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kaupapa mAtuaMäori Business FacilitationService - 10 years onLast year Te Puni Kökiri’s Mäori Business Facilitation Service (MBFS)marked their tenth year of working alongside Mäori Small-MediumEnterprises (SME).Established in 2000, the MBFS continues to support Mäori who areeither at the business idea stage or are currently in operation; toachieve their entrepreneurial ambitions and establish sustainablecommercial enterprises. To date, the MBFS has engaged with anestimated 8,000 small business entrepreneurs and has providedbusiness mentoring, specialist business advice, business networkingand sectoral support for Mäori SME. These efforts impact positivelyon the Mäori and New Zealand economy as a whole.“The MBFS was initially envisaged to help new Mäori micro-business,now it also works with Mäori Small-Medium Enterprises. The MBFSis a great example of a successful Public-Private sector award in theannual Vero National Business Excellence awards in 2006 for theiroutstanding work” says Leith Comer Te Puni Kökiri Chief Executive.YES!To mentoring young Mäori businesswomenTe Puni Kökiri sponsored the Young Enterprise Scheme’saward for Mäori Business.The 2010 winners were ‘Hianga Cards’ company of NewPlymouth Girls’ High School, who won for their custom-madeplaying cards featuring Mäori design, kupu and facts.To be eligible for this category, the majority of companydirectors must be Mäori or the business must have adistinctly Mäori kaupapa.The company directors of Hianga Cards are pictured abovewith their awards and playing cards. They are: Kristal Jenkins,Lisa Fairclough (Te Atiawa/Ngapuhi) and Mikaela Waitere (TeAtiawa-Taranaki iwi).Behind the team is their proud teacher Kim Jennings, (whoalso won the Sir James Fletcher Award for OutstandingContribution to Enterprise), and Te Puni Kökiri staff DeputySecretary Support Services Julie-Anne Morrison, DeputySecretary Relationships and Information Herewini Te Kohaand Mäori Business Facilitation Service Manager Jim Wilson.Te Puni Kökiri’s support for the programme goes beyondsponsorship of an award, with the Mäori Business FacilitationService (MBFS) mentoring teams last year and judging atregional rounds.Here’s a couple of Mäori businesses who have benefited from mentoring and supportfrom MBFS. Above is VR Security of Rotorua (profiled in Kökiri 18) and below is TheTrainspotter Café of Kawakawa (profiled in Kökiri 1).For more information about the Young Enterprise Schemeprogramme, visit www.enzt.co.nzT E P U N I K ö K I R I | K ö K I R I | K O H I - T Ä T E A - H U I - T A N G U R U 2 0 1 111