Media Release: Kono NZ announces closure of Annies

Media Release: Kono NZ announces closure of Annies

9 December 2022

Food and beverage business Kono NZ, an associated business of Wakatū Incorporation, has today announced it will be closing its Blenheim-based business Annies at the end of February 2023.

Kono NZ Chief Operating Officer Andy Wotton said the closure of Annies, a well-loved local brand, was a difficult decision for the Board to take, but was part of a wider strategic reset to return to Kono NZ’s core purpose – operating sustainable, high-performing businesses that generate a strong financial return to owners.

He said Annies hadn’t met performance requirements over a number of years, and wasn’t sustainable long term. 

“Kono NZ purchased Annies in 2014 after it had gone into voluntary receivership. Despite our very best efforts to rebuild the business over the last seven or eight years, Annies has, with the exception of a couple of outlier results, operated at a loss. As a business we need to be able to adapt and, though hard, the decision to close Annies is right, rather than continuing to operate unsustainably into the future.”

Annies employs 39 people within the Marlborough region. Mr Wotton said Kono NZ hoped to offer staff redeployment options within the Kono business as an alternative to redundancy and was actively exploring opportunities.  

“Manaakitanga is central to how we operate and this process will be managed as carefully and thoughtfully as possible. We will work closely with our affected people over the coming weeks to explore every opportunity available.”

Annies last day of production is expected to be 24 February 2023, with its lease ending at the end of April 2023. It is expected that normal business operations will continue until then and all open sales orders will be fulfilled.

Wakatū Incorporation Annual General Meeting 2022

Wakatū Incorporation Annual General Meeting 2022

We are pleased to share with you that our Annual General Meeting (AGM) will take place on Saturday 3 December 2022, 9.00am at the Trafalgar Centre in Nelson.

The AGM is an opportunity to share with you our work over the last year and plans for the future. This year we will be meeting kanohi ki te kanohi, but will also have a password protected online streaming link available to those who cannot be there in person.

Below you'll find all the information you need to know about attending this year's AGM, including a call to RSVP.

As Covid-19 is still prevalent in our community, we ask that if you are feeling unwell at the time of the AGM that you do not attend in person, but instead join our meeting via the livestream option.

We look forward to joining you in person and online and reporting on the progress of last year.

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RSVP to Annual General Meeting

We are working towards a goal of achieving zero waste at our events, so for catering purposes please advise how many attendees you wish to RSVP on behalf of for this year’s AGM.

Please RSVP by Thursday 1 December 2022 using the RSVP button below.

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AGM Livestream

If you are unable to attend in person, there will be a livestream available for Owners and whānau to watch. The livestream will begin at 9.00am on Saturday 3 December and will be password protected so that only Wakatū shareholders and whānau can access it.

If you cannot attend the AGM in-person and would like to access the livestream link, you can register by emailing Tina Thompson, clicking the button below or calling (03) 546 8648.

Please note: you will need a shareholder number to register for the livestream.

Once you have registered for the livestream you will be sent confirmation with the link details.

Registrations for the livestream must be completed by 9am Friday 2 December 2022.

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Save the Dates for 2023

To help with your planning, we're also letting you know that our Special General Meeting will be held on Saturday 1 April 2023 in te Whanganui-a-tara (Wellington). Venue to be confirmed shortly.

Our Annual General Meeting in 2023 will be held on Saturday 2 December at the Trafalgar Centre in Whakatū (Nelson). Further information regarding these events will be sent out next year.

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Staying Connected

Are all your whānau getting information about Wakatū? Please make sure you share the information in this pānui with your whānau connected to Wakatū.

We encourage everyone connected to Wakatū to join our e-pānui list and to follow us on www.facebook.com/Wakatu.

That way we can keep everyone in touch with opportunities such as scholarships, wānanga, news about our whānau whānui, and Whenua, Kono and AuOra, your businesses.

To join our e-pānui list, email Tina Thompson with your name and email address, using E-pānui in the subject line.

