The work of Koha Kai has again been recognized through winning yet another significant business excellence award.

In the first week of December, the Southern Maori Business Network, Te Kupeka Umaka Maori Ki Araiteuru (KUMA) held their AGM, followed by celebration & acknowledgement of southern maori entrepreneurs and business leaders.

KUMA’s rohe extends across three geographic areas from Waitaki in the north to Stewart Island and through the Central Otago region.

They run business development workshops, provide mentoring, leadership and networking opportunities throughout the rohe, and it was through these connections they became aware of the work of Koha Kai is doing in the Waihopai community.

The Suzanne Spencer Tohu Maumahara Business Award, is awarded annually recognising a flourishing Māori Business. Suzanne Spencer spent a significant part of her life working towards a vision of Māori economic engagement, and contribution to the local economy through new and growth businesses run by and with Māori innovators, and entrepreneurs.

The 2018 recipient of this significant award is Koha Kai. Recognizing not just their contribution to local Maori business development, but also their work in both the employment sector with our tāngata whaikaha (disabled people) and with our tamariki through the Lunches in Schools programme. They also acknowledged the potential for growth of the Koha Kai model, both locally and nationally, and felt the Vision and Purpose of the organisation was a good fit for the intention of the award.

“Te whiriwhirika takata hai akiaki mãtou anõ ki te whakawhanake ai te pūtake punawai mo kã wawata, kã moemoeã o tãtou te iwi mãori kia tū motuhake ai.”
~ People woven together to support each other, to bring forth the foundations from which our dreams and aspirations to be self-reliant and self-sufficient shall flow.

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