Mr Tomoana said recognition of KAHC's active deal-making was an honour and praised Mr Manuel for keeping "a firm hand on the tiller".
"While we are always looking to diversify our asset portfolio we are also committed to adding value to our existing fisheries assets," Mr Tomoana said.
"We recently established Kahungunu Fisheries, a joint venture with one of our partners to purchase a deep sea trawler. Our immediate aim is to develop our own branded products and export these to the world.
"Commerce and culture are twins and this was evident in our recent Kahungunu Festival in February 2017", Mr Tomoana said.
An independent steering committed appointed by the University of Auckland Business school decided on KAHC. The criteria was "a kaupapa Maori business that has achieved significant success in recent years that demonstrates values that make them a role model for other Maori businesses".
Dannevirke-based businesswoman Mavis Mullins was awarded the Outstanding Maori Business Leaders Award. The shearing-industry legend will be inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame later this year.
From running the family-owned Paewai Mullins Shearing company she has sat on many boards including Landcorp, 2degrees Mobile, health boards, Poutama Trust and Taratahi Agricultural Training and with husband Koro actively farms on tipuna land near Dannevirke.
"You don't actually go out looking for acknowledgement when you do what you do, but I'm very grateful for the opportunity these awards bring," she said.
She was especially enjoying her work with Rangitane Tu Mai Ra, the post settlement governance entity for Rangitane o Wairarapa and Rangitane o Tamaki nui-a-Rua.
"It's exciting to create an economic, social and cultural platform for future generations, an opportunity to get it right," she said.
"It's about being able to envision where we need to be, then break it down into do-able stages. This is where Maori have such an advantage because our view is long-term anyway, it becomes less about you and more about who's to follow."
The annual awards, run by the University of Auckland Business School and regarded as the nation's premier Maori business awards, recognise and celebrate outstanding Maori excellence and success in business.