If you have changed your postal address, email or bank account, please email Lee-Anne Hawea Te Hira or Moana Oh or call 03 546 8648 and ask for either Lee-Anne or Moana.

Exceptional Māori Business Leaders Recognised

Exceptional Māori Business Leaders Recognised

28 October 2022

We are proud to announce that last night Kono received the prestigious honour of winning the University of Auckland’s Te Tohu Taumata Rau at the Aotearoa Māori Business Leader Awards, and were finalists for Te Tohu mō te Whakatairanga i te Kete Aronui i te ao Pakihi (Kaitiaki Business Leader Award).

The University of Auckland’s Te Tohu Taumata Rau award recognises entities that portray a strong cultural ethos in the global arena, as well as the utilisation of tikanga, Māori values and utilisation of te reo Māori in their communications and marketing.

“It is our aspiration for Kono to be the world’s best indigenous food and beverage provider. In order to achieve that, we must adhere to our values and tikanga. This award is a testament to the commitment of our kamahi in their pursuit to make our Owners proud of their business”. – Kerensa Johnston, CE of Wakatū Incorporation.

The winners are: 

Te tohu mō te Kaiārahi Rangatahi Māori i te ao Pakihi Young Māori Business Leader Award. This award recognises a person under 30 who has achieved significant success in their career and inspires others to succeed as a new generation of leaders.

Winner: Georgia Latu (Kai Tahu, Ngāpuhi)

When Georgia was 12 years old, she started a poi business with her whānau in her lounge. Today she is the 16-year-old CEO behind Pōtiki Poi, the largest poi manufacturer in the world. 

Te tohu mō te Kaiārahi Rakahinonga Māori: Māori Entrepreneurial Leader Award. This award recognises a person who has created/built/is building a successful business that's recognised internationally, driving innovation and entrepreneurship.

Winner: Tama Toki (Ngāti Rehua, Ngāti Wai, Ngāpuhi)

Tama Toki is the founder and CEO of the Aotea brand, which includes businesses focused on therapeutic skincare and the efficient generation, storage and distribution of renewable energy. 

Te tohu Taumata Rau. This award specifically recognises an iwi, hapū, or marae-based business with a strong cultural ethos portrayed in the global arena. 

Winner: Kono NZ LP

An associated business of Māori-owned Wakatū Incorporation, Kono is a food and beverage producer and exporter of premium wine, seafood, craft beer, fruit and natural fruit bars. 

Te tohu mō te Whakatairanga i te Kete Aronui i te ao Pakihi Kaitiaki Business Leader Award. This award recognises a business that promotes and achieves environmentally sustainable outcomes.

Winner: Aotea

The Aotea brand includes businesses focused on therapeutic skincare and the efficient generation, storage and distribution of renewable energy. 

Te Tohu Whakanuia te Rangatira a Mānuka Henare. This award is in honour of the late Māori academic Dr Mānuka Henare. It recognises education, service and leadership that has positive local and global impacts for Māori and indigenous communities.

Winner: Para Kore Marae Incorporated 

Para Kore is a Māori organisation that empowers and supports marae and organisations to reduce waste. 

Te tohu Kairangi mō te Ihorei Pakihi Māori Outstanding Māori Business Leadership Award. This award recognises a kaupapa Māori business that has achieved significant success that demonstrates transformation in their industry, sector or community. 

Winner: North Drill Limited

North Drill is a fast-growing Whangarei-based drilling company that proactively works to improve the wealth and well-being of its people. 

Te tohu Rātā Whakaruruhau a te Kahurangi Mira Szászy Dame Mira Szászy Lifetime Award. This award recognises a person who has an exceptional long-standing record in governance.

Winner: Robin Hapi, CNZM (Ngāti Kahungunu)

Robin has held a range of governance and executive leadership positions of importance for Māori development. He remains engaged in various projects involving Māori, community, sporting, educational and environmental initiatives. 

