Transcripts: Māia series two

Brook: This is Paula and Simone from Local and Loyal Whanganui. And this is entrepreneur Robett Hollis. And this is me, trying to work the elevator - help me please!

Robett: Kia ora everybody, my name is Robett Hollis, my whanau is from Ngāti Porou, East Coast, Gisborne and I am a lifestyle entrepreneur.

I am officially unemployable. I have no degrees or qualifications. I failed high school, couldn't get into university. But, I have a degree from Chicago's hot dog university, which I went to - true story.

After I'd finished Aranui High School I became a professional snowboarder, travelled the world. Got to do that for a bit and then I used my money to start a small media business, and then I successfully expanded that into one of New Zealand's largest action sports networks. And then started a video production company, which became a full content agency.

Everything I've always done has been, is a by-product of passion, so you know, I was passionate about action sports so I did stuff in there, passionate about the media and text space, did stuff in there, and then passionate about helping other entrepreneurs and startups do their own thing.

Those who are really hungry, you can see from afar if they've got the right intent for where they wanna go. Because without you having to pay them for it they're doing something similar, proving to themselves because they're doing it for fun anyway, or for passion anyway. That's a huge key driver. In a small market like New Zealand the reality is within one phone call you can figure out exactly who they are and what they're about and if they're a good person or not. Because I really don't trust paper, I trust people.

I think when you're an entrepreneur there's always going to be set-backs. I mean I make mistakes in business every single day, I think it's just the mindset of how you approach business.

But at the same time as well I understand that now with everything being tech-driven, the game's gonna last for so so so much longer.

The biggest difference that you guys have that I didn't have when I was 13 was the ability to embrace technology.

Paula: There's apps for loyalty, there's apps for directories, there's apps for deals. So I've combined them all into one.

Brook: And if I wanted to find where to get my hair done... reckon it looks good.

Paula: I'm the founder of Local and Loyal, I've been developing apps for businesses mainly in Wellington for the past six or seven years, but what I wanted to do was sell individual apps to all the small businesses here in Whanganui.

Simone: Click on that special offers tab.

Brook: Oh so I can get a GHD for $20? ...off, $20 off - $20 off!

Paula: I look for people that don't give up at the first set-back or hurdle. People that can use their initiative and work around problems. I employed Simone because she gave great feedback with businesses and was constructive in her feedback. Simone's role not only includes looking after our Facebook page - (loud music from computer)

Simone: Sorry!

Simone: I mostly do social media so I run the Facebook and Instagram pages so I have to record videos and collect content from businesses that they want me to put on it about new products and things like that. It's quite hard, some people aren't quite up with technology here, so it's trying to explain to them what an app is and show them how it works and things like that.

Paula: Simone has to be very adaptable in her job, at times she'll be called away to visit a customer, to walk a customer through how to make a coupon, update customers on the changes of what's happening at Local and Loyal, or set up an event.

Simone: Having a positive attitude is really important because if you don't look approachable then people don't really want to listen to you, and if you're too pushy then they're sort of like uhhhh...

Paula: You've definitely got to be resilient in this industry.

Paula: Every time I've visited a business, if I was given the "no" word, I would learn from that. You've got to learn how to ask for help. You can't do everything yourself. Like I tried to do everything myself.

Brook: These guys ooze resilience, they love to hustle and won't give up on their goals. They're looking for people who won't give up either, and who love a good challenge.

Brook: Did you spot it? That bit about handling challenges, and not giving up when times get tough. They want to know you can bounce back. Don't go telling them a sob story, they just want to know that you won't go nuts when things go wrong. Being calm in a crisis, admitting when you've made a mistake.

Karawhuia!

Check out more awesome Māori business stories in the video section, or visit careers.govt.nz/maia

Brook: Hello, hello.

So I've arrived at fisheries company, Moana New Zealand, and this place is huge! And look, all I have to do is sign into this flash computer, and someone comes out to meet me. Let's check this place out.

Alyx: Kia ora, ko Alyx taku ingoa, no Ngāti Whātua ahau, and I'm the communications assistant for Moana New Zealand.

Brook: Alyx has a degree in science, works on the sustainability team for her iwi, and was awarded a scholarship to spend a year in Japan to study all things fish, and today, she's going to show us around.

