Maori in Business

Māori in Business

SUPPORTING M Ā ORI IN BUSINESS

Encouraging and celebrating diversity

Inspire is a great name for this multi-faceted business which o ers a broad range of trade services under one roof, making home renovation and building a seamless and rewarding experience.

To inspire is to embolden, enliven, encourage and to energise, and that’s certainly what Tavita and Jessica Isaac have done for many in Wairarapa in the past decade.

They have built up a company, Inspire Living, to around 30 employees. This band of people includes 10 apprentices, 30 per cent women and around 60 per cent of Māori/Paci ca descent.

Tavita is proud to point out this diverse mix. It’s not just culturally based but whānau oriented. There’s a father and daughter working together, siblings, and couples included in the team mix.

It’s important to Tavita and wife, Jess that their business encourages people to enter the trades and that they represent present day society. Its whānau-based atmosphere makes for a great congenial workplace. The team is youthful too with the average age in the mid-20s. It makes for great vibrancy.

The company includes six o ce-based people and there are ve di erent trades on o er, plus one full contract bathroom renovation service. Their in-house trades include tiling; masonry; internal plastering; painting and Rockcote – the latter being an exciting new service.

Rockcote by Resene Construction Systems can transform any at internal or exterior surface by adding a textural coating. Their Rockcote team, led by foreman

Richard, are licensed applicators and have the vision and knowledge to customise unique nishes.

“As a group, we are stoked that we encourage those wanting to learn a trade and support them as they navigate their early careers on the tools.”, says Tavita, whose personal trade quali cation is as a tiler. The trades opened up a career path for him and when he and his wife, began a family.

Formerly he was in hospitality.

“My Dad highly encouraged me to get a quali cation.

Looking at the various skill sets, tiling appealed because of its ability to be so creative.

The look of gratitude on clients’ faces when they see the result is wonderful.” Taking his dad’s advice was a good move and from there, he and Jess decided to make a further step and create their own business.

Their desire to encourage others and create a positive team spirit has had an overwhelming impact attracting many to want to work for Inspire.

“We’re all going in the same direction and that certainly helps in today’s business world.”

Having a wide range of trades to call on within the one company means it can take on multiple projects, large and small, and they can all be catered for simultaneously. Each trade has a team leader. When another trade outside their sphere is required, Inspire uses the same trusted contractor to ensure the seamless progress.

Be respectful, work hard, and give the heart

Father/daughter duo, Pio and Staci are a perfect example of how life in the trades can inspire upcoming generations to also pave a path in the industry. Pio is skilled in both plastering and painting whilst Staci is doing her painting apprenticeship. They are both keen and key parts of Inspire Living’s decorating division and add another dimension to Inspire’s approach to whānau culture.

The unique Tokelauan and Samoan values that the two hold, such as Pio’s modesty and humbleness, is admired by the wider team. Whilst Staci is new to her painting career, her attitude towards learning and the friendly approach to teamwork is highly valued by the group. Born and raised in New Zealand, Pio believes that the cultural values he was taught by his parents have been embedded in his everyday life. He was taught to ‘be respectful, work hard and give the heart’ –a mantra that many Tokelauans live by.

Growing within the job

Max Telford, one of Inspire Living’s senior tilers, is excelling within his trade and setting himself up for ongoing success in the future. Joining the company in 2017, he is now a highly skilled and quali ed tradesman, juggling multiple jobs and junior team members. He is a perfect example of one who has been personally rewarded by taking an o er from Inspire Living to gain a skill.

After starting his young family with his partner Alisha, life in the trades became the ideal career path to support his whānau, whilst being able to work in a hands-on environment with plenty of opportunities to work on jobs both large and small.

Max Telford

Originating from Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, an Iwi in a remote part of Gisborne, Max has grown and learned to bring his cultural values into the workplace. From the viewpoint of his colleagues his approach to teamwork, respect for others, and general collectiveness is a key part of his success within the Inspire Living crew.

Pio & daughter, Staci

Back Row: Staci, Jamie, Taylor, Mikey, Wero, Paige, Chris, Tihemi.

Front ROW: Joseph and Peter.

Fallprotect Scaffolding

Embracing the Values of Whānau and Wellbeing

With his combined Pasi ka and Dutch heritage, and with 13 of his 14 sta identifying as either Māori or Pasi ka, Josef Isaac’s sca olding and safety netting business ‘FallProtect Sca olding’ operates as an extended whānau.

“I believe the key to FallProtect Sca olding’s successes so far is relationships. A wise man once told me this and now I truly see this is so,” says Josef.

“The working relationships we have with our clients are key. We would not be where we are today without themlocal businesses have supported us and we have supported them. We o er our services to residential, commercial, and infrastructure developments of all shapes and sizes. There are some awesome local businesses and people in Wairarapa. They know who they are.”

