Māori Women's Development Inc Māori Businesswomen's Awards 2025
The MWDI Māori Businesswomen's Awards recognise and celebrate the achievements and success of wāhine Māori in business—bold, dynamic, and leading the way in Indigenous business both in Aotearoa and globally.
These prestigious awards reflect the mission of Māori Women's Development Inc to encourage the economic development of wāhine Māori and their whānau to ensure that Māori contribute equitably to the cultural, economic, social and political achievements of Aotearoa. As a unique Indigenous organisation, MWDI champions wāhine Māori in business, shining the spotlight on the creativity, resilience, and excellence of wāhine across a wide range of regions and industries, from Creative Arts and Innovation to Social Enterprise and beyond.
This celebration recognises the impact of Māori women entrepreneurs and their pakihi (businesses) across Aotearoa, the Asia-Pacific region, and Indigenous economies around the world.
Linda Clay (Ngāti Awa, Te Whakatōhea) Kaiwhakahaere of MWDI, shares her excitement for this year's event: 'I'm proud to celebrate the achievements of our kāipakihi wāhine, whose leadership and innovation are not only transforming their communities but also making a vital contribution to Aotearoa's economy. These awards honour their success and the powerful impact they are making.'
Nominations were open across ten business categories, including Pakihi Toi Ora (Creative Arts & Design), Te Kaweake (Export), Business Collaboration, Emerging Business, Employment & Growth, Innovation, People & Capability, Social Enterprise, and Marketing & Sales. In addition, eight regional awards will recognise business leaders from Te Tai Tokerau, Tāmaki Makaurau, Tainui, Te Tairāwhiti, Waikato, Waiariki, Ikaroa, Aotea, and Te Waipounamu.
The judging panel – comprising Te Whānau o Waipereira Chief Operating Officer, Awerangi Tamihere MNZM, Ngāti Kauwhata, Rangitāne, Ngāti Porou, Rongowhakaata, Ngāi Tahu, Poutama Trust, Chief Executive Officer, Koro Dickinson Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa, Ngāti Māmoe, Ngāi Tahu and MWDI Kaiwhakahaere Linda Clay, Ngāti Pukeko, Te Whakatōhea- were impressed by the high calibre of nominations, representing the diverse businesses, talents and accomplishments of wāhine in all regions and categories.
MWDI is proud to announce the following businesses and individuals as finalists for the 2025 Awards:
Region Finalist Business
Te Tai Tokerau Hiria Faofua Korowai by Hiria
Kelly Pihema Berridge & Ashley Pihema Rerehua Boutique
Ngahuia Crossman Inspiring Design & Co Limited
Alyx Pivac Kaitiaki Collective Ltd
Tāmaki Makaurau Danica Walker Ake Ake Ake Ltd
Marissa Lewis Whanake Group Ltd
Katie Brown Social Good
Tainui Nicole Horan Hi Mama Productions
Dayna Slade & Amy Barratt Bo & Ko
Janelle Riki-Waaka Riki Consultancy Ltd
Renee Taylor Salt Aotearoa
Waiariki Renee Tapsell Aotearoa Dive
Arihia Hoani-Waaka &
Puahaere Vaka
Iarau Limited
Aroha Grant
Aroha Grant – Standfast
Stables
Te Tairāwhiti Ashley Kemp Nōku Pakihi Ltd
Whare Isaac-Sharland Tai Huki Consult Ltd
Tracey Price HB Laser Skin Clinics
Tania Haerewa Soul Deep
Aotea Moana Williams Tuitui Designs
Mihi Henry-Hatcher Mihi's Place Rongoa Māori & Contemporary Healing and Learning Clinic
Kiri Erb Tika Catering Limited
Riana Tamati The Zone Ltd
Ikaroa Kiriana Eparaima-Hautapu ATA Limited
Kaye-Maree Dunn Making Everything Achieveable
Harlem-Cruz Ihaia Purotu Limited
