of 10. Although Mei would have researched her trip online, she would likely still buy her package through an agent (63% do). She is looking at coming to New Zealand as part of a combined trip to Australia. The group is likely to fly (directly moreso these days) into Auckland (92%) and spend time overnight (82%) before heading to Rotorua (77%) and then onto Taupo (7%) before heading back to Auckland to fly to Queenstown (15%). Mei will mostly stay in hotels (89%) and during her stay will spend somewhere in the vicinity of NZ$2800 whilst here. In the year ended 31 March 2011, the median length of stay in New Zealand by Chinese visitors was 4 days, with the period between November and February by far being the most popular, with a large number arriving in the February Chinese New Year.
With the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) forecasting up to 20 million long haul flights from China to destinations like Australia and New Zealand by 2020, it’s crucial that we improve our understanding of the Chinese traveller, the culture itself and the Chinese world view. Most important, we need to dispel the notion that the future of this market will resemble the start of it (i.e. simply volume and price). Our competitive advantage in the future will come from an ability to offer a multiplicity of product experiences (and for Maori that is at all ends of the market) so that we can combine culture to be much more than simply performances or scenery orientated.
If we are able to truly develop an innate ability to provide great cultural service, that is intuitive to the nuances of the Chinese, they will seek to explore New Zealand again and again. Timely and relevant market intelligence from the likes of Tourism New Zealand and others in market needs to disseminate out in a timely manner that should assist regions and their operators to offer expectation exceeding product and experiences.
For further tourism market information refer to the following:
www.tourismnewzealand.com/markets-and-stats/
www.tourismnewzealand.com/marketing-toolbox/
Poutama hosts successful TRENZ Function in Queenstown
This is the second consecutive year the Poutama team has hosted a Maori Tourism function during New Zealand's premier tourism trade exhibition week of TRENZ. The evening creates an opportunity for those Maori tourism operators exhibiting at TRENZ, as well as others from around the motu and the Southern Lakes region to mix, mingle and meet many leading tourism travel buyers, VIP’s, industry chief executives, wholesalers and key agency officials in a relaxed and social environment.
Poutama is committed to promoting Maori tourism opportunities for and on behalf of its clients. In addition to initiatives such as this, it does this through a range of activities, including internally driven projects, external collaborations, involvement in trade and tourism specific expos and missions as well as direct investment into the growth of the businesses themselves.
This year’s function was held during TRENZ week on Tuesday 24th May at Frasers Bar & Grill on Steamers Wharf and served to reinforced Poutama’s guidance, leadership and engagement across the coalface of Maori tourism. Whilst a chance to network and meet industry leaders ‘kanohi ki te kanohi’ is always a highlight for those Maori tourism clients that attend, the evening also offers Poutama an opportunity to update attendees on the numerous tourism initiatives and activities it is undertaking.
In terms of this year, there were no less than three major initiatives that were launched and highlighted to those gathered. These included; Indigenous NZ (www.inz.maori.nz) Gateway to Maori Tourism, the Discover Maori Brochure, and the international trade joint venture involving Poutama, TravelEssence (Netherlands based NZ Travel Specialists) and Tourism New Zealand.
In terms of product development, the website is focussed on a global market via the internet, with specific focus on being the Gateway to Maori tourism and thereby profiling Maori operators and experiences as Aotearoa's truly unique point of difference. The Discover Maori brochure is something that seeks to provide a convenient talking point and reference to the website, whilst being a visually appealing and informative DLE useful in situations and partnerships with the likes of Air NZ long haul concierge staff and in Koru lounges. The third aspect of the evening focussed on Poutama’s trade joint venture TravelEssence, which involves a number of new and existing Maori tourism clients via a direct trade relationship with the Netherland’s based specialists.
This year was the first time Queenstown had hosted the international TRENZ trade show. The date and location for next year’s event is expected to be announced in September.
Amongst those that attended the Poutama function was Poutama Board member Brian Tunui, TIA CE Tim Cossar, ITOC CE Lesley Immick, Ngai Tahu Tourism CE John Thorburn, AA Tourism CE Pete Blackwell and Rugby World Cup 2011 CE Martin Snedden (pictured left) here with Poutama CE Richard Jones.
