“It is a real thrill to be the winning business,” she said.
Beauty Antix started about 10 years ago when Amber Forrest decided to go out on her own when the Wairoa Pharmacy closed down.
“We are fully inclusive — anyone can walk through the doors and feel comfortable here. We liken it to the feeling of going to a marae where you are included no matter what you have done, who you are or what you earn, you are just with the cuzzies. I feel like Beauty Antix is like that.”
Ms Forrest and her whānau were all born in Wairoa and grew up there.
“I am very Wairoa proud. I have worked all over the world but I am truly all about ‘rise-up Wairoa'.”
Mrs Forrest says she is the only fully qualified beauty business operating in Wairoa.
“My staff are all qualified. I have five Māori girls working here at the moment and have trained many over the years.”
She is about to open a trades training school in the Wairoa CBD.
“It's been a long time in the making. I've had apprentices come through, worked with Gateway students from schools, and worked with EIT. We do a lot of community events too and even go to schools to teach about skin care.
“You can teach anyone a skill but awhi is something you are naturally born with. With the training facility I will be able to help teach and remove barriers to future employment.
“I dedicated the award to the community. We have a very diverse clientele and we wouldn't be able to do what we do without them.”
Whare Isaac-Sharland was “a bit surprised” that she won the award.
“I met other finalists and knew the high calibre — they were all awesome. So I was a bit shocked when I won.”
Tai Huki is a team collective and the award reflected that that. The business is in their third year of mahi.
“I wasn't even going to put my name forward — it's not really what Māori do, but my business mentor told me to.”
After thinking the awards would not happen because of Covid-19, when she ended up in Auckland she was humbled to be surrounded by other wāhine Māori businesses.
Tai Huki Consult is a kaupapa Māori-driven company with the aim to grow the love of learning for whānau.
“One thing I learnt while growing up, and it is repeated throughout the country, is that many Māori going into mainstream schools feel disenfranchised and without power. I didn't feel like I belonged in the schooling (mainstream) system and I know our people still do not feel like the education system works for us. By default we are not successful in that. The statistics tell us that and I work in Māori medium spaces where I see the changes that happen when whānau take the journey of te reo Māori.”
■ Ratonga Whakangungu — professional learning, development services and cultural capabilities.
■ Ratonga Rangahau — research and evaluation services.
■ Rātonga Mātauranga Māori —Māori education services.
■ Tipuria te Arohai — whānau movement.