Alyx: This is where the engine room of our company is. So a lot of our workers come in here, they start around 4.30 in the morning. So we have a load of fish come in, they'll skin it, fillet it, pack it up in the ice, and ship it out that afternoon to all our customers. Freshest product!

Brook: I couldn't come to one of New Zealand's biggest fisheries companies, if I didn't get in the factory. So, I'm going in.

Anastasia: I'm like a big mama in the factory.

Brook: Anastasia is the definition of adaptable. She's a packer, a boner, a knifehand, she knows everything about the factory. This even got her a promotion to a full-time training manager. Oosh.

Anastasia: You have to have the right attitude towards your staff. I'm like a person that listens, and also I have a heart for everyone in our factory.

Brook: And she can dance! Now she told me, if I was willing to learn, I could work here. I got this.

Michelle: My name's Michelle Cherrington, I'm the group communications manager for Moana New Zealand. I'm from Whakatane, Ngāti Awa.

It's not necessarily about the qualifications that you've got on a piece of paper, it’s about the time that you give, the interest that you show, the curiosity that you show and the things that you do outside of your work or study, school life.

Alyx: I left my high-paid desk job with a computer and a warm office to go and work in 'grow it sheds’ with water and beanies and head lamps and it wasn't the most glamorous thing I've ever had to do. It was definitely a challenging environment for me, but looking at it as a learning curve, having a positive attitude towards something I might not have necessarily chosen to be at the top of my list of things to do, did lead me to where I am today, absolutely.

Brook: This isn't gonna go very long. (laughter)

Nathan: Snapper

Brook: Blue cod

Nathan: Red cod

Brook: Hoki

Nathan: Barracuda

Brook: Moki

Nathan: Tarakihi

Brook: Shark

Nathan: John Dory

Brook: Nemo?

Nathan: Kia ora my name is Nathan Reid, I work at Moana New Zealand.

Brook: Nathan knows his fish. He started as a fisherman fresh out of high school, headed off to uni to get a degree in business, and like Alyx, he got a scholarship to head to Japan and now looks after hundreds of workers all over the world.

Nathan: In my current role I look after projects, I look after advocacy stuff, I look after fishermen, there's so many different roles you can do, and different avenues you can come from.

For any rangatahi coming through it’s have a crack, you know, don't worry about where it is today, think about where it can be tomorrow. If you work hard today, the opportunity might not be there now but it'll come, you work hard, you know, you keep putting your hand up.

Brook: That willingness to learn.

Nathan: Yeah willingness to learn, you know you'll kick yourself later if you didn't try something and you missed out, missed those opportunities.

Alyx: So manaakitanga is one of our core values here at Moana New Zealand. So it's about making sure that when we have guests and visitors that they are well looked after and that they feel welcome.

It's also about making sure that our people are looked after, whether they're in the factory every day, whether they're in the office every day, and so it's important for us as Māori and as non-Māori to just show hospitality.

Brook: Time to head to the Coromandel where the oysters live, yeah boy.

Tukumana: Kia ora I'm Tukumana, I'm an oyster shucker. I work at Moana New Zealand.

Brook: As you can tell, I'm a natural. These guys are the local oyster shucking champs, and get through about 2,000 oysters a day. And they get paid per oyster, chur.

Tukumana: I didn't open first, I was in the packing room. It was sort of train up, and then I wanted to open just ‘cause I knew there was more money in opening, and from there yeah just...

Brook: Worked your way up?

Tukumana: Worked my way up and got in there. I guess they gave me the job because I wanted to do it.

Brook: And just like that, it's home time.

I've met so many awesome people at this place. It's obvious that these guys make their jobs fun which helps them get to work every day.

There are hundreds of different types of jobs here, so whether you wanted to be a fisherman, work in the factory or at a computer, and if you have the right attitude and are willing to learn, these guys all reckon you could become the CEO.

That guy was saying you need to be ready to learn stuff. Well, you do that the whole time, right? So when you go for that interview show that you're interested in the company and the job. Do a bit of checking out online, and prepare some questions to ask them.

Karawhuia!

Check out some more awesome Māori business stories in the video section, or visit careers.govt.nz/maia

Scott: Kia ora, ko Scott Ariki Waghorn taku ingoa. Ko Ngapuhi taku iwi.

I am the dentist, founder and owner here at Dentalcare West.