Rugby World Cup 2011 tourism projects
Indigenous New Zealand website goes live
Poutama’s support and promotion of Maori tourism has reached another milestone with completion of the first stage of the new look website for Indigenous New Zealand – www.inz.maori.nz. This website creates the ultimate gateway to browse, learn and book Maori tourism product throughout New Zealand.
Poutama is excited to get the refreshed website live in time for the Rugby World Cup audience. Our Maori culture is what makes New Zealand unique and RWC 2011 is a great opportunity to showcase Maori to the rest of the world.
Immerse, taste, relax, encounter, experience and discover all at www.inz.maori.nz
Through the help of tourism marketing and design Company, Tomahawk, this new updated version of the website is the first step to bring Poutama’s vision for Maori tourism to life. The new look of the website is vibrant and fresh and the guidance Tomahawk has provided will enable us to share our culture with the world.
Indigenous New Zealand will allow Maori operators to register and take bookings from one central website which Poutama see as pivotal in the growth of Maori tourism. The ability to provide a one stop shop for all Maori tourism products with an integrated booking system will be a great benefit to all.
The booking system ResBook, which is powered by Availability, is what will be built into the site. It is a comprehensive online, real time reservation management system for the small to medium size accommodation or activity businesses in New Zealand. ResBook means all of your reservations are in one place and allows you to instantly take online bookings from your customers.
Poutama will be sending out a link shortly to all our Maori tourism operators to register their listing for the website. Any operators not already online or registered are encouraged to contact project manager Vonese directly via vonese@poutama.co.nz to start the process.
Discover Maori brochure
Poutama is working closely with Te Puni Kokiri’s Rugby World Cup 2011 Project team on several initiatives. This month we thought it would be good to highlight the development of the Discover Maori brochure.
The Discover Maori brochure will profile Maori tourism, accommodation and visitor focused retail operators nationwide, to international and domestic visitors leading up to and beyond RWC 2011.
Discover Maori will highlight the quality, diversity and spread of these providers throughout the country. The brochure will also provide basic information about Maori history, language, culture and contemporary society.
Discover Maori will be distributed through established physical and online channels. To find out more contact Vonese via vonese@poutama.co.nz.
Business NZ - a voice for business
BusinessNZ - New Zealand’s largest business advocacy group – is all about achieving success for New Zealand. Its purpose is to ‘promote sustainable growth through free enterprise’.
Representing businesses of all kinds in all parts of New Zealand, BusinessNZ also seeks success for Maori enterprise.
BusinessNZ President, Philip Broughton (Ngai Tahu) says the growing strength of Maori enterprise makes it a formidable contributor to the wider New Zealand economy.
“The regional basis of much Maori business sits well with the BusinessNZ family’s reach which is also based regionally,” Mr Broughton says.
BusinessNZ is owned by four large regional organisations which together have around 14,000 member firms – companies that range from small owner-operator businesses to the largest companies in New Zealand.
The four big regional associations supply services to their member companies including training, legal advice, industrial relations advocacy, and support in areas such as human resources, health & safety, tax and accounting.
Philip Broughton is President of the Otago-Southland Employers’ Association, the southern-most of the four big associations. The other three are EMA (top of the North Island), the Employers Chamber of Commerce Central (central New Zealand) and the Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of commerce.
BusinessNZ itself acts as a policy and advocacy service for all member companies, and also operates other membership groups, including a Major Companies Group and an affiliated group of industry associations.
Special interest groups under the BusinessNZ banner include ExportNZ, ManufacturingNZ, Sustainable BusinessNZ and Buy NZ Made.
This broad and varied membership means that BusinessNZ can keep in touch with issues that affect most businesses in New Zealand.
Most recently, this has included work coordinating a large part of the private sector response to Christchurch earthquake, led by BusinessNZ’s Major Companies Group.
BusinessNZ’s advocacy work includes lobbying work with decision makers in Parliament and elsewhere, while BusinessNZ analysts make submissions on business-related legislation.
This work is often based on research data including the monthly surveys of the manufacturing and service sectors – the BNZ-BusinessNZ PMI and PSI.
All such work is based on information and views of member companies. BusinessNZ analysts consult with members on relevant issues, draft position papers, then consult again. The policy positions that result from this process are the basis of advocacy work with decisions makers.