“The working relationships we have with our sta are also critical. We would not be where we are today without our incredible sta , and we are grateful to them. Two outstanding examples of this are Fraser Kingi our Operations Manager and Denise Barnard our O ce Administrator.”

“If you have amazing clients, amazing sta , and you’re a hard worker it seems to be a recipe for success.”

“A good work culture is the key to FallProtect Sca olding attracting such great sta , “Josef says. “We have three main pillars for our work culture: our senior managers model great behaviours and set high standards for the rest of the team, every worker has a good attitude and work ethic, and support in various forms is available for all our sta . We lead by example, we look after our workers and, in

turn, our workers look after us. I’m a strong believer that if you treat employees with respect, they will reciprocate with loyalty and hard work.”

Support for sta can come in the form of training, life coaching, work-life balance, mentoring, career planning or just ‘lending an ear’ when required.

“Most of us have challenges in life, and I want to make sure we o er the boys the support they need to get through those challenges, especially the young fellas coming up as they nd their feet.

We hope our sta will strive and get trade quali cations so they can support themselves and their families.

An outstanding example of this is our Supervisor Marcus Ale who recently achieved his Advanced Sca olding Certi cate. Close on his heels are

Joe Roberts, Hoani Haeata, and Charvez Kohitolu.”

Originally from Wairarapa, Josef is glad to be building his business and living in the region in which he grew up. His mother still works as a nurse at Wairarapa Hospital. His father, with Samoan and Tokelauan heritage, emigrated to New Zealand for his education at the age of 13, going on to work all his life for the railways. The ve Isaac boys and their younger sister were brought up to honour hard work, respect, and family values.

FallProtect Sca olding started “with humble beginnings” in 2016 and has gone from strength to strength.

“We always work hard to make our client’s

workloads a little bit easier. If we can be one less headache for clients, then we are doing our job right. We can only meet the needs of our clients because of the skills and tenacity of our sta ,” Josef says. “It can be a tough job and and these guys do it day-in and day-out.”

Josef carries over his focus on relationships into his family life. “I’m engaged to my beautiful Kate and we have a blended household with ve gorgeous children. Work-life balance is important for my family and for all my sta . It’s critical for our mental health and our wellbeing.“

“I’m proud to have created something that provides jobs for our young Māori, Pasi ka, and pakeha in Wairarapa.”

Josef Isaac

Māori in Business

ReachDesign

ReachDesign can help take your business to another level

Vernette (Vinnie) Shapland’s business skills could help reduce the demands on you as a small business owner.

Vinnie and her sta at ReachDesign can help automate tasks and recommend apps on your phone to approve purchases, ful ll orders for your product, accept appointments with clients, sign o invoices, approve your sta ’s annual leave, and much more – even if you’re on holiday.

Some business tasks could be linked to your website. Vinnie’s team can design and maintain your website too.

“The most important part of our job is to understand the business owners and their needs. It’s all about building relationships,” Vinnie says. “The tech part is much more straightforward if the foundational relationships are in place and the business dreams are de ned.”

Small businesses make up 97% of all rms in New Zealand. Small businesses contribute nearly a third of the country’s employment and a quarter of its GDP. Owning your own rm or being selfemployed allows you to make your own decisions, determine your own outcomes, and stand tall. It can also be all-consuming.

Taking some of the pressure o your time as a business owner will be good for you and good for your business whether you are renting out an Airbnb or are a vintner, a farmer, a retailer, a plumber, or a personal trainer. Streamlining and automating business processes means you will be more able to see the wood for the trees and operate strategically. It will make your business more saleable too.

ReachDesign - with its focus on making your life easier - has gone from strength to strength since its inception three years ago. Its customer base in the Wairarapa is growing.

Vinnie whakapapas to the Wairoa rohe of Ngāti Kahungunu. As she settles into the Wairarapa, also Ngāti Kahungunu, Vinnie is linking to her Māori roots. For example, she has helped establish Māori in Business, a support and networking group in the region.

The Crown has issued a written apology for its history with Ngāti Kahungunu including its disregard for property rights and resulting social and economic under-development. The group Māori in Business supports Māori economic development in the district.

Vinnie is also a Board member of Business Wairarapa, working with local and central government to implement the Wairarapa Economic Development Strategy - helping businesses to link, collaborate, and grow, and advocating for training opportunities. A pipeline of trained employees is important in any sector and Vinnie advocates for training opportunities in the tech sector.