Brook: Scott Waghorn has a Bachelors in Dentistry and studied calculus, statistics, chemistry, physics and English at high school. He is now one of the most recognised dentists in New Zealand and is the founder of Dentalcare West in Auckland.

Scott: How often do you go?

Brook: I've got great teeth, I floss, I'm good.

Scott: We'll see.

Brook: Yeah I flossed.

Brook: Where did all of this start for you?

Scott: It started very humble beginnings, just working in a little practice just over the road here. And working sort of six days a week, twelve hours a day, just as much as I could. And basically just sitting in there and working hard and working hard and while everyone else was out having a party and a good time that was my thing I just wanted to get a really good patient base and a good following.

Brook: From dental technicians, anaesthetists, hygienists and assistants, this place has it all.

Scott: My best tooth joke is if I look at a gum and it's a bit swollen and I go "aw gummmm onnnnnn!". (laughter)

Scott: To break it down what you've got to do first is to be a good dentist. So you've got to go to dental school, graduate. As you become a good dentist you learn a few business things, you go to courses, and it just, yeah it happened very gradually. It's just putting in the mahi, especially when other people aren't. Just you know like a real passion, a real drive for it.

Brook: As an employer what are some of the good qualities I guess you would look for, if someone wanted to have a role in a place like this?

Scott: Well the main thing as an employer is the person has to have good character and has to have the right attitude. Because all of the things of the job of dentistry, you can teach that. For me it's like you've got to have a caring attitude, you've got to be nice, friendly, hopefully have some empathy, and everything else we can teach. So they're the main things.

Brook: Karawhiua!

Brook: So today we're off to the happiest place in the Hawkes Bay. Yep! It's a place where you'll smile, and you'll just feel happy.

Brook: Kia ora

Gretta: Oh hi there, how ya doing?

Brook: I'm good, how are you?

Gretta: Very good thank you, what can we get you today?

Brook: I don't know, what would you suggest?

Brook: These women have created a gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan-based cafe where you can come get a good clean kai with a kōrero, and you might learn a thing or two as well.

Gretta: So what I was taught is that "ke kai ke rongoa, he rongoa he kai" - your food is your medicine, is your medicine, is your food.

So everything that we ingest has the potential to transform our health and to transform our being. I decided I wanted to work with food as medicine.

Brook: Ooh I really like that.

Gretta: Just having a tea or having a drink like this is actually, can be really transformative. We don't have to take pills or supplements.

Brook: These two are my favourites. It's very good.

Kerry-Lyn: Sorry! (laughter)

I've always worked in hospitality, it's totally different. I feel like they're more genuine, like they care about you, people, yeah.

It helps heaps, and makes me want to work harder for my boss.

Brook: Good boss, huh?

Kerry-Lyn: Yeah.

Kerry-Lyn: If I'm on I'll get here at like 5.30 and I'll start prepping all the cabinet food and then the barista will arrive at 7.

Hinemanu: I make the coffee and serve customers. I help make all the smoothies and I make the sandwiches as well.

Brook: Nice, nice.

Brook: If I wanted to work here what would I need?

Kerry-Lyn: Just a good, good personality.

Brook: Tick.

Hinemanu: Just somebody who will take the initiative. Like not just stand around and have us think for them you know, someone who takes positive action.

Kerry-Lyn: Team player.

Brook: Tick.

Gretta: So I guess the most important thing is that we're cohesive as a team. That we like each other, that we like coming to work and that we're really efficient in the way we work. And we want everyone in the team to care about the outcome.

Brook: To work in a place like this you don't necessarily need any qualifications. Gretta says that being on time every day, getting all your jobs done and having a smile on your dial will make you a success anywhere you go.

Kerry-Lyn: If you want something you gotta work hard and you'll get there.

Brook: That's it?

Kerry-Lyn: Yeah.

Brook: I can work here!

(laughter)

Brook: Can I have a job? Anybody?

Brook: See you at the bottom?

That's too hot. Yeah I forgot.

Brook: You heard how important it is for you to be reliable and follow instructions. Well, here's how you can prove you've got what it takes.

Tell them about your holiday job. Or tell them how you turn up for rugby practice every week and lead the exercises. Or tell them how you look after your brothers and sisters.

Karawhiua!

Check out more awesome Māori business stories in the video section or visit careers.govt.nz/maia

Brook: Meet the Aroha and Friends whānau. They run a stylist clothing store in Napier and all have some pretty cool steez.