While BusinessNZ is essentially a membership-based organisation, its advocacy is not just on behalf of members but on behalf of all business.
Its reach also extends beyond New Zealand’s borders, with work contributing to the OECD, International Labour Organisation, US-New Zealand Partnership Forum and other international bodies.
Mr Broughton, who as BusinessNZ President is often involved in international outreach, says this work is important because issues at home can often be determined by positions reached at international forums – on issues like industrial relations, environmental management and business law.
“Being a voice for business means engaging wherever decisions are made that affect business,” Philip Broughton says.
“People’s livelihood and prosperity depend on successful business - that’s our main goal.”
For more information visit: www.businessnz.org.nz
What is Export NZ and how can it help your business
Exporting goods and services it absolutely crucial to the New Zealand economy, now more than ever. On a global scale, we’re tiny islands, and we need to sell our good and services to markets beyond our shores if we’re going to pull out of the recession strong, resilient and more successful than ever.
Success in the international markets is our ticket to a better quality of life for all New Zealanders. It will help us to climb our way up from our current ranking of 21st in GDP per capita amongst OECD countries.
ExportNZ is the voice of New Zealand exporters, and a division of BusinessNZ, the country’s largest business advocacy body, committed to championing a productive, export-oriented, competitive business environment in which enterprise can thrive.
A not-for-profit organisation, ExportNZ is primarily aimed at:
- providing effective advocacy and lobbying on behalf of NZ exporters
- raising awareness and promoting the economic importance of exporting
- increasing the value of exports from New Zealand
- increasing the number of exporting businesses in New Zealand.
The front face and voice for ExportNZ is executive director Catherine Beard. Catherine spends much of her time travelling around the country meeting with Kiwi exporters, speaking on their behalf in the media and at events, networking and engaging with government officials and organisations involved in international trade.
This ensures ExportNZ keeps on top of the issues that matter to Kiwi exporters and is able to make sure they are represented from the start of the policy making process and as policy is developed.
Sir Ken Stevens is Chairman of ExportNZ and Chairman of Glidepath, the company he started 36 years ago and still owns. Ken takes an active role in ExportNZ activities and events, regularly meeting with exporters around the country and speaking at Go Global – ExportNZ’s forum for international business.
The Go Global conference is now a ‘must attend’ on the exporter’s calendar, with last year’s event attracting hundreds to Auckland’s Sky City to hear leading New Zealand exporters tell their story of finding and breaking into new export markets. The day brought together government officials and leading international business leaders to inspire, share tips and answer questions.
At a local level, networking events and training are the key focus of the regional ExportNZ offices. These are often run through the export divisions of BusinessNZ's regional business associations: EMA, the Employers’ Chamber of Commerce Central, the Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce and the Otago Southland Employers' Association.
The unique advantage of ExportNZ activities and events is that they are run by exporters for exporters. Key activities include:
- After 5 networking events – to share knowledge, ideas, contacts and opportunities with like-minded exporters.
- Breakfasts – to meet other exporters, and gain valuable insights from guest speakers.
- Specially designed courses for the new exporter or those wanting to extend their knowledge base, or to provide staff with an 'export' education.
Feedback shows ExportNZ’s networking functions to be invaluable in helping firms progress their international business. Here’s just a couple of examples of what exporters have to say about being part of ExportNZ.
"Our Membership of ExportNZ is vital in facilitating and delivering measurable results and increasing our bottom line. Quite simply our export initiatives would not have been as successful without their involvement. Together we strive towards both individual and collective goals showcasing our Web Development Services to the world." - Graham Dockrill, hairy Lemon Web Solutions Ltd, Christchurch.
"Since we committed to international growth of our business, the membership to ExportNZ has been very useful to us in several ways.
It has provided us with excellent networking opportunities through which we have met, shared & learnt a lot from other exporters. It has given us regular information on exporting issues which have been very relevant to us. Even the opportunities for professional development have been a great help to us in growing our exports" - Sameer Handa, Patton Ltd, Auckland
ExportNZ has offices throughout the country, from Auckland, the Bay of Plenty and Hawkes Bay through to Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.
You can find your nearest office and find out about activities in your region by visiting www.exportnz.org.nz.
