Who we are

Te Awe Wellington Maori Business Network is a non-profit organisation and was established in 1996 and is the oldest Maori Business Network operating in New Zealand. We are registered with the Registrar of companies as an Incorporated Society is governed by a commitee on a voluntary basis.

Te Awe has a strong membership base representing small to medium sized businesses through to large corporates. Non Maori Business people can also take advantage of our Associate Membership option.

Te Awe’s purpose is to promote, assist and encourage Maori in business through regular networking Hui where Maori Business owners meet and share their business successes and challenges.

We have been delighted to have as our guest speakers leading Maori Buisness people and personalities including James Johnston (Rainey Collins Lawyers), Dr Farah Palmer (Massey University), Doug Hauraki (Maori Education Trust), Hon John Tamihere (former Member for Tamaki Makaurau), Ralph Norris (formerly Air New Zealand and Commonwealth Bank of Australia), Rob McLeod (New Zealand Business Round Table), Rick Bettle (New Zealand Institute of Directors), Michael Campbell (US Open Champion), Liz Kelly (Porirua City Councellor and Business Woman) and Ata Te Kanawa (Editor of Tu Mai Magazine).

Management Committee

The current management committee;

 

Peter Tanara Johnston (Ngati Porou)

Peter is the Chairman and lives in Wellington. He is a Partner in the prestigious Wellington law firm Rainey Collins. Peter leads his firm's Maori issues team and his advice is sought by clients throughout the country.

Contact: 04 473 6850 or pjohnston@raineycollins.co.nz

 

Careene Andrews

Treasurer.

Careene Andrews – Ngāti Kahungunu / Ngāti Raukawa / Whakatohea 

Careene is our most recent board member, who was elected as Treasurer at our December 2012 AGM.Careene is a Senior Consultant (and Director in Mara Andrews’ absence while working in our Canada office) at Kahui Tautoko Consulting Ltd. The name “Kāhui Tautoko” was given to the Company by Mate Kaiwai, a prominent Ngati Porou kuia (elder). The name was given to mean “a group sent out to uplift others”. Literally “Kāhui” means a group, and “Tautoko” means support, strengthen, guide and uplift. From this name the Company developed its purpose of “supporting organisations to do great things in their Communities”.

Careene has a background in business management having worked and then managed the Wellington and Christchurch offices of Flight Centre Corporate for 20 years. Careene has a background with quality management systems and is a Qualified Health auditor. Careene has been heavily involved with the Whānau Ora initiative launched in 2010 and has worked with many of the Whānau Ora collectives and Government agencies.

Careene and her husband have six children and one moko who reside in Lower Hutt. 

Contact: 021 908936 or careene@kahuitautoko.co.nz

 

Paul Retimanu

Paul is our Events Coordinator and ideally suited to the task having hosted numerous events, functions and conferences as Director of Manaaki Management.

Paul Retimanu entered the industry as a bartender and by the age of 24 was already managing 40 staff as the catering manager of a large, five-star hotel. "That's the great thing about hospitality," he says. "You can move up the chain quickly and still be quite young, as long as you show your initiative and are prepared to work hard."

These days, in between juggling the demands of 7 children, Paul and his wife Keri own and run Manaaki Management which provides full event and venue management of  Te Raukura - te Wharewaka o Poneke including Karaka Café, Pipitea Marae and The Lodge at Shelly Bay. Manaaki (meaning – “to look after”) is a full venue management operator,providing services for all your venue needs including: facility management,venue bookings, function and event planning, theming, food and beverages requirements.

Contact: 027 451-2186 or paul@manaakitanga.co.nz

 

Horiana Irwin (Ngati Porou, Rakaipaaka, Ngati Kahungunu)

Horiana was elected onto the Te Awe board in 2009 at the AGM after being a student member during her studies. Horiana graduated from Victoria University in 2009 with a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Maori Resource Management, and was recently admitted to the bar. Horiana has worked as a solicitor at Russell McVeagh in Wellington within the Litigation, Resource Management and Maori legal teams. Prior to working at Russell McVeagh Horiana worked at Te Puni Kokiri in the Matauranga Maori and Whanau Development teams.

Horiana is currently a solicitor at Kahui Legal in January 2010. Horiana has assisted with District Court, Environment Court, Board of Inquiry, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court hearings. Horiana also has experience assisting with arbitral proceedings (within New Zealand). Horiana has particular experience with geothermal projects, foreshore and seabed matters and contractual interpretation disputes.

Horiana is currently the Whanganui-a-Tara representative for Te Hunga Roia Maori o Aotearoa (the National Maori Lawyers Association).

Contact: 04 819-7857 or horiana@kahuilegal.co.nz

Here are some related links you may find interesting:

Southern Maori Network - www.southernmaoribusiness.org.nz

Sydney Maori Business Network - www.maoribusinessnetwork.com

FOMA - www.foma.co.nz

Wellington Chamber of Commerce - www.wgtn-chamber.co.nz

Te Puni Kokiri - www.tpk.govt.nz

Federation of Maori Authority - www.foma.co.nz

Business NZ - www.businessnz.org.nz

NZ Trade and Enterprise - www.nzte.govt.nz