Te Puni Kōkiri Chief Executive Michelle Hippolite today congratulated the outstanding young entrepreneurs who won the Te Puni Kōkiri Award for Excellence in Māori Business as well as the Supreme Award at the Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme’s national awards in Wellington last night.

“As we seek to strengthen and transform the New Zealand economy, instilling the spirit of entrepreneurship in our youngest minds is critical,” said Mrs Hippolite.

“If we are going to future proof our economy then this is an important part of that work.”

Manurewa High School’s Caring & Co. teamed up with charity partner Life Education Trust to develop a special release extra virgin olive oil sourced from Waiheke Island. Caring and Co.’s vision is to educate South Auckland rangatahi about healthier lifestyles and a percentage of their profit is donated into a local primary school.

“I’m delighted with these young entrepreneurs, who have blended business acumen with healthy futures as well as service to their community. They are role models to other businesses – not just those run by other rangatahi,” said Mrs Hippolite. As well as successfully marketing and selling a unique, top quality product – Unique Drizzle won Gold and Best In Class at the Los Angeles International Olive Oil Competition – Caring and Co. have paid for every pupil at Homai Primary School to be put through Life Education Trust’s Harold Programme.

“Caring and Co. demonstrates that the most valuable asset of all isn’t found on a balance sheet. Our most valuable asset of all are our children and our future generations: our economy and future depends on how much we invest in our children’s education and wellbeing,” said Mrs Hippolite