Date: 21 October 2025
The inaugural Hauraki Māori Business Awards 2025, held at the Silver Fern Farms Events Centre in Te Aroha, brought together more than 300 guests to honour Māori enterprise, innovation, and leadership across the Hauraki rohe.
The evening was a powerful celebration of Māori success, showcasing the ingenuity and cultural integrity of Māori businesses leading change. The event was graced by the presence of Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po, alongside Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke MP, Hon. Tama Potaka, mana whenua o Hauraki, local government mayors and councillors, marae representatives, kaumātua, and rangatahi from across the rohe.
Hosted by the Ngāti Tamaterā Treaty Settlement Trust, the awards recognise the remarkable achievements of Māori businesses that are not only driving economic growth, but also strengthening cultural identity, environmental stewardship, and community wellbeing.
“These awards reflect the heartbeat of our people — the creativity, courage, and collaboration that keep Hauraki moving forward,” “This is more than business excellence — it’s about celebrating Māori innovation that uplifts whānau, restores our taiao, and builds a stronger future for generations to come,” said Michelle Wilson, CEO of the Ngāti Tamaterā Treaty Settlement Trust.
Elle Archer, Ōhanga Oranga, Economic Development Lead for Ngāti Tamaterā. “What we witnessed tonight was more than an awards ceremony, it was a declaration of identity and intent. Māori business is not just contributing to the economy; we are reshaping it. Through our values, our innovation, and our collective strength, we’re showing that prosperity and purpose can walk together. The Hauraki Māori Business Awards are proof that when we lead with whakapapa and kaupapa, we don’t just succeed – we transform the landscape for everyone”.
From technology to trade, design to wellbeing, and rangatahi leadership the awards highlighted the diverse strengths of Māori entrepreneurship across the region. Each recipient demonstrated the transformative impact of Māori-led business models that prioritise collective prosperity, whānau empowerment, and sustainability.
A major milestone unveiled on the night was the launch of Ngā Pōito o te Kupenga, the new Hauraki Iwi Māori Business Database, developed in partnership between Ngāti Tamaterā and Ngāti Pāoa. This platform will connect Māori enterprises across Hauraki with procurement opportunities in both public and private sectors, while nurturing a network grounded in trust, whanaungatanga, and shared purpose.
By building the capacity and capability of local businesses, Ngā Pōito o te Kupenga aims to strengthen Māori economic participation, enhance business visibility, and support long-term sustainability. Through this initiative, Ngāti Tamaterā will work directly with iwi-owned and Māori-led businesses to understand their needs, foster collaboration, and ensure equitable access to contracts and partnerships that drive Māori economic growth across the region.
“Ngā Pōito o te Kupenga represents more than a directory, it’s the weave that connects our business ecosystem,” says Elle Archer, Economic Development Lead.
“It’s about restoring the relationships that underpin trade, mentorship, and opportunity, an expression of Ōhanga Kaitiaki, the guardianship economy that places values and people at the heart of growth.”
A tono is now extended to all Māori businesses across Hauraki to register, and to experienced business leaders willing to mentor and support new enterprises within the network.
If you want to express your interest to be a mentor, click here.
Antony Royal chair of Ngāti Tamaterā – “Ngāti Tamaterā welcomes businesses to collaborate with us in driving innovation and sustainable growth across the Hauraki region. Together, we can unlock the potential of our people, our land, and our shared future. We encourage enterprises — Māori and non-Māori alike — to partner with us, invest in Hauraki, and be part of a thriving regional economy”.
The event was live streamed to audiences across Aotearoa and beyond, allowing whānau and supporters to join the celebration of excellence and innovation from afar.
The Hauraki Māori Business Awards were established to recognise, celebrate, and elevate Māori businesses and entrepreneurs from the Hauraki region who embody excellence in leadership, innovation, and sustainability. The kaupapa sits within a wider regional strategy to strengthen Māori economic development, build capability, and create pathways for rangatahi into business and industry.
This milestone — and the success of the inaugural Hauraki Māori Business Awards — would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors and strategic partners: Thames-Coromandel District Council (TCDC), Waikato Regional Council (WRC), Hauraki Māori Trust Board (HMTB), Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, OceanaGold, the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA), the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), and Te Puni Kōkiri (TPK).
Michelle Wilson Chief Executive Officer Ngāti Tamaterā Treaty Settlement Trust michelle.wilson@tamatera.iwi.nz
www.tamatera.iwi.nz –
