For immediate release
Local Fashion Company Secures Pacific Exporter Award
The Loheni sisters, designers behind the New Zealand fashion label Mena, took out the Pacic Exporter Award at the 2010
Manukau Institute of Technology Pacic Business Awards on Friday.
Pacic Island Affairs Minister Georgina te Heuheu was present to award some of the other entrepreneurs and business
owners who won, saying their success was a sign of the future make-up of the New Zealand economy.
Successful Pacic businesses are providing much needed jobs and prosperity around the country, she says. “The
entrepreneurial spirit is burning brightly among Pacic peoples, and New Zealand needs [those] businesses to continue to
grow and succeed,” she says. “I’m condent this wonderful trend will continue, despite the slow recovery of the economy."
Mena is designed and made in Auckland by Agnes, Jackie, Gina and Charlene Loheni, and celebrates quintessential vacation
style and sold in New Zealand, Hawaii, the Solomon and Cook Islands and Samoa.
The essence of the label is the merging of the unique styles of each of the designers to create a label with a strong
emphasis on the vibrancy and richness of their Polynesian heritage.
“We couldn’t be more delighted,” said Agnes after the win. “We want to say a huge thanks to everyone who has supported
us over the years; we love what we do and we couldn’t do it without your continued love and support,” she said.
“Fa’afetai Lava!"
The winners were:
Pacic Employer/Workplace - Cardinal Logistics
Emerging Business Enterprise - Panorama Access and Hire Sales Ltd
Young Pacic Entrepreneur - Matt Walker, CEO of Jobs.co.nz
Pacic Exporter - Mena International Ltd
Pacic Executive - Lorna Kumitau, Pacic Integrated Healthcare Ltd
Pacic Business Woman - Jo Kerrison, Foxie Styles
Pacic Business Person - Vinod Kumar, Magsons Hardware
Pacic Business - Magsons Hardware
The inaugural Pacic Navigators Achievement Award was given to Stan Wolfgramm.
ENDS