Waiapu Road founder wins Māori Businesswomen’s Employment & Growth award

While Tāwhirimātea was making his presence known in the streets of Te Whanganui-a-Tara on Friday, 25 October, inside Tākina Convention Centre only humility, aroha, and pride were felt. MC’d by the effervescent Stacey Morrison, the Māori Businesswomen’s Awards were hosted by Māori Women’s Development Inc (MWDI) to honour women forging a way through the realm of business.

These prestigious awards aim to support the economic development of wāhine Māori and their whānau, contributing to the cultural, economic, social, and political prosperity of Aotearoa. As a unique indigenous organisation, MWDI champions Māori women in business, celebrating the outstanding achievements of wāhine entrepreneurs and their pakihi (businesses) across Aotearoa, the Asia-Pacific region, and other global markets and indigenous economies. – MWDI media release October 2024.

For the second year, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa sponsored an award, this year Te Whanaketanga (Employment & Growth). Nominees in this category were all deserving of the award – Jonique Oli from Waiapu Road, Rochelle Carly from R&P Insurance Ltd, and Chrystal Edmonds from Stirling Logging.

Jonique Oli, founder of clothing and jewellery company, Waiapu Road, was thrilled to take home the award. Attending the awards with her husband, she did not expect to win the award and joked about it in her acceptance speech.

“Last year I won an award, but I was not prepared with a speech. Tonight, I was prepared but I wasn’t sure I’d win! I’m so honoured. I’ve had a transformative year, losing my pāpā meant I needed a focus, so I put all my energy into my business. I’m just so grateful, to my team, my husband – my pou – and our children; they are my why”.

Jonique didn’t expect Waiapu Road to take off the way it did. She started making jewellery 4 years ago, needing a distraction from a family situation. She started with 10 pairs of earrings, set up a Shopify website herself, and never looked back.

“I can’t quite believe that my little business has grown into what it is now. I was working as a counsellor at a high school, but I ended leaving that to focus on Waiapu Road”.

Jonique now employees 7 people, some of whom manage her first physical store in downtown Hastings. The store was opened in October and is proving very popular.

In a happy coincidence, Jonique has studied reo Māori and business with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. She laughs, “I studied business back in 2020, to support my husband in his business, but now he’s supporting me in mine!”.

She is also a proud graduate of Te Rōnakitanga ki te Reo Kairangi, and Te Aupikitanga ki te Reo Kairangi, completing them at our Ahuriri campus.

For Jonique, winning this award is a recognition of all the mahi she’s put in, and that she’s on the right path forward.

“To win this award and be recognised for employment and growth in my business, means so much to me. I’m humbled, and so, so grateful.”