KEY POINTS:
Wayne Walden has weathered many storms during his rise to prominence at the helm of businesses and public good organisations.
Sorting out a Maori Television Service battered by senior management crises and getting its programmes to air three years ago is one example.
He was also brought in as a director of the ailing Tranz Rail in 2002 and was its chairman during the takeover by Toll Holdings. He was asked to join the Meat Board during its reforms and became deputy chairman of Meat NZ.
"It's a question of being focused and believing in what the Maori call the kaupapa - the key reason for existence," Mr Walden, who is of Ngati Kahu descent, said yesterday.
The North Shore 59-year-old, one of the country's wealthiest businessmen, has been made an Officer of the NZ Order of Merit for services to business and the community.
He said Maori Television was making "a huge contribution to the national identity, not only showing New Zealanders what Maori have to offer in language and culture but also allowing Maori to learn more about themselves".
It had been "a marvellous catalyst of getting understanding between the races", Mr Walden said.
He had a "people-oriented" business philosophy, learned during his career in retail from management trainee with Woolworths to chief executive of such giants as Associated Wholesalers and Farmers-Deka.
Mr Walden was foundation chairman of the Project K Foundation for Youth Development and owns the 3200ha Oneriri Station, on the shores of Kaipara Harbour, and the Principals fashion store chain.
