MAKING CONNECTIONS
HUI
Each month, the KUMA community meets at a local cafe or at an owner’s business premises for a hui to share news, developments and opportunities over coffee and kai.
The KUMA Board meets monthly and provides a report on activities and events to the breakfast meeting attendees.
Normally every year, there is a weekend hui for all the KUMA business community, held in a stunning location somewhere in Otago and Southland and hosted by one of the members. The agenda includes insightful presentations on critical economic or business developments - locally, nationally or internationally, business owners showcase their business, there may be a professional development session relevant to the KUMA kaupapa , and local entertainment. The Suzanne Spencer Maumahara Award is bestowed on one of the KUMA whānau to recognise their contribution and innovation. Plenty of time is set aside to network, run an expo stand, enjoy delicious local kai, and catch up with friends and whānau who are passionate about business and enterprise.
WHANAUNGATANGA
He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata.
Being connected to a network that supports personal and professional growth, innovation and enterprise greatly benefits any business owner and entrepreneur. Belonging to a Māori network supports cultural norms, encourages deeper connections, uplifts us with knowledge passed down from our tupuna and rangatira, and enhances a strong sense of future contribution for our whānau, hapū, iwi, and communities in which we live.
KUMA has strong partnerships and relationships with many experienced business people and leaders from around the region and across the country. One of our founders and rangatira, Tā Tipene O'Regan, has always provided guidance, wisdom and stories to support and encourage all the KUMA whānau. Tā Tipene attends KUMA annual hui and challenges us to understand the past as we head into the future.
The KUMA network has been formalised since 2005. Whānau from many different types and sizes of enterprises join together to promote, encourage and contribute to each other's knowledge and share in the successes and the challenges of being in business.
You do not have to be in business to join the KUMA hapori, or support financially. We recognise that Māori enterprise means that a whole community of people is involved. We have members from local rūnaka, city councils, university, polytechnic, wānanga, tourism organisations, community groups, not for profit organisations, and volunteer groups. If you are involved with, or you support a Māori business - Nau mai, haere mai: you are welcome!
BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
Your connection to KUMA means you will have the opportunity to join workshops - or facilitate them if you have a specialist area of knowledge. We aim to provide these to our KUMA community at little or no cost, or there is a charge for some of the more specialist workshops.
In the past, KUMA has run workshops on financial literacy for small business, pricing strategies, accounting software, IT, web development, marketing, speaking skills, and emotional intelligence in business. Coaching and mentoring from our Professional Coach provides essential time away from the business to focus on your personal or leadership development.
If there are topics that you wish to learn more about, let us know!
STAY CONNECTED
Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini kē. Success does not come from working alone, but from working together. Let us know how KUMA can support you, and come along to our monthly gatherings. Ka kite ākuanei, ā, kia kaha mō tōu mahi.
KUMA Membership
We truly appreciate the collective contribution of each of our business owners, operators, community leaders - thank you. Being a KUMA Member supports the sustainability of the network. It means you are connected to a network that upholds kawa and tikanga, is based on the value of whanaungatanga and supports personal and professional growth, enterprise and innovation.
Belonging to a Māori network encourages deeper connections, uplifts us with knowledge, passed down from our tūpuna and rangatira, and contributes to the future of our whānau, hapū, iwi, and communities in which we live.