Brook: Kia ora, brother.

Te Orihau: Kia ora, bro.

Brook: How're you going?

Te Orihau: Good, good. How are you?

Brook: Good, good. I think I need a new outfit change, can you help me out?

Te Orihau: Yeah bro, come on.

Brook: That's good I need some new styles. That's so cool, how did you guys get into it?

Te Orihau: I studied fashion so then I slowly just made my way over here. And then my brother Rakai and Melaina they started the store.

Melaina: Kia ora, I'm Melaina Newport-Karaitiana and Aroha and Friends is my whānau business.

Brook: Melaina is from Whanganui and is a fine arts graduate. She married artist and photographer Rakai and together created Aroha and Friends.

Brook: What do you reckon?

Te Orihau: Bro that's a really good outfit.

Brook: I feel very New York.

Brook: What about something about you bro - how did you grow up, are from around here? What's your upbringing like?

Te Orihau: I was born in Hastings. I went on a sort of path of going to performing arts. So i was with a performing arts in Hastings. Got to travel the world with them. But it's helped me just being in that sort of environment where you have to talk to your audience. Pretty much straight up it's helped me just to be open with people, just to be able to talk to anyone. Just that, that precedent sort of vibe, with just, get a vibe from anyone.

Brook: Oh they're in my price range too.

Renee: Yes.

Brook: Meet Renee, she's got a degree in fine arts, a passion for fashion and established the online aspect for the clothing store.

Renee: So I actually started out working in the workshop that they have out the back. He just offered me a part-time job here one day when they were starting to get quite busy. I'd never printed a T-shirt before and that's the job they were asking me to do and so I just said yeah I could do it and that I'd figure it out.  And then I think i printed something like 200 T-shirts that summer.

Brook: Oh jeez.

Renee: Yeah.

Brook: Nice.

Melaina: Just the ability to adapt and be able to work where, how and when you're needed. I think max working three days out the front is healthy, because you have to give everything and it's nothing to do with you, it's all about the customers.

Brook: So what sort of skills would somebody who doesn't have a degree need to work in a place like this?

Te Orihau: I think just, basically just people skills, wanting to help out people. Whoever, whatever comes into the store, you just wanna help them out. Positive attitude. Yeah just being on time I think will help anybody.

Renee: Working in this kind of environment where it is very family, whānau-orientated is really good because we all really support each other. It is a workplace but I guess that's a really important thing for me. Well I really love my job.

Brook: Being a team player and communicating well with others is pretty important to those guys. Talk about being a part of the kapa haka group, or leading the netball team. Employers love to hear about your achievements on the sporting field or on the stage.

Karawhiua!

Check out more awesome Māori business stories in the video section, or visit careers.govt.nz/maia

Brook: The beautiful river city of Whanganui, and the home of my iwi.

Aah! Hoiho.

Anyway, today is not about me, or scary hoiho. Today is about this cuzzy.

Ash: Ko Ash Patea toku ingoa.

Brook: He's been river guiding since he was a teen. He's the CEO of Whanganui River Tours, and takes people from all over the world on cultural experiences down the Whanganui River.

Chur brother, so tell me about this place. Where are we?

Ash: We're at One River. One River is like, it's just where, a place where when we were up and coming teens coming through the ranks of river guiding and providing, practising and learning how to navigate on our awa. This was kind of the core place that all of us young bucks come and hung out with our aunties and uncles.

Toiora is one of the bros who's kind of been a part of this right from the beginning. I think the best thing about Toi, he's really good at being himself.

And when we're promoting ourselves and being from Whanganui and being river rats, that's the best thing that we can put forward, is putting your best self forward, and he does that really well.

Toiora: Most people hate their jobs, you know, we love doing this.

Brook: Toiora is a trained navigator and has sailed all over the world on traditional waka. He starred in a television series 'Waka Warriors' and he even knows how to build his own waka.

Toiora: If you see anybody in the river without a life jacket, let them know, the river is a beautiful place but you know it's also got its hazards and its risks.

Biggest job is just to manaaki our manuhiri that come along. You know we just want our whānau or our manuhiri to enjoy their trip as much as possible without getting hurt, we do safety briefings and that kind of stuff, you know we are able to educate them on ways of doing that.

Brook: So I've got an off-season in basketball, if I wanted to work with you, what do I need to have?

