Our founding story
KUMA – Te Kupeka Umaka Māori ki Araiteuru – was founded in 2005 by Otago based Māori professionals and business people. They knew that the historical achievements and future potential of Māori to contribute to whānau, hapū and iwi could be enriched by creating a network that fostered prosperity by Māori and for Māori.
The Māori business (umanga, or umaka in Kāi Tahu dialect) network (kupenga, or kupeka in Kāi Tahu dialect) was established as an incorporated society and charitable trust, guided by a Constitution, implemented by a volunteer Board elected from the Māori business community, and run effectively with strategies and policies that supported Māori business and whānau success.
Missing from this group photo is Suzanne Spencer who was a powerhouse māreikura in the community, who believed in Māori entrepreneurial ability and who worked tirelessly around the region to deliver business advice to many small and established businesses.
As a Business Advisor with Te Puki Kōkiri’s Māori Business Facilitation Service (MBFS), Suzanne could see that Māori were represented poorly in socio-economic statistics and business communities, and she sought to change this.
Over the five or so founding years of KUMA, Suzanne and others created a network of professional, experienced Māori advisors who dispensed business skills, strategies, and practical business solutions.
MBFS funding went into providing support to write business plans for funding and banking applications, marketing, research, and mentoring. Many businesses were started or grew as a result of the KUMA network’s mahi.The knowledge already in the Māori community was tapped into, potential realised, ideas came into reality, and Māori entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity unleashed. Sadly, Suzanne passed away some years after the establishment of KUMA, but not before she had directed business funding and mentoring to businesses across the southern area. Suzanne’s legacy is enshrined in the KUMA business awards held every year; a celebration of success and whanaungatanga.
The Ngāi Tahu iwi, and local papatipu rūnaka supported KUMA’s establishment. Tā Tipene O’Regan has been at all of KUMA’s key events, and often presents He Tohu Maumahara ki a Suzanne Spencer Business Award to deserving Māori business people.
Poutama Trust, Ministry of Social Development, Councils, Chambers of Commerce, the University and Polytechnic, StartUp Dunedin and members of the business community have partnered with KUMA to deliver workshops and to support connections and events. These relationships within the community are an important aspect of driving partnership, and ensuring collective support.
KUMA’s values of Whanaungatanga (community), Manaakitanga (recognising and uplifting the mana of us all), and Tautoko (giving and receiving support) underpin all that KUMA does.
These values are captured in KUMA’s guiding whakatauki:
Kia tipua tahi ai – Let us grow together
Day to day mahi has been organised by KUMA Coordinators based in Dunedin, Queenstown and Invercargill. In 2021, TPK’s Building Resiliant Communities Fund was a welcome boost to pay for programme management and administrative support to deliver projects and benefits to members.As well as being supported by government funding, KUMA is made sustainable through the receipt of membership subscriptions, where as much as possible is put back to members through events, training, an online directory, and business growth coaching and mentoring.
