Business
Grow your business with Lean
Whanganui’s free Lean Group empowers local businesses with insights and knowledge on how to grow profitability and smarten workplace efficiencies with a continuous improvement business model.
The Summit, this Saturday, celebrates businesses’ progress to date and connects Māori businesses to further support services and agencies in the business development space locally and nationally.
This free four-hour event is a collaboration between Whanganui Pakihi Māori and Economic Development agency Whanganui & Partners.
The Summit will be opened by Kaumatua o Whanganui, supported by a kapa haka performance from Te Pōtiki Hononga Kura.
Whanganui Pakihi Māori’s Seletar Taputoro said the Summit was a great chance to celebrate and highlight the success of start-up Māori businesses.
“This is about coming together as a community and inspiring and supporting one another,” Taputoro said. “We want people to have the confidence to convert their early ideas and business concepts into successful ventures.
“We know that is it crucial to seek and accept help all along your business journey and the Summit is an opportunity to reinforce that.”
Suz Hepi, Whanganui & Partners Strategic Lead – Business, said the summit was developed to engage Māori businesses to support services and pathways.
The Summit will be attended by Whanganui & Partners, Te Manū Atatu, Te Puni Kōkiri, Inland Revenue Te Tari Taake, ANZ, Ministry for Social Development, Statistics NZ, The Generator and Thrive.
“We know there’s a great advantage for businesses to be able to meet and speak to support services all in one place and really get an idea of the breadth and availability of support out there for them,” Hepi said.
“Interacting kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face) makes all the difference in people feeling supported and valued.”
There will be 18 pakihi manning stalls at the Summit, and 9 stakeholders and service providers, creating an interactive space where people can browse and learn.
Taputoro said, “We are establishing a framework for Māori business development and making sure we have a healthy business ecosystem that will lead to the prosperity of our businesses and whānau.”
In addition to support services, the Summit’s popular “kōrero on the couch” will feature inspirational speakers talking about their experiences and offering advice and strategies.
These speakers will include renowned musician DJ Sir-vere, Ash Patea of Kii Tai Culture & Education, costume designer Lee Williams of Paetuia – The realm of sewing, Richie and Casey Graham from Grahams Civil Contractors and the Summit will once again be hosted by MC Taiaroa Neho.
The Pakihi Māori Summit will run from 10am until 2pm at Frank Bar + Eatery on November 5, all are welcome.