Te tohu Kairangi mō te Kaiārahi Pakihi Māori Outstanding Māori Business Leader Award. This award recognises a person who has achieved exceptional success in their career and demonstrated outstanding leadership whose influence extends beyond the confines of their role.

Winner: Steve Saunders (Ngāi Te Ahi, Ngāti Ranginui)

Steve is an innovative agritech entrepreneur who thinks big in his quest to solve challenges to feed the world with smart automation and intelligent robotics while upholding the value of kaitiakitanga, guardianship of the environment.  

The Ngā Taumata Rau Aotearoa Māori Business Leaders Awards are hosted by the University of Auckland Business School and sponsored by Bank of New Zealand, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Asia New Zealand Foundation, He kai kei aku ringa - the Crown-Māori economic growth strategy (sponsored by MBIE and TPK), NZ Māori Tourism, PwC, and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.

The Ngā Taumata Rau Aotearoa Māori Business Leaders Awards are on Thursday evening from 5.30pm. The awards are hosted by the University of Auckland Business School and sponsored by Bank of New Zealand, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Asia New Zealand Foundation, He kai kei aku ringa - the Crown-Māori economic growth strategy (sponsored by MBIE and TPK), NZ Māori Tourism, PwC, and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.

© Scoop Media

Wakatū Incorporation Board nominations now open

Our Board of Directors sets the strategic direction for Wakatū. The Wakatū board is made up of seven directors, all drawn from the Owners of the Incorporation.

Appointment on the board is for a term of three years and is made via an election process by the Owners. Terms are staggered so that some directors’ terms expire each year, although directors may stand for re-election. This rotation allows for continuity and stability at board level while providing for the election of new directors. Nominations for new directors are welcome.

This year the terms of two directors, Te Poa (Paul) Karoro Morgan and Russell (Barney) Thomas will expire at the 2022 Annual General Meeting, which will take place in Whakatū on Saturday 3 December.

Paul and Barney are both eligible for re-election for a further term of office, and have advised they will be standing for re-election.

All nominations for new directors must be made by an Owner in writing. You can request a nomination form by emailing moana.oh@wakatu.org or phoning (03) 546 8648.

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On the nomination form, please include brief details about the nominee. The form must also include the signed approval of the nominee to her/his nomination.

Completed nomination forms must be received by 5pm, Thursday 13 October 2022, and can be lodged by posting to Kerensa Johnston, Wakatū Incorporation, PO Box 440, Nelson 7040 or by email to moana.oh@wakatu.org with Wakatū Board nomination in the subject line.

Information about the election will be circulated to Owners with the 2022 Annual General Meeting notice of meeting booklet.

You can read more about the Wakatū board on our website www.wakatu.org/our-people.

Karioi Wānanga 2

Karioi Wānanga 2

Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 August 2022
Te Āwhina Marae & Te Māra o Puanga Kairau
Here-turi-kōkā | August

Kia ora e te whānau o Wakatū,

We are looking forward to seeing you on Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 August for our second Karioi wānanga in the current series taking place from June 2022 through to May 2023.

This wānanga is part of our mahi to reconnect whānau to whenua through growing indigenous crops using tikanga-led practices.

Over the course of the two days, we will explore the concept of mauri as it relates to healthy soils, plants, kai and people; continue to define tikanga-led principles and practices, and develop tikanga for on the mara and the different roles and responsibilities for wāhine and tāne.

Time will be spent both on the marae and out in the māra planting trees for stage 2 of our native shelterbelt. Our facilitators for the August wānanga will be:

• Glen Skipper, Māra Advisor

• Erina Wehi-Barton, Tikanga-led Taiao Practitioner

• Rōpata Taylor, Tumu Manaaki Tāngata, Wakatū

• Kerensa Johnston, Tumu Whakarae, Wakatū

• Te Kawa Robb, Kaitiaki Taiao, Mauri Ora Consulting & Kaiārahi, Para Kore Marae Inc

During the wānanga, whānau will be invited to share their māra stories with us. Whānau will also have the opportunity to share something from home – whether it be kai, seed, preserves, rongoa etc. This is an invitation only and there is no expectation for whānau to bring something along, but if you would like to please feel free.
 
