A Lake Hāwea-based building company has taken out an award at the Te Kupeka Umaka Māori ki Araiteuru (KUMA) Māori Business Awards. 

Niche Design & Construction, owned by Kawhata and Amy Williams, received the Employment and Growth Award at last Friday’s (July 2) prize giving event. 

The KUMA awards honour resilience, collaboration and business success for Māori businesses in Otago, Southland and the Queenstown Lakes District, and Kawhata and Amy said they were honoured to be winners.

Accepting the award, Kawhata, who is of Nga Puhi decent, spoke about how he models whanaungatanga (kinship) and manaakitanga (hospitality) in all that he does.

“We place great value on all of our team members; letting our team be involved in decision making, asking them to share their whakaaro (thoughts) and solutions to everyday challenges on the building site,” he said.

“We also aim to foster a sense of whanaungatanga - where every employee sees themselves as a valuable part of the team. 

The employment and growth category focused on the growth of a company: how the challenges of growth were embraced and overcome, and how the business modelled Te Ao Māori in its business relationships. 

“Amy and I focus on creating a culture of ‘we and not me’ - as collaboration is paramount in the making of a successful team,” Kawhata said. 

The company has been building Wanaka homes for five years.

It was one of eight winners and the only local business to scoop up an award at Friday’s prizegiving, which coincided with Matariki (the Māori New Year).

The awards evening took place in Invercargill with around 110 people from Otago, Southland and Queenstown Lakes attending.

“The awards evening acknowledges continuous whānau, hapū and iwi contribution to the local economy,” KUMA board chair Claire Porima said. 

“KUMA was founded to strengthen the connections between Māori enterprises and entrepreneurs, so it is significant to celebrate this during Matariki.”

PHOTO: Supplied