Māori make up 17% of the population. A 2021 Digital Skills Aotearoa Report shows that 14% of students taking NCEA tech standards are Māori, while less than 6% of students enrolled in a degree level IT quali cation are Māori. Wearing her grass roots Māori economic development hat, Vinnie would love to help address these statistics. She has been made a Trustee of Wai-Tech – a Wairarapa training organisation focusing on training in tech. ReachDesign, like many other businesses, is on the lookout for great sta . If you

have a tech quali cation and can help with business process automation, website development or graphic design, Vinnie is keen to hear from you. To help ReachDesign appeal to Māori businesses, your experience in tikanga Māori would also be bene cial.

Vinnie Shapland knows what it’s like to be a small business owner. Not only is she the Director (aka Dream De ner) of ReachDesign but has also teamed up with her life partner to grow and press olives for oil. Automating business processes for the olive oil company has been a great pilot for all ReachDesign’s expertise.

Contact Vernette (Vinnie) Shapland on 021 170 2401 or kiaora@reachdesign.nz

Visit her website www.reachdesign.nz

Māori in Business

Ridgeline Construction

Building a house – we’ve got you covered

Chaz Matthews is a third-generation builder who is proud in equal parts of his busy building company, the team he has gathered, and his heritage.

At just 28 years old, he’s a registered Master Builder and a man on a mission. With a well-established construction company, Ridgeline, he has also incorporated his father’s (Albie Matthews) building rm into the mix. It’s a bit hectic too. Currently Ridgeline has several houses on the go “three must be nished by Christmas”.

Chaz leads a construction team of about 15, depending on the contracts, who work at numerous sites, including his father, who is still on the tools, and is building a house at Mahia Peninsula.

They have worked in several places in the North Island and as far south as Christchurch but most jobs are in Wairarapa, and the team works out of their yard on Papawai Road in Greytown.

“We do a good job and people pass us on to other projects, which takes us all over,” says Chaz.

Ridgeline Construction comprises seven carpenters, four apprentices, a digger driver, a builder/joiner, a concrete placer – all organised and kept in check by Kelly Juno who does the administration.

This is the major point of di erence which Chaz explains is a huge asset.

“We have all the skills within our team and don’t have to sub-contract. It means work is regularly generated and team members are constantly learning new skills. It also means we can go in, dig the foundations, build the house, landscape the section, and even set up the washing line and letterbox.” It’s a streamlined and e cient exercise.

Chaz especially enjoys working with rst homeowners and likes to share his experience with them in ensuring value for money.

All the team are incredible and competent workers according to Chaz, who also points to one of the carpenters, Pearl Baker, is a female and has been the face of advertising for the BCITO (Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation) – keen to encourage women into the building trade.

Chaz was born and raised in Greytown and did his building apprenticeship with his father.

“It’s all I ever wanted to do, was build things,” re ects Chaz. “It began with tree forts and whenever there was spare nails and wood, I’d grab them.”

Chaz is proud and aware of his Ngāti Kahungunu and Rangitāne heritage. He is especially proud of his grandfather, Kingi Matthews, the last surviving 28th Māori Battalion veteran from the Wairarapa region. Kingi was the rst builder, Chaz

looked up to and was inspired by. Kingi joined the Battalion in 1944 and served in Italy with the 12th Reinforcements. He was a Māori All Black, represented Wairarapa-Bush, and was a past president of the Wairarapa Bush Rugby Union. When he died in 2014, his tangi was held at Pāpāwai marae, and he is interred at Te Uru o Tane urupa near Greytown.

Pāpāwai marae neighbours the Ridgeline Construction yard and amongst jobs the team has done, is the meticulous and careful taking apart of some carvings at Pāpāwai, which need to be restored.

Chaz and his team also helped at the DIY programme on the marae, Te Hēpara Pai in upper Cole Street in Masterton. Known as a Church Marae, it is one of only ve in New Zealand and is part of the Wairarapa Anglican Māori Pastorate.

In fact, when asked what other work the Ridgeline team have done on maraes,

Chaz lists them o – Hurunuiorangi marae at Gladstone; Te Ore Ore marae; Ngāi Tūmapuhia-a-Rangi ki Okautete marae at Homewood near Riversdale; and Hau Ariki Marae at Martinborough.

Chaz Matthews and his team are a force to be reckoned with and can create great homes without breaking the bank. Get in touch.

P: 027 844 1759 | E: info@ridgelineconstruction.co.nz www.ridgelineconstruction.co.nz

Papawai Marae Greytown

Ridgeline Construction house build

Ridgeline Construction team

Chaz Matthews

Māori in Business

TAP INTO THE SUPERPOWER OF TIAKI WHYTE

With ADHD and dyslexia, school didn’t work for Tiaki Whyte.

He left without quali cations but “having attention de cit hyperactivity disorder turned out to be my superpower,” Tiaki says. It has propelled him forward in life and in business.