“Rewa”: Jewel in the Tohu Crown
Tohu Wines latest offering is “Rewa” Méthode Traditionnelle Blanc de Blanc 2009.
After over 2 years in the making “Rewa” was officially launched at a private party held in Nelson, the ancestral home of Tohu Wine’s collective of owners, The Wakatu Incorporation.
“Rewa” namesake of the native “Rewarewa” honeysuckle tree is crafted from Chardonnay grapes using traditional methods of bottle fermentation and ageing on lees, is a single vineyard wine with a complex and richly textured style balanced with fresh, juicy acidity and a toasty dry finish.
Bruce Taylor, Winemaker said that “it was great to see the 2 year process completed with such a pleasing outcome after faithfully following the traditional method of making this wine”.
Rewa with its eye catching gold and black label has also caught the eye of wine critics, with Sam Kim awarding it 5 stars/ 93 points and describing it as “an impressive offering from Tohu, one of New Zealand's most consistent, excellent wine producers”.
Rewa is Tohu Wines first offering of a Méthode Traditionnelle style wine and Chief Executive Mike Brown commented that “the addition of a blanc de blanc bubbles completes the Tohu range and offers our sales guys a real asset given our strong on-premise presence”.
Rewa became available nationwide as of Friday June 10th.
For more information visit: www.tohuwines.co.nz
Poutama Out & About - May & June
Richard Te Hurinui Jones
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In early May I attended a one day Economic Summit organised by Te Puni Kokiri and the Maori Economic Taskforce. The Summit had some interesting presentations and gave an update on the position of Maori in New Zealand’s economic landscape. Some familiar themes were highlighted such as the need for greater collaboration among Maori as well as the need for Maori to move into the value chain. Economist Ganesh Nana highlighted the important and growing role that Maori small businesses are playing. However with such summits it is often the ‘what happens next’ where real focus is required. So far all that is known is that a working group will be set up to develop a Maori economic strategy, lets hope some real and tangible action will come from this group!! Auckland is one of Poutama’s busiest regions with lots of small business and entrepreneurial activity going on. I had a good catch up with Nicole Hoey owner and key driver behind Cinco Cine www.cincocine.co.nz . Nicole produces the popular TV3 rangatahi show Pukana and was just about to head off to San Francisco with Witi Ihimaera to show her latest film production ‘Kawa’ at a film festival there and in Los Angeles. I also caught up with the people behind Auckland’s Radio Waatea www.waatea603am.co.nz and discussed the possibility of them airing a weekly half hour business programme. Just down the road from them is the Matatau Maori Business Centre run by the energetic and bubbly Hinu Te Hau. The Centre offers serviced office space for Maori SMEs and is a place for Maori to do business from and for others to access Maori enterprise more readily www.mmbn.co.nz Meanwhile out in the countryside I joined in on the field day held by Waipapa 9 Trust as one of the finalists for the Maori Farmer Award. The day was well supported with over 150 people attending. It started off with a gathering at the Mokai marae before taking a tour of the farm. Waipapa 9 won the award in 2010 for dairying and this year entered for sheep and cattle www.waipapatrust.co.nz. In late May I paid a site visit to the Otago Central Rail Trail www.trailjourneys.co.nz . The purpose of the visit was to get a sense of how the rail trail operates and to use this information to assist with the development of the Central North Island’s Pureora Timber Trail cycleway. For my visit I was hosted by cycleway consultant Mike Barnett, and was shown around one of the main cycle hire businesses. Mike also took me to some of the businesses along the trail including a hotel out in what seemed like the middle of nowhere as well as some out of the way accommodation places. We also visited some small settlements, a museum and a curling rink. It was very revealing how these out of the way businesses had benefitted from being alongside of or in close proximity to the rail trail. I was impressed with the economic impact the rail trail has had on small communities and businesses in the area. Whilst in the region I also met up with local Maori tourism operators including Clint Tauri from Fiordland Cruises www.fiordlandcruises.co.nz, Henare Dewes who operates a high end guided fishing and skiing businesss out of Queenstown www.dream-waters.co.nz and Lance Benseman who operates Queenstown Wine Trails www.queenstownwinetrail.co.nz. All of these businesses were upbeat and positive about the future of tourism for the region despite the