Irihapeti Edwards is an incredible young woman works across financial services and global youth leadership.
Business
Mel and Manawa are the founders of Ngahere Communities, a social enterprise championing the potential of South Auckland entrepreneurs, innovators and creators.
Georgia Latu is the 14-year old C.E.O behind Pōtiki Poi. A pakihi that makes, sells and distributes poi and earrings while sharing mātauranga Māori.
Tiffany Witehira is reputedly the only Māori fragrance developer in the world. She definitely runs the only Māori owned and operated perfumery in the world, Curionoir.
Maruhaeremuri Nihoniho spent much of her childhood beating high scores on the spacies machines. That pass time turned into a passion, as Maru became the founding CEO Metia Interactive, developing and producing games for multiple platforms.
Rachel Taulelei is the CEO of Kono, a whānau-owned food and beverage company that boasts horticulture, seafood and of course, award-winning wine.
Terangi Roimata Kutia-Tataurangi is the only nail technician in the world that specialises in Māori nail art.
Lynell is the only Māori patent attorney in Aotearoa. She is helping Māori navigate the intellectual property system, identify cultural property and develop protocols and processes for recognition and protection within Western structures.
Damaris Coulter (Ngāti Kahu) started her hospitality journey as a child, working at her uncle’s restaurant in Kaitaia. She grew up around hospo and spent her early adult life learning from some of the best chefs and restauranteurs in the business, both here, and in Italy and the UK.
The pair have spent their entire lives working to protect and preserve the ocean. Whether it be through waka ama, navigation, teaching, governance or policy change, they are working to have an everlasting positive effect on their tūpuna moana, the Waitematā.