Maori business awards night planned to sparkle

Pahia Turia is pleased to be back home in Whanganui and taking a leading role in business. Photo / File

Tickets for the Te Manu Atatū Māori Business Awards are intentionally expensive because organisers want it to be Whanganui's best event ever.

It's $1500 for a table of 10 at the awards in the Whanganui War Memorial Centre on Saturday night, and 400 people are going.

The board of Te Manu Atatū, a Māori business organisation for the wider Whanganui region, gave careful thought to the pricing.

"It's expensive, and that's exactly our intent. We see this as being the marquee event of all marquee events for our region," chairman Pahia Turia said.

"We think the price will reflect the quality of the food, the catering, the entertainment."

Happening during Puanga, the Māori New Year, the awards are to be a celebration.

"We don't have that many events where we as iwi and Māori in the district get to celebrate in this magnitude."

The masters of ceremonies will be actor and director Tammy Davis and Pirihira Cribb. The keynote speakers are agribusiness leader Mavis Mullins and Ngāpuhi man Jason Witehira, who owns an Auckland New World supermarket and chairs the New World Group.

The awards have eight categories, and there were 23 entries.

It was hard work getting the entries, Mr Turia said, because people were so busy. But those who entered said the application process helped them reflect on their business practices.

The judges are Westpac's Christine Jones, Poutama Trust's Vonese Walker and long-time hospitality operator Abe Hepi. There are no prizes - only trophies and prestige.

Westpac is the main sponsor of the event, and has agreed to sponsor the next three awards nights.

Mr Turia isn't sure how often they will happen - perhaps every second year, alternating with Whanganui Chamber of Commerce awards. Or the two could merge.

"At this stage we decided to keep them separate."

Te Manu Atatū was established in about 2001, and was "in hibernation" for about seven years until Mr Turia returned to live in Whanganui and revived it. He's also a member of Whanganui Chamber of Commerce.

"I have always had a strong interest in business and a bit of entrepreneurial spirit," he said.

He has multiple business and other involvements. He's the co-owner of Whanganui's Appliance Repair Care and of property company JP Global Ltd.

He's also on the board of Whanganui's economic development agency Whanganui and Partners, and on the Accelerate25 regional economic growth lead team.

On the iwi side he's the chairman of Ngā Wairiki/Ngāti Apa, and on the boards of Te Hou Farm, Te Oranganui Iwi Health Authority and Te Pou Matakana, the North Island's Whanau Ora commissioning agency.