effects of the Christchurch earthquake and a rising NZ dollar. In early June I attended the Ahu Whenua Maori Farmer Awards www.ahuwhenuatrophy.maori.nz The awards were well supported with over 500 people attending. Its becoming so popular that you need to get in early for tickets to what is becoming one of Maoridoms premier events. The three awards finalists were the Otakanini Topu Incorporation from the Kaipara Harbour near Helensville, Waipapa 9 Trust, west of Taupo and Pakihiroa Farms, on the East Coast, west of Ruatoria. In an historic ‘first’, the current holder of the Ahuwhenua Trophy for Dairy Farming, Waipapa 9 Trust, also won the prestigious Ahuwhenua Trophy – BNZ Maori Excellence in Farming Award 2011 for its outstanding sheep and beef operation. Waipapa 9 Trust Chairman Dawson Haa says that their success is fundamentally due to a great team and good governance. He went on to say “I hope our historic win encourages other Maori farmers to make the most of their land and to know that with a great team, hard work and a commitment to improving the land for future generations excellence in farming is within their grasp.’ Towards the end of June I travelled to the USA to help support the holding of a Matariki themed event at the Air NZ Koru Lounge at Los Angeles Airport (see Matariki article). On the theme of Matariki, a great event was held at the Waitomo Caves 28th June with over 200 people attending. Guest speaker was Kauahi Ngapora GM for Whalewatch Kaikoura. Tohu Wines provided the beverages, Charles Royal was the guest chef and Mina Mitai entertained people with his smooth saxophone playing. The following morning Kauahi and the Sales Manager for Tohu, Hugo McCallum, were the guest speakers at a Maori business networking breakfast held in Waitomo. |
Tom Manaena
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Poutama had a table at the recent Te Awe network function along with Wellington’s Chinese Business Community. The event was held at the Wharewaka on the Wellington waterfront. On our table we had Rebecca Cass with her gift packs from Baby Angel www.babyangel.co.nz and Larissa Warren with her photographic prints www.fineline.net.nz. Both welcomed the opportunity to present their products and made good contacts on the night. Products from The Heavy Metal Company www.heavymetal.net.nz and Mata Beer from Aotearoa Breweries www.mata.net.nz were also on our table that was ably ‘manned’ by Gail. Aunty’s Garden www.auntysgarden.co.nz recently launched its website at Waipatu where the first Aunty’s Garden was started. Aunty’s Garden is a network of Maori producers who grow and manufacture food and goods from the natural resources of our lands, waters and seas with a number of them around the motu. The website is an avenue for growers to go direct to market. Hawkes Bay Maori Business Network hosted a morning where a presentation was given on the recent report that was prepared by BERL Chief Economist Dr Ganesh Nana of the findings of BERL’s projects undertaken for the Maori Economic Taskforce and Te Puni Kokiri. Have been keeping an eye on our Investments that provides us with income to deliver our services. In this regard we attended the recent Direct Capital AGM www.directcapital.co.nz and Eriksens Global annual conference www.eriksensglobal.com. The Eriksens conference was entitled “EFG Investment Conference” (Earthquakes, Floods and Government Regulation) to reflect the major themes of the year to date with Mark Solomon from Ngai Tahu being one of the presenters. |
Oscar Nathan
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May proved to be a busier month than usual despite the tougher trading conditions for many of our client businesses. With winter trading starting to settle in, many identified the need to improve visibility and awareness through either targeted promotions (via traditional mediums such as radio and print) and/or improved usage and understanding of online and social media space. Across the wider BOP regions of Tauranga, Taupo, Whakatane and Rotorua we have worked collectively on information workshops with Te Puni Kokiri to outline and indentify areas of opportunity for Maori business to engage and better collaborate. If you are a Maori business or enterprise with a commercial focus in any of the four regions above then register now at http://maori2011.webdirectionz.co.nz/ . Where your business is tourism and hospitality related your details will also be reciprocated to http://www.inz.maori.nz Aotearoa’s Gateway to Maori Tourism. The highlight activity for May in addition to Poutama’s Maori tourism function Queenstown (previously highlighted in this newsletter) was the tradeshow attendance of a number of our clients at TRENZ in Queenstown including Pa Harakeke www.paharakeke.co.nz and Te Urewera Treks www.teureweratreks.co.nz as well as others. The month