Tommy Kapai: How do we measure success?

Trinity Wharf was the venue for a business leaders' luncheon on innovation.

I like the word innovation, it's a word that sits side by side with paving new pathways forward, and as a self-confessed tangata moemoea (professional dreamer ) - when the word innovation is mentioned, at a flash feed down at Trinity Wharf hotel, I sit up and listen.

The flash feed was the annual Chamber of Commerce business leaders' luncheon and the key note speaker was Paul Adams the man behind the land developed by Carrus Corporation in Tauranga Moana.

I went along for a "jack nohi" as Carrus had helped out our Battle of Gate Pa exhibition in no small way and I wanted to know more about the brand behind the land and how it could help local Maori.

As it turned out Carrus has a track record of innovative collaboration with Maori over the last 20 years, having done multi-million dollar deals with Ngati Toa, Tuwharetoa and Te Atiawa over the last 20 years.

So I put on my flashiest kakahu, courtesy of the Waipuna Hospice hokohoko shop and headed out from Te Tuinga to the flash feed, not before one of our supportive bail clients innocently asked "Are you off to court, bro?"

How sad to think that we only get dressed up to go to court. Almost as sad as being asked whose land did I sell to be able to drive the flash as Santa Fe wagon donated kindly to our trust by Farmers Auto Village.

Off I go, pen in pocket, to listen and learn from our leaders and I must say besides the black coffee and the beautiful pink salmon she was a pretty pale hui, and my comment about being the elephant in the room at question time had nothing to do with the size of my puku.

But the korero and the kai were rich in many ways and I only wish more of our Maori leaders were sitting at the table. Innovative collaboration is a subject we need to understand and address if we are to harness the opportunities of post-treaty settlement, as other iwi such as Ngai Tahu, Tainui and Ngati Whatua have managed to do.

When I heard the questions and their solutions put up by Paul Adams the moemoea (dreamer) in me asked the same for iwi.

I have added the word iwi alongside council in his speech.

"As with all monopolies there is a lack of innovation by council [iwi] here in Tauranga.

"Why has the city [iwi] not investigated and entered into more private/public partnerships, to help fund infrastructure and projects?

"Council [iwi] just put up the land, and had full security until the land value was repaid from cash flow, and then profits were shared equally.

"It's the best outcome for ratepayers [iwi beneficiaries] without risk."

Could it be that simple? The sceptics and the gate keepers within council and iwi will immediately say no.

Why? Possibly because their perceived position of power could be compromised or the '$10 Tauranga' tag has become a brand to believe in just as pohara has for Maori. Surely we have more shine than decline to celebrate here?

'Profit and success' are not words to be feared but embraced, if we are to have our own homes and build a better future for our tamariki.

I went to the luncheon looking for answers to the currency we measure success with and I got one from Mayor Stuart Crosby when he spoke about coming to speak at this annual Chamber of Commerce function.

While one leader spoke about dreading it because of the high level of heavy hitters being in the audience, Mayor Crosby loved the luncheon and its kaupapa (well, he didn't use the word kaupapa, that was me. Maori didn't get much of a mention in their korero) - and felt much more intimidated when addressing the Arataki Brownies recently.

Ironically Arataki would be a word that I would use to describe innovation to pave a new pathway forward. The challenge is to learn to collaborate innovatively for mutual benefits.

I guess it all comes back to the currency we measure success by and for the Arataki Brownies it may just be a happy home and a happy life - as it is for many of us.

broblack@xtra.co.nz