Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi. Engari, he toa takitini.
Success is not the work of one, but the work of many.
Kono, the food and beverage business of Māori family-owned Wakatū Incorporation, has been recognised as one of New Zealand’s top exporters by taking home two awards at the New Zealand International Business Awards - He kai kei aku ringa for Māori Excellence in Export and Inspiring Preference for New Zealand.
‘Winning He kai kei aku ringa for Māori Excellence in Export was particularly special,’ Rachel Taulelei, Kono CEO says. ‘We are proudly a Māori-family owned business. We bring our values, history and legacy to everything we do. Our promise at Kono is love for the land, respect for the sea. We know that our values of kaitiakitanga, whanaungatanga and manaakitanga resonate with people all around the world.’
The judges for the Inspiring Preference for New Zealand award praised Kono’s committed and authentic relationships with partners and distributors, their rich storytelling for international audiences, and the collective thinking throughout the business that adds real commercial value from marketing through to distribution.
‘Winning the Inspiring Preference for New Zealand and He kai kei aku ringa for Māori Excellence in Export awards is a wonderful recognition for the whole Kono and Wakatū whānau,’ Ms Taulelei, says. ‘We are a vertically integrated business, which means our team is involved at every step of the way.’
Notes for editors
Kono is a Māori-owned, top 100 New Zealand food and drinks company, farming over 1000 hectares of land and sea, and exporting to over 25 countries. Their brands include Tohu, Kono and Aronui wines, Tutū cider, Kono mussels, Kiwa oysters and Annies fruit bars. Kono grows apples, pears, kiwifruit and hops, and supplies sustainably caught fish via its business Yellow Brick Road.
Kono is an associated business of Wakatū Incorporation. Based in Nelson, Wakatū has approximately 4,000 shareholders who descend from Māori land owners from the Nelson, Tasman and Golden Bay regions – Te Tauihu, the top of the South Island.
The New Zealand International Business Awards (NZIBA) celebrates the success of New Zealand businesses on the world stage and recognises excellence and innovation. The awards are organised by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, with the support of their strategic partner, ANZ.
He kai kei aku ringa for Māori Excellence in Export award.
This award recognises Māori business contribution to the New Zealand export economy – the approach, values and tikanga that underpin and uniquely define Māori business.
Inspiring Preference for New Zealand
Recognising the best use of design to succeed in a global marketplace. Entrants will have achieved success by integrating design into their business model and a high degree of design competency across their products, services, environment and culture.