Tiaki, owner of Mr Site Clean, and his wingman Jason will sort your site clearing, lay topsoil, and spray hydroseed. They specialise in private clients with new builds. You might, for example, need the soil back lled between the lawn and the curbing for a driveway, and new lawn may need to be sown.

“The husband always says he’ll get round to it, but the wife knows it’s not a happening thing,” Tiaki laughs. “It’s the wives that ring Mr Site Clean.”

Setting up the business about three years ago, Tiaki and Mr Site Clean have weathered the COVID-19 storm. They have their own diggers and trucks and make their own topsoil, 200 cubic metres at a time.

“I learned my business skills the hard way,” he says. Tiaki bought his rst business, Kleenaz Windows, in 2007just before the global nancial crisis began. “I learned a lot from trying to promote a luxury cleaning product during years of recession.” There was learning about when to spend money, marketing, and giving back to the

community. “I learned about nancial markets, to reduce debt when interest rates rise, and debt leveraging.” Tiaki went on to build Kleenaz Windows into a highly successful business, owning it for 16 years.

With Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu, and Scottish heritage, Tiaki has lived in Wairarapa most of his life. Aged only 18 when he got together with 16-yearold Jess, they married in 2004 and had two children, who are now in their late teens. Tiaki and Jess have always been trailblazers.

“We became independent at a young age,” says Tiaki. “And we started in business when not many Māori were entrepreneurs.”

Jess trained as a nurse at UCOL and now jointly owns two Caci Clinics, in partnership with Tiaki.

In 2005, the couple brought their rst house in Carterton. They’ve been buying, renovating, building, and selling in Carterton ever since. Mr Site Clean is embedded in the community. It sponsors boxing, hockey, and other sport clubs. Topsoil is donated occasionally for a good fundraising cause.

Does Tiaki ever take time o ? “Some weekends I get a couple of hours o on a Sunday, but not always,” he says.

Tiaki Whyte’s got plans and goals and miles to go, fuelled by his superpower.

Paul Southey

Paul Southey was born with deep roots into the Wairarapa community through both his pakeha heritage and Māori whakapapa. And he’s gone on to create equally strong links with the construction industry and Māori businesses.

Paul owns Wairarapa’s A1homes franchise, is on the leadership team of the Wairarapa Economic Development Strategy and has spearheaded Wairarapa’s Māori in Business group.

In between then and now, Paul Southey’s love of people and community has been coupled with his journey of learning and growing.

As an adult Paul quali ed as a teacher and he spent 10 years at Kuranui College. His enthusiasm for sport spilled over into refereeing and coaching sports of all types. When visiting Bali (a country that captured the Southey whānau’s heart) Paul even coached the locals in cricket, reaching across the cultural divide.

Paul’s involvement in construction started while he was still a teacher. “I began renovating houses.”

Paul bought A1homes about 18 years ago and has gone from strength to strength. He’s supported the construction industry, built an amazing team, and become active in the National Association of Women in Construction.

“Construction’s a great industry to work in and we want women to enter it.”

But even the success of the Southey business is credited to sport. “Being part of a sports team is about bringing your best self to the collective and coaching is about facilitating that collective spirit,” Paul says.

“Building homes brings people to Wairarapa. They work and play here, and their children go to our schools. Construction brings economic bene ts to the community.”

During covid-19, Paul led the establishment of the local Māori in Business network: “Initially, it was to help connect Māori businesses with the information from government.”

One thing led to another: “Māori in Business has grown to be the place to go for networking, mentorship, and guidance for Māori entrepreneurs: big or small.”

Alongside Paul’s journey with work and in sport is the “amazing journey” he’s been on with his wife Jeanette (“we’ve been together since we were age 15”) and two daughters Awhina and Trinity.

“I left school with no quali cations but if you believe in and follow your passions, you can grow something special.”

“Our Māori in Business Facebook page has many examples of Māori entrepreneurial spirit. We encourage whānau to come to our networking events and grow something special.”

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0800 MR SITE

Holmes Construction

Holmes ConstructionWhen Opportunity Knocks

Ben Holmes says he wasn’t a star at school and didn’t go to university. Now, he’s Managing Director of Holmes Construction. “Yes, my father owned the business and I had a good upbringing, but there were no hand-outs. I had to step up and take a building apprenticeship. Then I had to work bloody hard,” Ben says.

Donna Holmes nee Reid, Ben’s mother, who whakapapas back to Ngāti Porou and Te Aitangaā-Māhaki, says “school didn’t hold a lot of interest for Ben except for eating his lunch and hanging out with his mates. He needed to leave and get on the tools.”

After his apprenticeship, Ben took advantage of every opportunity that came his way. Ultimately, he got o the tools and became a site manager on commercial projects. “I worked with experienced guys who taught me a lot. It was expected I’d get to work early each day and work hard, and I did.