Kathie Irwin Kathie Irwin & Associates
Te Waipounamu Riana Tamati Ruruku Limited
Haylee-Chānel Simeon Hayz At the Anchorage
Leah Keown Beyond Your Numbers
Business Category
Pakihi Toi Ora (Creative Arts & Design) Riana Tamati Ruruku Limited
Huia Hamon Kog Studio
Julie Paama-Pengelly Art Body Creative Studio
Pakihi Whai Ora (Social
Enterprise)
Harlem-Cruz Ihaia Purotu Limited
Aroha Grant
Aroha Grant – Standfast
Stables
Vanessa Mill Tū Mātau Ora
Te Kahukura Boynton Maori Millionaire
Te Amorangi (People &
Capability)
Nicole Horan Hi Mama Productions
Moira McGarva-ratapu Pursuit Limited
Janelle Riki-Waaka Riki Consultancy Ltd
Mihi Henry-Hatcher Mihi's Place Rongoa Māori & Contemporary Healing and Learning Clinic
Te Auahatanga (Innovation) Natalia Wi Ako Academy
Kiriana Eparaima-Hautapu ATA Limited
Arihia Hoani-Waaka &
Puahaere Vaka
Iarau Limited
Te Kaweake (Export) Kelly Pihema Berridge & Ashley Pihema Rerehua Boutique
Ashley Kemp Nōku Pakihi Ltd
Moana Williams Tuitui Designs
Te Pōiketanga (Emerging Business) Danielle Allen-Sutton The Law Lady Limited
Hiria Faofua Korowai by Hiria
Te Aumihi Kay Ogden
Confidential Document
Destruction Ltd
Natalia Herewini Natalia's Food Journey
Te Pou Whirinaki (Business Collaboration) Kaye-Maree Dunn Making Everything Achieveable
Trina Tamati Tonui Consultancy
Vanessa Mill Tū Mātau Ora
Ngareka Bensemann Marsden Cove Dental Clinic
Māori Women's Development Inc. congratulates all the finalists and looks forward to celebrating the success and achievements of wāhine Māori in business at this year's awards ceremony on Friday, 24 October 2025 at the Tākina Convention Centre, Pōneke.
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Māori Women's Development Inc. (MWDI) is proud to announce the finalists of the MWDI Māori Businesswomen's Awards 2025, set to take place on Friday, 24 October 2025, at the Tākina Convention Centre, Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington). The MWDI Māori Businesswomen's Awards recognise and celebrate the achievements and success of wāhine Māori in business—bold, dynamic, and leading the way in Indigenous business both in Aotearoa and globally. These prestigious awards reflect the mission of Māori Women's Development Inc to encourage the economic development of wāhine Māori and their whānau to ensure that Māori contribute equitably to the cultural, economic, social and political achievements of Aotearoa. As a unique Indigenous organisation, MWDI champions wāhine Māori in business, shining the spotlight on the creativity, resilience, and excellence of wāhine across a wide range of regions and industries, from Creative Arts and Innovation to Social Enterprise and beyond. 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In addition, eight regional awards will recognise business leaders from Te Tai Tokerau, Tāmaki Makaurau, Tainui, Te Tairāwhiti, Waikato, Waiariki, Ikaroa, Aotea, and Te Waipounamu. The judging panel – comprising Te Whānau o Waipereira Chief Operating Officer, Awerangi Tamihere MNZM, Ngāti Kauwhata, Rangitāne, Ngāti Porou, Rongowhakaata, Ngāi Tahu, Poutama Trust, Chief Executive Officer, Koro Dickinson Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa, Ngāti Māmoe, Ngāi Tahu and MWDI Kaiwhakahaere Linda Clay, Ngāti Pukeko, Te Whakatōhea- were impressed by the high calibre of nominations, representing the diverse businesses, talents and accomplishments of wāhine in all regions and categories. 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