Te Aka Haumi o Tahu Official Launch

Sunday 24 November 2019

Te Aka Haumi o Tahu was officially launched at Hui-ā-Iwi in Murihiku, bringing to life the business directory that nurtures our vision of bouncing the dollar forward and connects us with Ngāi Tahu whānau businesses.

Over the weekend we were excited to meet up with some of the Ngāi Tahu whānau who have already registered with Te Aka Haumi o Tahu and were selected to have a stall at Hui-ā-Iwi.

We have shared stories from each of our business owners below, reflecting their passion and what makes their businesses tick. We hope this motivates any aspiring Ngāi Tahu whānau to get that business idea up and running, before taking it to the next level by joining Te Aka Haumi o Tahu.

From left to right: Dallas Seymour, Krystal Burrell, Kimberley Murphy, Rebecca Barlow, Victor Ahipene, Challen Wilson
Front: Patsy Perenara-O’Connell

Krystal Burrell – Managing Director, KJB Consulting

Moeraki, Awarua, Waihōpai,Kāti Huirapa ki Puketeraki

“It’s all about whānau wellbeing.”
I am excited to be part of Te Aka Haumi o Tahu and to connect with other Ngāi Tahu businesses. Knowing who’s out there, especially other whānau businesses, and knowing what resources are available is invaluable. There are things that I would like to develop, talk about and share and being at Hui-ā-Iwi under the Te Aka Haumi o Tahu banner has made it easier to connect. Inspirations come from every business at Hui-ā-Iwi having a whānau behind them, including hapū, iwi and tūpuna. People who have helped get them there. This is a really important kaupapa.

My work is quite varied. While being involved in various projects in the social services and health sector, our main kaupapa is delivering the Incredible Years parenting programmes. We are currently looking at redeveloping the programme to be based on te ao Māori, incorporating more pūrākau and particularly bringing Ngāi Tahu pūrākau and kōrero into what we do; seeing our people reflected in our programmes. This is key. It’s not easy to be open about what’s happening in your whānau and as a parent. So, having a reflection of who you are makes it easier for whānau to come along to the programmes. By us and for us.

One of the stories that really resonates with me is when a police officer māmā attended one of our programmes. We also had a young Māori mum who was really struggling raising two kids on her own and feeling really disconnected. As a result of the programme they developed a lovely connection. Their love for their children and wanting to do something better for them, as they were both needing support, created a scenario that reached far beyond the 14-week programme that we deliver. They’re able to continue creating a better society together.

The most important whakaaro I want to leave with whānau is, “What kind of legacy do you want to leave for your whānau?” In getting into my mahi, empowering self and empowering others is something I am really passionate about. “What kind of legacy do I want to leave my whānau? I want them to know they’re loved.”

Kimberley Murphy – Founder, Ignite Oneself

Moeraki

“I love connecting with people. I love business. I love learning and growth. I’m really passionate about helping people transform.”
My husband and I opened Hale Health Centre as soon as we returned from Australia. This was my husband’s vision to start something in New Zealand; same as what we did over in Australia. Having a holistic health centre brings different health professionals under the one roof. We started with a 24-hour gym facility and began adding different health practices to the facility. We are also piloting health initiatives that align with Te Whare Tapa Whā targeting Māori who are wanting to make better health, wellbeing and lifestyle choices. From physical to mindfulness, meditation and intuitive eating programmes, we’ve been able to provide a whole range of services.

Practising meditation and mindfulness I became more aware. My thoughts, my stories, my feelings and emotions all came bubbling to the surface. Practising this intuitive work healing and transformation took place. I felt ignited by others pushing through their fears and obstacles and achieving their aspirations. I didn’t realise it, until people started telling me that I was able to guide people and assist with activating their change. I really enjoyed being able to help others through their transformative journey, so, I brought everything I love together into one thing. This is how Ignite Oneself came about. I’m really big on ‘turning inwards’, being able to quieten the mind, for inner peace and discovery then having the courage to act on these deep passions that come to the surface.

Ignite Oneself launched on Wednesday 27 November, three days after Hui-ā-Iwi. To find out more and to hear Kimberley’s story go to www.igniteoneself.com

Rebecca Barlow – Business Executive, Next Hire

Moeraki

“Our business and this platform is for Māori. To lift us into a place in society where we belong. When we’re old we want to look at Aotearoa and see Māori everywhere in prosperity.”
My husband and I have started Next Hire together. It’s a whānau-based business. The directors are whānau, our workers are whānau, and we want to employ, as much as possible, Māori and people that share the same values as us.

Next Hire is a national supplier of temporary road safety equipment for hire. Most of our fleet is solar powered – harnessing energy of the sun to power the lighting, signage and equipment we need to build our roads. We’re a business-to-business entity, so we supply to principal contractors like Downer, Fulton Hogan, Higgins and the likes, with the gear to manage traffic and to construct roads. It’s a simple business model. Our two main focuses are people and innovation. Providing great solutions that make it easy for our clients to do their work, providing a reliable service, and keeping up with the next best innovation when it comes to our equipment and renewable energy. The technology for roading equipment has evolved enough that it is a reliable and authentic means of power generation.

We started our business really quickly. Over a couple of months, we got this inspiration to do it. Things just fell into place and we were all go. We were up and running and then we took some time out because it was full on. We took a hīkoi to Godley Heads, just outside of Sumner. I find being in nature everything becomes clear. We got to the end and we were sitting on the cliff edge looking out to the ocean and we really connected with each other. We figured out after being together for six years that we deeply share the same mission. This business is part of our ‘great design’ together. It was a special moment.

Whenever times get tough, I think back to the mission, where our culture is really infused in Aotearoa. If that’s the case, I’ll be happy. We are custodians of the land and it’s our responsibility to look after it and make it better for future generations. This is the cornerstone to our business.

Victor Ahipene – Speaker, Trainer, Author & Podcaster

Awarua

“It’s about being authentic and your ability to share a message. People buy into a future-based outlook.”
I was always confident and outgoing when I was growing up. I went to Lindisfarne in Hawke’s Bay. I was put into a Manu Kōrero speech contest in third form. It did not go well. I was up there trembling with cue cards. I’m competitive, so after that I was like, I didn’t win, so I jumped into getting a speech teacher and became obsessed with getting better. From there I got a diploma in public speaking in my last year at school. I’d gone from trembling and cue cards to tutoring my peers at school and doing national competitions. At the time though, I didn’t realise what opportunities this learning could give me more than being a speech teacher at a school, so although I kept it up it was more like a hobby and I trained as a physiotherapist instead.

I got to a point in my life where I was looking for something else. I got into the entrepreneurial space podcasting and interviewing inspiring people. I realised I had this untapped skill that a lot of people really wanted. I gave a talk about podcasting and I got some great feedback. People asked me if I could teach them. I thought, ok let’s try it. I set up a day training. At the end of the training they were asking me, what next? It eventuated and flowed into more products and services in helping people build confidence in public speaking.

The evolution of my business led me to thinking how can I make the biggest impact with my work, which then led me to working with people who are having the biggest impacts on the world, like business owners, corporate executives and people with amazing messages, but they’re scared to get up on the stage or they don’t know how to package it, and the speech doesn’t hit the mark and doesn’t get the impact that it should. I worked with a marketer that specialised in working with dentists. From one 60-minute presentation to 60 people in his target market he generated 30 clients and a half a million dollars’ worth of sales. Public speaking is the highest paying industry in the world; if done well. My business consists of workshops, online training and person to person interactions where people get the most out of my training.