Te Ropu Pakihi Kapiti Horowhenua Maori Business Awards
Raukawa Marae Otaki, Friday 28 May 2010; 8.30pm
Rahui Katene, Environment Spokesperson for the Maori Party

Your worships the Mayors of Horowhenua and Kapiti Coast; Ngati Raukawa; Ngati Tukorehe, and Muaupoko; and the organisers of Te Ropu Pakihi – the Kapiti and Horowhenua Maori Business Network.

I am pleased to acknowledge my colleague, Hekia Parata and our esteemed leader, Matua Whatarangi Winiata.

I was delighted to be invited to present the Kaitiakitanga award as part of this fabulous gala awards event.

But before I do, I want to congratulate Te Ropu Pakihi for your visionary leadership, your enterprise and the distinctive reputation you have acquired in establishing these regional Maori business awards.

My colleague, the MP for Te Tai Hauauru, Tariana Turia, frequently speaks with great pride about the fact that there are over 538 Maori businesses in this rohe and what is so wonderful about tonight is that we see the incredible diversity of enterprise from
- a high profile bakery in Otaki – kiss and bake up;
- to the home of contemporary Maori kakahu – Kanikani kids;
- right through to a business that manufactures designer headstones.

I am especially excited by the application of kaupapa woven across these awards. In the Maori business that I am part of – the Maori Party – we try to live by kaupapa tuku iho, in the way that we speak, or in every policy decision and legislative opinion we offer.

It is certainly not easy – but it is so satisfying to try to walk our talk; and to live in ways which connect us directly to the legacy of our ancestors.

I feel especially privileged to be asked to present the Kaitiakitanga Award.

The Kaitiakitanga Award recognises a business that is committed to fostering and protecting the sustainability of the business and of the environment it operates within.

Kaitiakitanga is the means by which we seek to restore our ecosystems and to replenish natural resources. It’s about protection, preservation and guardianship.

Some might call this your ‘ecological footprint’ or footprint analysis –the mark we are making on the world.

It might be about walking, biking or taking public transport whenever possible It could be about choosing energy efficient appliances; weatherproofing your home; drying your clothes outside whenever you can; or planting a garden. Or it could be about composting food waste; recycling; defrosting the fridge; taking shorter showers. The great thing is, it doesn’t take a fat wallet or a lot of time to do a little to save a lot.

On current estimates humanity is exceeding its ecological limits by 39%; a fact which alerts us all to the urgent need to ‘do something’ to invest in the wellbeing of future generations; and the sustainability of the planet.

Tonight then, we recognise the valiant efforts of the finalists who are ‘doing something’ – that is
- Te Aratiatia Learning and Development
- Te Taiao Raukawa
- Matenga Auto
- Kapakapanui House
- and Taiwhenua Iwi workforce

Each of these businesses has taken on the commitment to reduce the footprint they leave on the planet.

Thank you for the inspiration you offer all of us, that we can take action today to protect and preserve Papatuanuku for tomorrow.

It is with the greatest pleasure that I therefore announce that the winner of the Kaitiakitanga award is Te Aratiatia Learning and Development.

ENDS

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