Having a good attitude and getting on with people was also important. Project management roles then came along, and doors opened.”

Down through the generations of Holmes boys, the journey has been similar. Ben’s grandfather, Will Holmes, was born in Greytown in the 1930s and became a building apprentice with the Wellington Education Board by the age of 16. He soon established a construction business with a friend. Will’s sons Tim and Andy joined the business as apprentices in 1979 and took up the reins in the late 1990s. Now retired, Tim and Andy have handed on the Holmes Construction ‘baton’ to the next generation. Ben acknowledges and honours those who have gone before - a concept important to Māori.

Ben and his family also recognise the importance of community engagement, applying this through scholarships across sporting codes. The Holmes love rugby, with several of the family becoming lifelong members of the Greytown Rugby Club. Tim Holmes even met Donna, his future wife, there. They went onto have four children including Ben, his sister, younger brother (a Holmes Construction apprentice), and older brother Michael.

“Mike ran a bit wild when he was young,” Ben says, “but now he’s an architect with his own business, Holmes Architecture, and often collaborates with Holmes Construction.”

Holmes Construction operates from Greytown and Wellington but can take on projects across the country. It has also ‘vertically integrated’ by setting up Renalls Joinery and In nite Landscapes. This allows Holmes Construction to contract out fewer jobs, giving it a competitive advantage.

Examples of local Holmes Construction projects on the go include the Orchards Retirement Village in Greytown, Pain and Kershaw in Martinborough, wineries, and the redevelopment of Wairarapa College and Greytown School. Other work includes social housing for Kainga Ora and Wellington City Council, Kapiti’s Coastal Villas, and Amesbury School. Building for the education sector, which began in 1953, remains strong.

With generations of Holmes boys putting in the hard work, Holmes Construction now has a multimillion-dollar turnover. It has 120 employees, when less than one percent of New Zealand businesses employ more than 100 sta . About ten percent of its sta are women in on-site roles, when only three percent of tradies and building apprentices in New Zealand are women. Donna says that, in her iwi, “women are strong, speak on the marae and carry mana down the female line”. Ben has clearly learned his skills at the knees of both parents.

The company has a dozen apprentices in the business at any one time. In July, the Hon. Chris Hipkins, Minister of Education, accompanied Ben to a building site to promote apprenticeships. In the same month, Ben met with Te Radar and representatives from the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation at the Orchards site to talk about what the company is doing for building apprentices.

“Without new people,” Ben says, “the industry is going to struggle even more than it already is.”

Donna Holmes is proud her boys are incorporating Māori values into their lives, into how they run their businesses, and into how they relate to others.

Ben appreciates both his pakeha and Māori whakapapa, but “fewer pakeha need role models.” He urges young Māori to “recognise and take advantage of every opportunity that comes along.” He says: “put in the hard work.”

Ben & Te Radar talking about apprenticeships.

Ben, Minister Hipkins and some of the Holmes team on site.

Māori

eHaus Wairarapa

The art of helping others, and the environment, via master building

Registered Master Builder Mason Cameron runs a building company with its focus set squarely on the future. The environment and mentoring of emerging builders are uppermost in this innovative rm.

Cameron Construction is a Wairarapa commercial and residential construction company which prides itself on its eco-friendly approach to all aspects of construction.

Mason Cameron is also proud to be the eHaus Wairarapa licensee.

eHaus is a New Zealand owned and operated business which creates high performing energy e cient homes based on German Passive House principles. Established in 2010 by Jon JoIli e and Baden and Glenda Brown, the Whanganui based business is now multi award winning with 19 regional teams operating nationally – all carefully handpicked.

After moving to Wairarapa from Taranaki, Mason quali ed as a builder in 2011 when he was part of Amos Construction in Carterton. Keen to establish his own company, he has three apprentice builders, Steve Prime (3rd year); Diamond Karaitiana (2nd year) and Louie Manesa-anae (1st year). Amanda Mende completes the team as Manager.

Diamond and Louie are both former Makoura College students who were attracted to the building trade when Mason worked with students building tiny homes for Project Manaaki – a series of cabins to augment the homeless shelter in Masterton’s Elizabeth Street.

Mason has an innate sense of wanting to help others.

Mason’s iwi is Ngā Ruahine Ngāti Ruanui. Part of his Manaakitanga is helping those gain employment and skills, especially for Māori and Paci c Island people. He is extremely proud to be able to o er building apprenticeships as his business grows.

Mason is equally enthusiastic about building high performing houses which look con dently into the future and are a healthy home for its owners. The philosophy of eHaus sat well with him. They are built around the ve Passive House principles of creating a space that maintains a consistent temperature of between 20-25 degrees all year round with energy savings of up to 90% (compared to a code build). Mason explains that for most code-built homes, up to two thirds of a home’s energy bill goes into heating the home and hot water (appliances and lighting make up the other third). But with an eHaus design, and construction the house can be kept comfortable with little, or at times, no heating or cooling. It’s a win:win for the environment and homeowners.

