Amotai hits the road! - Kohinga Koha and CIPS Conference

Last week, Jenna and Paul represented Amotai at Kohinga Koha 2026 in Tauranga Moana, connecting with iwi leaders, pakihi Māori and industry partners from across Aotearoa. Guided by the vision of Te Arikinui Kuini Ngā Wai Hono i te Pō, discussions centred on strengthening Māori participation in procurement and value chains, and ensuring the wealth created within our economy delivers meaningful benefits for whānau, their whare and future generations.

It was also fantastic to reconnect with our wider Amotai whānau, including Kane Wharepouri of LPR Collective, Tania-Rose Taitoko of Ake Accounting, and former Amotai General Manager Paul, who stopped by the booth for a kōrero. We were also proud to see fellow suppliers 41 Reka Kai and Kai Cafe Aye represented in the Māori Marketplace, showcasing the strength, diversity and growing impact of Māori enterprise.

Tukuna te mihi maioha ki nga iwi tokotoru o Tauranga Moana, for their warm manaakitanga and for creating a space where meaningful connections, ideas and opportunities could flourish.

To see highlights of the summit, follow Kiingitanga and Kohinga Koha on Instagram

The CIPS New Zealand Procurement Futures Conference kicked off again this month, bringing together CIPS members and non-members in the procurement and supply profession. There were industry experts, providers, and aspiring leaders from across the motu.

Our Buyer Manager, Michael Tunicliffe went along and said it was “great to be at the conference connecting with procurement leaders throughout the public and private sectors, including many of our Amotai buyer members.”

The test: "Would a capable supplier consider this opportunity worth pursuing?" For Māori and Pasifika businesses, that shift matters.