of June not only brought on a spate of unprecedented wet weather, but it also heralded a major milestone for one of our new and exciting new Maori Trust / Tourism entities (Ruawahia 2B Trust) with the televised commemoration of the Mt. Tarawera Eruption that occurred on June 10th 1886 – 125 years ago. The occasion was marked with a gathering of over 150 descendants that whakapapa to the Maunga and was featured on TVNZ Breakfast with weather front-man Tamati Coffey. From a business perspective, the Trust has been collaborating with another Poutama client business Kaitiaki Adventures to offer delivery of a much enhanced cultural experience to what was previously on offer http://bit.ly/mD2fS5 June also heralded a growing awareness of Matariki with many businesses finding a number of new and innovative ways to celebrate the start of this special time of year. In addition, a number of the regional Maori Business Networks timed functions to coincide as an added reason to bring together and celebrate Maori business. Some of these activities included;
In addition to the collective activity the period saw a number of individual business meetings and discussions take place, including; Mount Tarawera (Ruawahia 2B Trust), Maori Multimedia, Mataira Vetinary, Whakatane Marque Hire, Hairini Holdings, Snooze Cube International, Cobble Kings, Biopacific, Dive Tatapouri, Hand Jive and others to name a few. |
Vonese Walker
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Great progress is being made with the work we have been doing with Te Puni Kokiri’s RWC team on the brochure profiling Maori cultural tourism operators and retailers. An initial pamphlet – Discover Maori http://bit.ly/lgbUT6 was launched at TRENZ in Queenstown in May and there has been a lot of interest in the final brochure since then. For further information on this email me directly via vonese@poutama.co.nz. I met with Jonathan Kilgour and Anne Hardman to participate in Te Puni Kokiri’s Rugby World Cup 2011 Research project which will focus on Maori involvement in the event. Their interest is to provide an understanding of the ways in which Maori can leverage cultural, social and economic opportunities and to identify best practice examples. I’ve had a few visits to Auckland where I met with the Auckland 2011 Maori Project team to discuss project plans and updates for RWC 2011 in Auckland – lots of exciting things being planned so watch this space for highlights and updates as they come through. I also met with the Maori Television team to discuss promotion of Maori businesses in regions where Rugby World Cup matches are being played. Met up with Toa Waaka, Manager for House of Shem who are heating up for an international year of marketing and promoting their latest export, the Number One debuting album ‘Island Vibration’ – www.houseofshem.com Have been working with Hugo from Tohu Wines around several of the RWC projects Poutama is involved with and also some Matariki events – www.tohuwines.co.nz Caught up with Mike & Stu from KD Training Ltd who just recently had their new training centre officially opened by Sir Wira Gardiner – www.kdtraining.com and also met with Paul from Toru Tours who is gearing up for the Rugby World Cup and just recently had a second successful year at TRENZ – www.torutours.com |
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Contact Us
Tom Manaena, Commercial Manager (Tom@poutama.co.nz 021 538 838 or 04 495 1132 ) - Tom is responsible for the finance, investment and accounting side of the business and also spends a lot of time out on the road covering the lower North Island, Auckland, Hawkes Bay, Central and Upper South Island regions. He also deals with clients at all levels and in all sectors.
Vonese Walker, Information Manager (Vonese@poutama.co.nz 021 683 681 ) - Vonese covers the Northland, Auckland and lower North Island regions. She deals with clients at all levels and in all sectors. Vonese also manages Poutama’s database and tourism website and is responsible for designing and improving Poutama’s service delivery to clients.
Gail Maxwell, Office Manager (Gail@poutama.co.nz 021 375 090 or 04 473 2652 ) - Gail is often the first point of contact for Poutama clients. She also supports Tom with the accounting function and provides back up to all of the team and board of trustees.
Richard Jones, CEO (Richard@poutama.co.nz 021 619 075 or Skype richtj ) - Richard focuses on strategic matters as concerns Poutama’s activities and also deals with clients at all levels and in all sectors. He has a particular focus on International business activities and liaises closely with Maori exporters. Richard also has responsibility for producing Poutama’s online newsletter and communications. Feel free to make contact with him with any relevant information or networking events for publication in the newsletter.