Every eHaus is based on the owner’s individual design and uses the energy modelling software Passive House Planning Package (PHPP). Mason says this can accurately predict how a house will perform even before construction begins. Local climate data is fed into the PHPP software to determine the level of insulation, glazing, and construction materials required to make the house as e cient as possible. The build starts with a fully insulated slab to stop the house from losing heat into the

ground. Exterior walls contain two layers of insulation plus an airtight layer to stop draughts moving through the fabric of the building.

Mason says the magic is complete with the Mechanical Heat Recovery Unit, which silently gently introduces fresh air and extracts stale air 24/7.

Mason has completed three eHaus builds in Wairarapa and owners report the joy of living in an even temperate environment.

eHaus is part of many Cameron Construction’s achievements.

Hear from happy clients:

KAHUTARA EXTENSION

“Mason was easy to deal with. He always kept us informed on where the job was at, and was a pleasure to have around. We highly recommend him to do any building work people require. He has a great standard of workmanship.” Andrew and Amanda Scott.

GREYTOWN

“ We have been in our eHaus for a year and so enjoy the even temperature inside compared to our Wellinton home which is either too hot or too cold. We appreciated eHaus building is a bit trickier and it needs a builder with keen attention to detail and experience in this type of construction. Mason and his team excelled on both counts, and we are delighted with the quality of our eHaus.”

Chris. Co-owner.

CARTERTON “We built our eHaus in Carterton two years ago and found Mason and his team to be all round top blokes. We were especially impressed with Mason’s community mindedness and commitment to his team. The eHaus is all we had hoped for and have no heating worries being cosy in winter and cool in summer. It is well ventilated and feels healthy.”

Wayne and Chris Hyman.

Talk to Mason Cameron about building your eHaus today the PassivHaus way. 02224 978 709 Ι eHaus.co.nz

Mason Cameron.

Steve Prime.

Diamond Karaitiana.

Louie Manesa-anae.

A Greytown eHaus.

He Pounamu early nurture

Cherishing

tamariki within nature

Snuggled into the foothills of the Tararua Ranges and bordered by both ngahere (forest) and Dale eld farmland, is He Pounamu early nurture: a unique early childhood education centre catering for Māori and non-Māori tamariki (children).

“Our kaupapa (philosophy) is all about nurture: caring for ourselves, caring for the environment, and caring for others,” says Lauren Spicer, manuhautū (chief executive) of He Pounamu.

Open since mid-2020 and licensed for 30 tamariki, including ten under-twos, He Pounamu has ten kaiako (Māori and nonMāori teachers) it can draw from. Lauren and husband Matt Spicer have lived on this acreage since 1999, raising their own four tamariki here. They remain immersed in the natural environment and feel blessed to be able to continue to share it with future generations.

“Living and working here grounds us all in wellbeing,” Lauren says. “Through a te aō Māori lens, we draw on Papatūānuku (earth mother) for strength, energy, calmness, and resilience. When it rains, we feel the cleansing tears of Ranginui (sky father). We’re close to Tāne, the god of the forest and birds, as well as the gods of wild and cultivated food.”

Underpinning the operation of He Pounamu is the embrace of all that is distinctive about Māori culture and identity, particularly whānaungatanga (kinship and interrelationship).

With her Master of Education, Lauren is fascinated by the intersection between education and wellbeing within the context of whānaungatanga. She’s preparing for a PhD on the topic. Her philosophy in action at He Pounamu is all about changing the discourse for tamariki – “they are born with mana, they are already amazing in a world that doesn’t always give that message, that has stripped entire former generations of their mana.”

Lauren’s message resonates with the kaiako who choose to work at He Pounamu. Lleyton Ihaka, Lauren’s nephew and already a father at a young age, has found his feet over the year he’s been there. “I love the environment. It’s very freeing for the tamariki.” As well as working part-time for He Pounamu, Lleyton has a part-time role as a teacher aide at Ākonga Māori, a Māori enrichment learning environment and programme, at Carterton School. He’s learning te reo Māori on the job. Teacher training at Victoria Uni is on the cards.

Cheyenne Spicer, one of Lauren’s daughters and with one year of her teacher training to go, has worked for He Pounamu since it opened. “I share mum’s passion for kaupapa Māori and biculturalism. And I love sharing ‘my place’ - the whenua where I grew up - with the tamariki here.” Her daughter Saydie (16 months old) is enrolled some of the time and Cheyenne loves being at He Pounamu with her and sharing her learning journey.

