Te Puni Kōkiri sponsored the Young Enterprise Scheme’s award for Māori Business.

The 2010 winners were ‘Hianga Cards’ company of New Plymouth Girls’ High School, who won for their custom-made playing cards featuring Māori design, kupu and facts.

To be eligible for this category, the majority of company directors must be Māori or the business must have a distinctly Māori kaupapa.

The company directors of Hianga Cards are pictured above with their awards and playing cards. They are: Kristal Jenkins, Lisa Fairclough (Te Atiawa/Ngapuhi) and Mikaela Waitere (Te Atiawa-Taranaki iwi).

Behind the team is their proud teacher Kim Jennings, (who also won the Sir James Fletcher Award for Outstanding Contribution to Enterprise), and Te Puni Kōkiri staff Deputy Secretary Support Services Julie-Anne Morrison, Deputy Secretary Relationships and Information Herewini Te Koha and Māori Business Facilitation Service Manager Jim Wilson.

Te Puni Kōkiri’s support for the programme goes beyond sponsorship of an award, with the Māori Business Facilitation Service (MBFS) mentoring teams last year and judging at regional rounds.

For more information about the Young Enterprise Scheme programme, visit www.enzt.co.nz.