Reni Wereta-Gargiulo from Kiwi Kai Nelson has won the Supreme Award at this year’s MWDI Māori Businesswoman Awards 2022
held in Tāmaki Mākaurau on Friday, 29 July 2022.
Reni has a diverse background in marketing, promotion, business administration and tourism. Entrepreneurial skills
inherited from ancestors on her mother’s side (O’Carroll) coupled with her Māori values and heritage of Ngāti Ruanui,
Ngā Rauru Kitahi, Te Atiawa on her father’s side are the strong foundation that drive her passion for business. These
two lineages together and a love for seafood have developed Kiwi Kai.
Kiwi Kai Nelson prepare and produce nourishing and finely balanced kai with exotic tastes and textures. Reni creates
almost anything with a strong emphasis on indigenous fusion & seafood.
With a vision to deliver heart-warming kai to her community inspired by whānau recipes and her love for the culinary
arts, Reni Gargiulo was announced as the MWDI Māori Business Woman of the year 2022.
Reni also won the MWDI Business Collaboration Award sponsored by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited.
The annual MWDI Māori Businesswomen Awards recognise and reward outstanding performances and achievements in business by
wāhine.
MWDI Māori Businesswomen’s Awards 2022 supports the vision and mission of Māori Women’s Development Inc to encourage the economic development of wāhine and
their whānau.
This year’s event received over 70 entries, across eight regional and business excellence categories through various
disciplines such as: Business Collaboration, People & Capability, Innovation, Employment & Growth, Emerging Business, Social Enterprise, Marketing & Sales.
Interim CEO Linda Clay says, “This event is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of wāhine and showcase their businesses on the economic world
stage. We’re also very grateful to all our sponsors, co-host, Auckland Council and Te Puni Kōkiri for their tautoko ”
Judges, Tina Kilmister-Blue, Partner PwC, Kiri Nathan ONZM, previous recipient of the MWDI Māori Business Woman of the
Year 2019 and former MWDI CEO Teresa Tepania-Ashton MNZM were impressed with the high calibre of nominations befitting
to all regions and categories.
Māori Women’s Development Inc are pleased to announce the following individuals and businesses as winners for the 2022
Awards:Region / Business CategoryBusinessWinnerTe Tai TokerauAiotis LtdRena Bernadette ToiaTāmaki MakaurauBDÉTBillie-Jo RopihaTainuiFull Circle Appearance MedicineDeborah SwannWaiarikiKura Kārearea LtdTrudy JamesTe Tai RāwhitiTai Huki Cosult LtdWhare Isaac-SharlandAoteaTe Whenua HumarieKushla OkanoIkaroaBeauty AntixAmber ForrestTe WaipounamuCheck In QueenstownKarmela RapataBusiness CollaborationKiwiKai NelsonReni GargiuloEmerging BusinessKura Kārearea LtdTrudy JamesEmployment & GrowthnicholaNichola Te KiriInnovationMatahoke Architecture + Urbanism LtdJade KakePeople & CapabilityAwhiHolly BennettSocial EnterpriseFreedom Whare LtdTe Miringa MihakaMarketing & SalesŌKU New Zealand Native Herbal Products LtdHelen Paul-SmithMWDI Māori Business Woman of the Year 2022Supreme WinnerKiwiKai Nelson LtdReni Gargiulo