Business North November 2021

42 | Whāriki Business Network: Hauraki and Sons Contracting “We want to be an example of what is possible, to normalise this for our young Māori so they can follow their dreams.” REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT People first puts firm in good stead Hauraki and Sons Contracting completes concrete, site works and landscaping Northland wide covering both residential and commercial projects. 09 437 6986 021 73 44 77 www.kiatupato.co.nz admin@kiatupato.co.nz SECURITY • TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT • first line management • STMS & TC TRAINING Renovations & New Builds Greg Adams 027 497 9931 • Ryan Adams 027 289 9623 greg.adams@xtra.co.nz • www.renovationmasterswhangarei.co.nz P utting people at the heart of their con- tracting business has been an important factor for Iwi and Jodi Hauraki in the success of Hauraki and Sons Contracting. “It’s about wellbeing for all at the heart of everything we do,” she says. “We actively build the capacity for pride in our staff to offset the negative narrative they have absorbed as young Maori.” For the Haurakis true confidence starts with people truly knowing who they are and where they come from. Their team is part of their whānau and helps each other out in any way possible. For example the team recently helped a colleague to put a concrete driveway in at his home on their days off. Hauraki and Sons Contracting provided the equipment to do the job free of charge. Jodi says the team knows that when they need assistance the same help will be there for them as well. Iwi and Jodi started their business in 2016. Iwi is a well-known rugby player and played professional rugby league in Australia for many years including first grade for the Sydney Roosters. Seeking more stability, the pair decided to move back home to Northland in 2011 when Iwi won a contract to play with Northland Rugby. He also started working for a civil contracting company and his winning at- titude and professionalism saw him rise to the position of project manager within six months. In 2016 they took the plunge and started their own business. Hauraki and Sons Contracting now employs a team of 16 staff and rugby still plays a big part in the company culture with many staff playing in their time off. Iwi still plays and coaches for Hikurangi Rugby Football Club and Hauraki and Sons Contracting is the main sponsor of the club. Jodi leads the Hauraki and Sons Contracting admin team bringing a long career in custom- er service to the business. She places a big importance on helping the company realise its true potential and cites the example of Iwi, who always believed he was just good at rugby, as a prime example. “Many young Māori know many of their peers might be good at playing rugby but they haven’t seen many run successful businesses or have professional careers. “We want to be an example of what is pos- sible, to normalise this for our young Māori so they can follow their dreams, whatever they may be, and reach their goals. Iwi’s attitude is ‘you can win at anything with discipline and work ethic,” says Jodi. Being part of the Whāriki Māori Business Network has been important to the growth of their business. One example is Kia Tupato Security and Traffic with owners Wayne and Frances Stokes encouraging the Haurakis to Karen Phelps embrace their whakapapa and change their name from H & S Contracting to its actual meaning, Hauraki and Sons Contracting. “It’s been a great way to network with other likeminded businesses and to see other suc- cessful Māori entrepreneurs, who support our values and vision of being unapologetically Māori,” says Jodi. The firm completes concrete, site works and landscaping Northland wide covering both residential and commercial projects. Services include earth moving, drainlaying, excavation, trench digging, retaining walls, concreting, paving, landscaping and fencing. It has delivered some significant projects in the region including a new approximately 500m long pathway at Matakohe from Church Road through to Barlow Lane, and the Kaiwa- ka intersection upgrade. Working with Sport Northland it completed a project at Otangarei reserve moving earth, laying concrete pads, landscaping a koru de- sign step ladder and constructing over 100m of new footpaths. The project had a special connection for the couple as Iwi was raised in Otangarei. Jodi says the project was a good example of the company vision in practice: “Our vision is to create an environment where Māori can achieve and succeed as Māori.”