This wānanga will be noho marae at Te Āwhina on Monday 29 August 2022.

Please click the RSVP button above if you wish to attend the wānanga by Tuesday 23 August 2022. When you RSVP please advise if you will be staying at Te Āwhina marae on Monday night, and if you have any dietary requirements. Garry can also be contacted by email: garry.almond@wakatu.org or by phone +6421489572.

Health, safety and wellbeing

We are pleased to announce that the Karioi wānanga will go ahead under the current orange setting for the Covid-19 Protection Framework and our Wakatū COVID-19 guidelines. Vaccination Passes are no longer required to participate in Karioi events.

As part of our protocols for Covid-19, and to help keep everyone well, please do not attend the wānanga if you are unwell or if you have felt unwell in the 48 hours before the hui. If you start to feel unwell during the wānanga, please let Garry or one of the Manaaki team know as soon as possible.

The usual Covid-19 protocols - frequent hand-washing, and cough and sneezing etiquette will apply throughout the wānanga. When you arrive at Te Āwhina marae, please go to the wharekai to sign-in and register your attendance. As part of your registration, we will have a brief wellness questionnaire managed by one of our team.

Te Māra o Puanga Kairau is a very short walk from the marae. We will walk to the site as group, and we ask that you remain vigilant for any potential hazards as you will be crossing a rural road to get to the site.

What to wear/bring

Please bring a sleeping bag and a towel, along with your your usual toiletries if you are staying at the marae on Monday night.

We will be working in the māra, so please bring gardening clothes that you can change into and wet weather gear in case of wet weather.

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Recording and photography

To help us with notetaking, we will be recording some sessions. We may also have a photographer join us during the wānanga.

Please note our tikanga – photography is not permitted inside of the wharenui at Te Āwhina Marae without prior permission.

Programme

Monday 29 August 2022
Venue: Te Āwhina Marae

8.45am - Registration opens at the wharekai

9.00am - Pōwhiri/Mihi Whakatau

9.30am - Kai whakanoa

9.50am - Welcome back, recap and outline purpose of wānanga

10.00am - Wāhanga 1: Mauri

11.30am - Karakia session

12.00pm - Wāhanga 2: Tikanga on the māra

1.15pm - Tina

2.15pm - Wāhanga 3: Haumārama – He Kaupapa Mauri Ora ā-Whānau

3.30pm - Whānau māra, whānau stories

4.30pm - Karakia session

4.45pm - Maramataka activity

6.00pm - Kai o te pō

Karakia whakamutunga

Monday 29 August 2022
Venue: Te Āwhina Marae and Te Māra o Puanga Kairau

6.45am - Karakia o te ata

8.00am - Parakuihi

9.00am - Native shelterbelt planting

1.15pm - Tina

2.00pm - Whānau feedback

2.30pm - Karakia whakamutunga

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Series 3 - Wānanga Dates

We are excited to grow this project further this year, bringing our whānau together to share and learn valuable mātauranga and helping us as whānau move towards more sustainable practices in our businesses. It is an exciting opportunity for us to learn together.

Please click the link above for the dates of future Karioi wānanga in Season 3. We hope by providing the dates early, it will enable more of our whānau to attend.

If you have any questions before the wānanga, please contact me by email at garry.almond@wakatu.org or phone 021489572.

Te Tāhuhu to visit Kirikiriroa | Hamilton

Te Tāhuhu (Owners' Liaison Team) to visit Kirikiriroa | Hamilton

Appointments available with the team Tuesday 13 September - Thursday 15 September 2022

Tēnā tātou e ngā whānau o Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Rārua, Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Tama e noho tāwhiti atu ki Waikato. 

Nau mai haere mai! We are pleased to let you know that Te Tāhuhu (the Owners’ Liaison Team) of Celia Hāwea, Moana Oh, Lee-Anne Hawea Te Hira, and Haylee Solomon will be coming to Hamilton on 13th - 15th September 2022. 
 