Liv Perry, fully trained as a teacher, has worked for He Pounamu for two and a half years. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” she says. “I’ve not come across any other early childhood education centre like this. The tamariki love it. There is something about the feeling here that is di erent to other centres.”

What is di erent? “The focus on the environment, whānaungatanga, the connection to the land. There’s the

importance of promoting te reo Māori and tikanga Māori for everyone and a desire to support the revitalisation of te reo Māori.”

Liv says, “the tamariki pick it up so quickly and we hear them speaking it through the day. These are the young people who will continue the revitalisation journey for te reo Māori.”

Koriann O’Connor has been with He Pounamu from its inception. Once her daughter, Mila, is at school, she plans to begin training as a teacher. “It’s a blessing to be here as a teacher and a committed mum. I love watching my child’s pride

Waea | 06 379 5688

Kāinga | 683 Dale eld Road, Carterton Īmera | admin@hepounamu.co.nz www.hepounamu.co.nz early nurture

emerge within a te aō Māori environment.” Koriann’s message to other parents is, “come and feel the environment and meet the people who work here. It’s inclusive, there’s no judgement, you will be accepted with open arms. People fall in love with He Pounamu straight away.”

“We celebrate the di erences of tamariki at He Pounamu,” Lauren says. “We focus on their strengths. We build their mana. We awhi (cherish) them. I’m doing this for the next generation.”

“Education gives us the tools to power change.”

From left back: kaiako Liv, manuhautū Lauren with granddaughter Saydie, and kaiako Cheyenne, Lleyton with Winiata, and Koriann with daughter Mila.

Manuhautū Lauren Spicer, the inspiration behind He Pounamu, with granddaughter Saydie

Māori in Business

SUPPORTING WAIRARAPA M Ā ORI IN BUSINESS

Shades Direct

Smarten up your outdoor space with a Shades Direct Canopy

Run don’t walk to Shades Direct Wairarapa, 11/225 Ngaumutawa Road, Masterton. That’s the company base but the team install throughout Wairarapa giving the much-needed shelter against the elements. With the unpredictable weather patterns, your family and friends will thank you for years to come as they shelter from wind, rain and/or the intense heat of the sun.

The quality outdoor areas created will be a joy all year round! They make the kiwi love of living in the outdoors, so much more enjoyable. Jake and Casey Minty purchased Shades Direct Wairarapa, Wellington and Manawatu divisions, three years ago. It’s a company that prides itself on supporting owneroperators in many parts of New Zealand. Made from construction/marine grade aluminium 80mm x 50mm x 3mm thick, these frames are built to last. They can endure all levels of wind zones and

There’s two hats which Damien Pivac is equally proud to wear. He sells real estate for Ray White Masterton and is also known as ‘Mr Cruise Martinborough.’

Respected by colleagues as a hard worker and a great people person, Damien thrives in the Wairarapa real estate market.

when it comes to protecting you from the sun – they are ace! The roo ng has 99% UV protection. Not only will you be comfortable and safe under them, but they reduce fading of your carpet and furniture.

Shades Direct canopies attach to a home’s eaves by brackets or mount straight onto the face of the house. They are built high enough for the natural light to still come in. Low roof height? Go for the arched ‘Outsider’ which creates the feeling of space and equals the same height on both sides of the fall. The ‘Outsider’ and ‘Clear Span’ models are a game changer for outdoor living. There’s a four-six week lead time from ordering to installation all year round. Get in touch for an obligation free quote. Remember: Don’t compromise on quality, do it right the rst time with Shades Direct.

Experts In Outdoor Living Areas

742 337

“Selling homes is so much more than simply moving property, it’s about helping people re-frame their lives, maybe they are downsizing, or are trying to achieve that long-held dream of home ownership. It’s people lives we are involved with, and I love being part of that.”

Nell McDonald is a veteran real estate agent in Masterton. She spied Damien’s personable skills, impressed how people were drawn to him. “He’s just a really nice guy with a great smile. He works really hard, is a good networker and when he concentrates on something, he goes for it.”

Once he had his real estate ticket, Damien jumped right in with his rst sale in his rst two weeks and has never looked back. That was in 2015 and Damien has since moved to Ray White Real Estate Masterton, which he is loving.

The ‘Mr Cruise Martinborough’ label is well earned. This popular event, now in its 10th year, was Damien’s brainchild. He enjoys classic cars and how they bring all walks of life together. Having travelled far to attend similar events, he thought “I could do this in Wairarapa.”

The rst Cruise Martinborough attracted just under 200 cars.

Numbers have consistently risen since. Owners of the eclectic array of unique cars come from all over New Zealand. Held over four days, they drive their beloved vehicles on Wairarapa’s beautiful backcountry roads, head to the coast, and even try out the Masterton drag strip, along with eating and drinking some of the region’s nest.

