The Meke Māori Excellence Awards are about recognising the breadth of Māori achievement and contribution in Te Tau Ihu, the top of the South Island of New Zealand.
The awards were open to all individuals and organisations that reside or trade or whakapapa to in Te Tau Ihu (top of the South Island of New Zealand). The 2015 awards evening was held on the evening of 19 November 2015 - photos of which can be found on our facebook page
Thank you to all of our wonderful entrants and particular congratulations to our sponsors and award winners!
Business
For a Māori business, person or organisation who demonstrates excellence in business
Sponsored by Nelson Regional Economic Development Agency.
Ursula Harris Hair Design
Ursula Harris has clearly demonstrated commitment and drive to reach the high standard of excellence she has with her business Ursula Harris Hair Design. From working voluntarily until her boss gave in and she started her apprenticeship. Then purchasing a salon with no customer-base, 1 apprentice, 2 basins and 6 styling stations. The business has successfully grown to 11 full-time and 2 part-time staff which include 4 apprentices.
Entrepreneurship
For Māori business owners or part-owners who demonstrate excellence in entrepreneurship
Sponsored by Maori Women's Development Inc.
Wairua Body Coaching Systems
Donna and Craig Witika have been innovative in their development of the health and fitness services they provide. Wairua Fitness was born from Whanau, a sense of belonging and the energy that connects our physical, emotional and spiritual self. They have developed a number of successful fitness programs including the Wairua Warrior event as well as the Whanau-Fit, Haka-Fit, Bootcamp for Breast Cancer and Fit Flamingoes programmes.
Community Contribution
For a Māori business, person or organisation who demonstrates excellence in community contribution
Sponsored by Nelson City Council
Cube Architecture
Keni-Duke Hetet of Cube Architecture has quietly gone about contributing to the community and has demonstrated a passion in developing young Maori in the architecture profession. He not only gives advice but has been more practical in offering work to a young architectural student during his summer break. Keni has been known to quietly contribute a number of free architectural hours to projects that resonate with him, including Te Awhina Marae and a Victory Square Fale.
Education
For a Māori business, person or organisation who demonstrates excellence in education
Sponsored by Tasman District Council
Aroha Gilling
Aroha demonstrates excellence in education, particularly in the areas of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and cultural awareness. She has over a decade of experience teaching Te Tiriti o Waitangi at NMIT as well as 8 years in private practice delivering cultural supervision and tailor-made workshops to health and social service organisations. Aroha teaches at the edge of what education theorists describe as transformative learning.
Sports
For a Māori business, person or organisation who demonstrates excellence in sport
Sponsored by Marlborough District Council
Marty Grant
In a softball career dating back to 1979, Marty has won 3 world titles including a starring role pitching mound in the Black Sox’s 2–1 win over Japan in the 2000 final in South Africa. He pitched an outstanding no hit 17 strike out performance. Marty attended 5 world championships, where he won 2 silver medals. He was part of the New Zealand team that won the Commonwealth Championship title in 2006; played 54 tests for New Zealand, winning 53 of them and holds the all time Black Sox record for games pitched, innings pitched, strikeouts and wins. Marty was recently inducted into the Softball New Zealand Hall of Fame.
Arts
For a Māori business, person or organisation who demonstrates excellence in the arts
Sponsored by Te Putahitanga
Hinekawa Manihera
Hinekawa Manihera has spent many decades dedicated to Mahi Toi in the pursuit of learning, mentoring and passing on the skills in the art of Raranga. She has produced many works that have achieved national recognition including the June Robinson Memorial Trophy this year for the Korowai she wove with her mokopuna. Hinekawa is an expert in her field and has exhibited at various galleries including locally at The Suter and The Refinery
Te Reo me ona Tikanga Maori
For a Māori business, person or organisation who demonstrates excellence in Te Reo me ona Tikanga Māori.
Sponsored by Te Tumu Paeroa
Ngati Apa Ki Te Ra To Trust
Language, customs and culture are at the heart of who Ngati Apa ki te Ra To are. Woven together, these concepts make up their unique Ngati Apa ke te Ra Totanga. Through their culture they express their spirituality, their connection to each other and to the whenua. A key objective of their cultural strategy is the development of a pool of tutors dedicated to the regeneration of Ngati Apa ki te Ra Totanga.
Sustainability
For a Māori business, person or organisation who demonstrates excellence in sustainability
Sponsored by Nelson Forests
Te Āwhina Marae
Te Awhina Marae have embarked on the Pare Kore journey to create a Zero Waste facility. The primary objective is working towards zero waste by 2020. Already the programme is working well with a reduction in the amount of waste going to landfill and an increase in recycling. All food waste is taken to feed chooks and pigs which belong to various whanau. Green waste goes into the compost which then goes into the Marae gardens.