It will be an opportunity for Wakatū whānau based in and around the Waikato rohe to set up kanohi ki te kanohi (face-to-face) meetings to discuss:

• Any matters concerning Wakatū shares

• Successions to the Māori Land Court, establishment of whānau trusts

• Wakatū scholarships and wānanga opportunities

• Any other questions relating to Wakatū Incorporation

To make an appointment to meet with Te Tāhuhu, please click the button above or send an email to: leeanne@wakatu.org

We look forward to seeing you in September.

Noho ora mai rā,

Te Tāhuhu | Owners' Liaison Team
Wakatū Incorporation

Karioi season 3 wānanga schedule

Karioi season 3 wānanga schedule
June 2022 to May 2023
Te Āwhina Marae and Te Māra o Puanga Kairau

We are pleased to confirm the following dates have been selected for Karioi wānanga in season 3:

Karioi Wānanga 2
Monday 29 – Tuesday 30 August 2022
 
Karioi Wānanga 3
Tuesday 18 – Wednesday 19 October 2022
 
Karioi Wānanga 4
Tuesday 7 – Wednesday 8 December 2022
 
Karioi Wānanga 5
Monday 6 – Tuesday 7 March 2023
 
Karioi Wānanga 6
Thursday 4 – Friday 5 May 2023

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We held our first Karioi wānanga for season 3 on Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 June and received valuable feedback from whānau on suitable days and times to hold wānanga for this season. Whānau want to align the Karioi wānanga dates with the Maramataka, and to continue holding wānanga during the week, to allow for rest and quality time with whānau on the weekends.

All wānanga will be held at Te Āwhina Marae and include noho Mārae (if desired). Each wānanga will commence with pōwhiri / mihi whakatau at 9.00am on day one and conclude with Poroporoaki between 2.00-4.00pm on day two. We will also spend time on Te Māra o Puanga Kairau and visit other local māra and sites of significance during some wānanga.

We hope that by providing wānanga dates for season 3 early, it will enable more of our whānau to attend.

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Learning session

There will also be opportunities for whānau to attend Karioi learning sessions throughout season 3. Dates for these sessions will be confirmed at a later date.  Previous seasons we have held sessions on:

• Maramataka in the ngahere, moana, awa, and māra

• Soil and plant health, including pests and diseases

• Taewa and kūmara seed selection and storage, and

• Native tree shelterbelt planting.

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Health and safety

All Karioi wānanga and learning sessions will go ahead under the current orange setting for the Covid-19 Protection Framework and our Wakatū COVID-19 guidelines. Vaccination Passes are no longer required to participate in Karioi events.

We will continue to monitor the current COVID-19 situation closely and will communicate any potential changes to Karioi wānanga as soon as we can.

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Karioi - our indigenous crops project

Karioi is our indigenous crops project which aims to reconnect whānau of Wakatū to their whenua by growing indigenous crops through tikanga-led, regenerative principles and practices.

Karioi started out in 2020 as a pilot programme to reconnect whānau to their whenua, revitalise indigenous knowledge systems and build food security and resilience with whānau and community, through growing indigenous crops on our customary whenua (land). In our first two seasons we planted and grew many different kūmara and taewa varietals alongside black and white kaanga, and kamokamo.

A portion of the crops we produce are retained for future planting, another portion will go to whānau and another portion will be for sale. We believe this is a transformative model for kai production and business, and we are proud of our Owners and whānau for leading the way in this space.

This project on the māra will bring our whānau together to share and learn valuable mātauranga and will help us as whānau move towards more sustainable practices in our businesses.

We are excited to grow this project further in 2022-23 season through the participation of more Wakatū whānau. It is an exciting opportunity to learn together.

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For further information

For further information related to Karioi, or to provide feedback on the kaupapa or dates provided, please contact Garry Almond by email: garry.almond@wakatu.org or by phone +6421489572.