Ash: Having the right attitude is really really important. You have to be passionate, passionate about what you are doing, passionate about creating spaces where people can have fun in a safe way.

When you’re out in the middle of nowhere anything can happen. Being able to think and use your own initiative in the moment is a key part and we need to ensure that people that are responsible for other people and their lives, they really need to know how to communicate quickly, think sharp and make informed decisions off their feet.

Toiora: Half of us live and breathe the river, throughout our whole lives not just the summer season, so yeah it’s just a big part of us and being able to come on, you know, doing trips like this, it’s pretty cool.

Ash: It’s important for anyone in our team to be positive, to look really good and...

Smiling is key aye? You know it’s amazing how many people you can kind of attract…

Brook: …with a smile.

Ash: With a smile.

Ash: The ability to navigate a canoe and/or learn to do so. Being able to talk, I know you like to talk. That’s key, especially when you are trying to engage people and keep them happy.

Brook: Chur, so all I have to do is have a positive attitude, be able to solve problems quickly and be passionate about my mahi and I can work at the Whanganui River Tours. Yeah boy!

Ash: You can actually live your life and just be you, like, be Māori, be from the river and get paid for it.

Brook: These guys are a pretty friendly and happy bunch, right? Because they love what they do and they’re doing what they love, and they want that from you too. So show them, be interested, tell them about your passions, share your goals.

Karawhiua!

Check out some more awesome Māori business stories in the video section, or visit careers.govt.nz/maia

Brook: Kia ora whānau, I'm Brook Roscoe, a guy who likes to dabble in a little bit of basketball and travel around the world. But today I'm letting you guys in on a bit of a secret. I'm gonna show you how to nail a job interview.

Brook: Meet Awa, Taniwha and Paerangi. They've all been selected for a job interview. Let's see who you think will nail the job.

The boss: Being on time every day is very important in this company. How will you make sure you get to work on time?

Awa: Um, I'll make sure my mum wakes me up on time.

Paerangi: I always have what I need ready the night before. I'm up at six every morning for my run, so getting to work on time is not a problem.

Taniwha: I'm in our school kapa haka group, and if we're late we don't get to perform - so I'm never late!

The boss: We're quite a big team here, do you work well within a team?

Paerangi: I used to work in a cafe, so I know the importance of having to work in a team. It makes work more fun and efficient.

Taniwha: Well, every Saturday me and my whanau we're out there and we're doing kapa haka. Kapa haka's a huge thing for us as a whānau so we don't work just as a team, we work as a family. That's me.

Awa: I'm not really keen on teams. I like people, but nah, would rather do the work on my own.

The boss: Now we need someone who really thinks about things and uses their initiative. Is that you?

Awa: Yip.

Taniwha: When I was studying NCEA Level 1, 2 and 3, I stuck with all five subjects throughout the whole three years that I was studying. Maths, English, te reo Māori, science and MPA which is Māori performing arts, and I made sure that I passed in all levels because I knew I wanted to work in this industry.

Paerangi: I always find ways to solve a problem on my own, but if I'm really stuck, I'm not afraid to ask someone - like a manager, for instance.

The boss: So, what things do you do outside of work?

Awa: Just sit at home on my computer.

Taniwha: I'm a performer in our main group called Te Matapihi so mainly every weekend on Saturdays I'm usually with my whānau performing, practising. But we do it as a whānau and we want to do it because it's our kaupapa. It's us. We are Te Matapihi and Te Matapihi is us. Ko au te awa, ko te awa ko au.

Paerangi: Most weekends I go busking. I also love spending time with my friends and going to the beach.

The boss: What do you think your strengths and weaknesses are?

Awa: I'm like the best beat-boxer in the world. (beat-boxing noises)

Paerangi: Well my teacher always said that I'm good at writing essays and taking notes on my laptop. My friends always used to borrow them for assignments. I'm not really good at public speaking but I'm confident when I practise.

Awa: (beat-boxing noises)

Taniwha: I'm really positive to everyone. I focus on the kaupapa and what I need to do throughout the day. If I need to get it done, I'm gonna get it done. And if it's with a family or whānau or team, I'm gonna get it done with that team, and make sure they have a good day throughout the whole day so when we get to the end of the day we can say, “chur bro”.

Awa: (beat-boxing noises) aw yeah, that's all you deserve at the moment.

Karawhiua!