6 | BUSINESS NZ International Business Awards - Global Metal Solutions Award a proud achievement for team Richard Loader Craig Tuhoro: “Having a Māori business of this level in the exporting side is quite an achievement.” A whānau-owned and led business with its roots in Ngāti Maniapoto, Global Metal Solutions (GMS) provides premium metal recycling services in Aotearoa and the Pacific to help ensure a safer, cleaner future for planet earth. Founded by Craig Tuhoro in 2010, GMS’s endeavours were aptly acknowledged at the 2021 New Zealand International Business Awards, winning He kai kei aku ringa for Māori Excellence in Export. The New Zealand International Business Awards are the country’s most prestigious awards for export businesses, celebrating the success of New Zealand businesses on the world stage and recognising excellence and innovative practice. The awards have been supported by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise – Te Taurapa Tūhono and its predecessor organisations since 1964. The judges were impressed by Global Metal Solutions’ authenticity as a Māori owned and operated business, with tikanga Māori integral to its operations and driving its unique advantage in an industry built on relationships. Craig says while he typically flies under the radar, he was encouraged to enter GMS into the awards by those around him including New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. “I’m not really looking for award recognition, I’m just looking to keep my head down, keep driving forward and paying my people. But some of the team got quite excited so we got involved, put the entry in and the rest is history. “Going to the award ceremony I was a little shocked to see the Prime Minister opening it, and I got a bit nervous. When we won the award it was a very rewarding feeling for the team, the whānau and me. To be acknowledged was an important moment for us all. We have a very good crew with some very lovely people — we are very fortunate.” Craig suspects the judging panel were surprised at the depth of the company’s international knowledge and capability, and the scope in which the industry is covered. “We consider ourselves to be an option to some of the biggest corporates in the world for people to work with. The metals market is divided between those that serve the public, those who serve trade and industry and those who serve the exporters. Having a Māori business of this level in the exporting side is quite an achievement. We got there directly on our own two feet and experience built up over thirty years or so.” 0800 472 2537 Northland • Auckland Tauranga • Hamilton Palmerston North • Wellington Nelson • Christchurch www.swia.nz YOUR ONE STOP SHOP FOR ALL YOUR WEIGHING AND INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS We supply scales for all situations from weighbridges, silos, belt weighers, “in motion” check weighing, to analytical balances, electronic platform scales and price computing scales. Sensortronic Australia operates on a “quality first” philosophy, always remembering that ease of operation is of paramount importance. PROUD TO WORK WITH GLOBAL METAL SOLUTIONS Working with the world’s leading brands, Smart Living Concepts design and install integrated, intuitive and intelligent security and data systems for your home or commercial environment. Proud to be supporting and working alongside Global Metal Solutions. www.smartliving.co.nz | 07 849 8485 sales@smartliving.co.nz Leaving school at 15, absent of formal education and marrying young, Craig says he has been fortunate to have worked at the very top of the scrap metal industry in six different countries – honing and polishing his knowledge, business acumen and international business connections. Craig’s knowledge of the industry started with his father who was a scrap metal trader working for other people. “It was never something we were ever very proud of, because it was next to being a car wrecker and landfilling in those days. It was primarily pakeha controlled back in the day. Dad eventually went off and started a family business called TMI – Tuhoro Metals, which I took over in partnership with another person. That took us through to 1997/98.” Craig’s journey took him to working for CMA Corporation, a Sydney based scrap metal dealer that had operations in six countries including Chicago, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia. Promoted to Chief Operations Officer and then CEO, Craig eventually resigned from the company in 2010 after restructuring the company. “It was at that time that I decided to establish my own business from scratch, rather than work for someone else. When I started GMS we had one truck with one employee. Everyone thought I would last three months but ten years later we are where we are.” With processing sites in Hamilton, Papakura, and New Plymouth GMS specialises in ferrous and non-ferrous metal recycling, bin clearance services, logistics, trading, secure destruction and stewardship. “Everything is processed to international standards and exported overseas,” says Craig. “GMS also supports other family businesses and other industries throughout New Zealand to export their recycling materials to the world, assisting them with logistics, process and capital. We also support many South Pacific countries with exporting their waste streams and recyclables to various destinations.” Up to 70 staff, including 18 family members are employed across GMS’s three processing sites. Of the remaining 52 staff members, 85% are Polynesian and 50% are female. “I’ve been on the corporate path and I’ve seen how easy that is to raise money. Now I’m on the private path. For me it’s a lot slower because I have to raise and find the capital myself. I’m looking to build something long term. It took a few generations to break down Māori wealth. I think it will take a few generations to build it back up again and I would like to build something that stands the test of time.”
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=