Magic in Maori fabric

By ANGELA GREGORY maori issues reporter

A group of ambitious Maori businesswomen have set up shop at one of Auckland's trendiest retail addresses.

With the support of the Maori Women's Development Incorporation, the designers are opening an upmarket Maori products store near the corner of Ponsonby and Jervois Rds.

The store is the first of a new national Maori retail chain backed by the incorporation, which has successfully lent capital to hundreds of Maori businesswomen.

The incorporation's president, Dame Georgina Kirby, said exclusive Maori designer clothing and art design products would be on sale.

The shop's name, Mareka, came from three successful Maori fashion labels - Maia, Rewa, and Kaha.

Dame Georgina said it was coincidence that the name was the Ngapuhi word for "choice," but she thought it appropriate.

The store would open next month, she said, and others would follow around the country.

There are plans for shops at South Auckland, Auckland International Airport, Rotorua, Wellington and Christchurch.

Gisborne and Northland stores were also being considered.

Maori artists would be paid royalties for fabric designs used in the clothing.

In the past 12 years, the incorporation had lent money to Maori women who had set up about 3000 businesses, of which only six had failed.

Associate Minister of Maori Affairs Sandra Lee last week launched a scheme to further help Maori women into self-employment.

Te Ara Kaipakihi would provide information they needed from Government agencies to develop their own businesses.

Ms Lee said that only about six per cent of self-employed women were Maori.