Cultural Connections Abroad, Restoration at Home
Tēnā koutou e te whānau,
In this pānui, we share highlights from Kaye-Maree’s haerenga to Viet Nam, reconnecting with YBLI alumni and exploring trade opportunities across Southeast Asia.
We also spotlight our latest case study from the Mapping the Incorporation of Te Ao Māori in the Freshwater Biosecurity System featuring William Anaru of Te Arawa Lakes Trust, leading iwi-driven biosecurity and taiao restoration in Rotorua.
Read more below and be inspired.
He Haerenga Nui: A Journey of Connection, Culture and Collaboration in Viet Nam
It has been a magnificent haerenga (journey) to Viet Nam to reconnect with my YBLI (Young Business Leaders Initiative) friends formed by the Asia New Zealand Foundation – now thirty years young!
The foresight and strategic value of their work cannot be underestimated. I’m a firm believer that friendship and respect for culture are among the fastest ways to open up business and trade opportunities.
The 120+ attendees from across ASEAN showed up in force. Together, we were so warmly hosted by the people of Huế and Đà Nẵng, and were given excellent insight into why Viet Nam is poised to become the next "tiger economy" of Southeast Asia.
I especially loved hearing how many YBLIs who were educated in Aotearoa were deeply impacted by tikanga Māori, and how many, like An Nguyen, have applied the principles of manaakitanga, aroha and whakapapa to their incredibly successful restaurant and tourism ventures.
I believe that some of the greatest opportunities for New Zealand businesses right now are offshore, and Southeast Asia holds collaboration potential that could be game-changing for all of us.
He mihi nui to Adele Mason, Lingy Au, Ethan Jones, Nick Siu, Mitchell Pham, Taniya Scott, and the Board for your flawless hosting and care. The work of the Asia New Zealand Foundation is critical in fostering economic and cultural development opportunities for Aotearoa.
To my fellow NZ YBLIs:
- Trish Peng – Trish Peng Wedding Dresses
- Chloe Van Dyke – Chia Sisters
- Tama Toki – Aotea Energy
- Alanna Irving – Fund Sorter
- Nick Carey – Green Meadows Beef
- Lucy Bennetto – Bennetto Vegan Chocolate & Natural Foods
- Mike McCrae – Two Dudes Skincare
- Dr Sandhya Sriyam – Sprout NZ
- Kennedy Anderson – The Whitening Co
- Sara Corleison – Botallow
- Nick Siu – Bioeconomy Science
Each of you do our country proud – confident, sassy, successful and dedicated to excellence in delivery. Magnificent!
Read more about our journey here:
🔗 Young ASEAN business leaders to meet New Zealand counterparts
Thank you to my Making Everything Achievable team and my whānau for holding the fort and making it possible for me to attend.
He Awa, He Tangata: Restoring Balance with William Anaru
Photo © William Anaru
William Anaru (Te Arawa Lakes Trust) is leading a movement to protect the lakes of his childhood. As Operations Manager for Biosecurity and Taiao Restoration, he drives the award-winning Te Arawa Catfish Killas, a bold, iwi-led response to the invasive catfish crisis.
Since 2018, his team of 1,500+ volunteers has removed more than 180,000 catfish from Te Arawa waters. But it’s more than numbers; it's about rangatahi engagement, mātauranga Māori, and kaitiakitanga in action.
“The first thing that comes to mind is better funding and resources going to our whānau.”
William’s team also innovated by working with local weavers to create uwhi harakeke mats, a low-cost, tikanga-based solution to support kōura and restore lake health. This mahi boosts local jobs and brings new energy to taiao care.
He’s clear: proper biosecurity must be led by iwi and whānau, backed with real resources, and designed with respect for all life, even pests. It’s about restoring balance, building resilience, and returning power to the people who whakapapa to these waters.
William’s whakaaro: Invest in iwi-led, mātauranga-driven solutions. Create jobs. Teach the next generation. And trust whānau to lead.
Explore the Kaupapa
Learn more about William Anaru’s leadership and the kaupapa driving Te Arawa’s bold approach to biosecurity.
Visit the MEA website or download the report from the DOC website here:
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