Damien’s foray into Real Estate came at a time when his rst child, Tilly was born. Commuting to Wellington for Damien would not be ideal with a young child and he was keen to work in the community he was returning to. When second child, Archie was born, he knew he had made the right decision to immerse himself in the community.

Raised in Masterton, Damien’s father is from Ngā Puhi in Northland and his mother Ngāi Tahu of the South Island. The family moved around, and Damien was educated in Dar eld, out of Christchurch, Masterton, and Hawkes Bay. In Wellington he gained a degree in psychology majoring in addiction services and health and an adult teaching diploma. It led him to jobs in youth development and as a lecturer at the Wellington Institute of Technology which included Treaty of Waitangi training.

Damien believes these quali cations and experience have been the perfect training ground for his real estate work.

“Understanding people, their needs and aspirations are fundamental in helping them nd their place. I like to think I do that well.”

damien.pivac@raywhite.com

027 437 4822

Ray White

Jake Minty at Shade Direct’s headquarters

Popular shade canopies Damien Pivac

Business RuamahangaName Fencing

Living Legends in Wairarapa

fencing

Ruamahanga Fencing is a company which owner Ross Thompson proudly says, “we do what we say!” That means, building to high standards, being on-site when expected, staying on the job until completion, and nishing the project on time. He knows this is appreciated based on the feedback he gets from contented customers. Here’s one:

Ross Thompson - what a Legend!! We were looking for someone in Masterton who could build us a solid fence spanning the length of our property. After contacting ve di erent companies in the Wairarapa region, three didn’t respond, one made a time to visit but didn’t show up and one referred us to someone else and thank goodness they did because the person they recommended was Ross Thompson at Ruamahanga Fencing. Ross was amazing right from the start! He listened and cared about what we were trying to achieve, provided a quote quickly and communicated brilliantly all the way through. Ross has an amazing,

dedicated, hardworking team, who not only did a fabulous job but got it done in an incredibly timely manner. Thank you so much guys - leading Legends in Wairarapa fencing!!

Kylie and Phil

And it’s not just the ‘boys’, these days.

19-year-old Grace has joined the team and Ross is enjoying her enthusiasm for the job, her work ethic, willingness to learn and listen to instruction, and sense of humour! They are a team of ve, including Ross, on the ground doing the building.

“Grace has added a female perspective which has been a total plus. “It softens the boys and respect abounds.” Behind the team out in the eld, is Ross’s wife, Blanche who does payroll and Julie McGhee runs administration, keeping things all on track. It’s a tight, perfectly formed team which works well.

While Ruamahunga Fencing’s workmanship is uppermost in Ross’s mind, he is all about people and helping them

thrive. He has employed many wishing to learn a skill and trade, and nurtures them to achieve. Ross’s Whakapapa is to Ngati Maahanga in the Tainui region and has been a local in Wairarapa for the last 37 yrs. He is especially interested in helping Māori, so joining the Māori in Business Group was a no brainer.

Ruamahanga Fencing began seven years ago. Ross had been working as a youth worker with Rangitāne O Wairarapa, working alongside whanau, Police and Oranga Tamariki. Helping at risk youth and their whanau transition through challenging times. Prior to this work, he had taught at the Taratahi Training Farm. Building and construction had always been an interest and Ross wanted to create a more hands-on way of helping people. He has gathered, and trained, a great team, meticulous and going the extra mile to ensure customers are happy with their fencing solutions. As Ruamahanga Fencing has expanded, Ross has carefully accommodated the

Community Support

When you employ Ruamahunga Fencing, you also support a great company whose heart is woven into the community. It sponsors Wairarapa kids to go on outward bound and the Waimanaaki kid’s camp. It is a supporter of youth development program He Ika; the ‘Move your Butt’bowel cancer awareness fundraiser; the Stroke foundation; the Children’s Special Christmas party, and recently the fencing for Kim’s Way homeless shelter in Bannister Street, Masterton.

demand and is now one of the largest fencing companies in Wairarapa. Being contractors for many of the region’s large-scale building companies strong relationships have been formed.

Ruamahanga Fencing is just completing major fencing work at the new social housing development created by Jennian Homes and Emerge Aotearoa in Iorns Street North, Masterton.

“I get a real kick out of being able to work with an awesome team of people, who come together each day, work hard, and take pride in their achievements. It’s very satisfying and rewarding,” says Ross.

And remember. While fencing is their strength, there are many additional pieces of work they can do. Need the new washing line installed? Nice smart borders for the driveway, and some landscaping for the section? Perhaps a retaining wall? Driveway prep or section clearing?

Give the team at Ruamahanga Fencing a call, and get the job done.