Renata Watene, director and optometrist of Occhiali Optometrists in Ponsonby, Auckland, has won a commendation for both the Tāmaki Makaurau and Business Collaboration sections in this year’s Māori Business Women Awards.
Run by the Māori Women’s Development organisation, the awards recognise Māori businesswomen whose businesses encourage and develop the communities they live in. Watene was nominated for the award for the work she does with kaumātua from Auckland based iwi, Ngāti Whātua ki Ōrākei, reported Māori Television, which interviewed her just before she went to the awards ceremony in Wellington in May.
At the awards, Māori development minister Nanaia Mahuta said with 80 nominated businesses, this year’s awards were well represented. “In our economy, we have a short supply of manaakitanga. That spirit of reciprocity is important. It’s no longer the case that we measure success by numbers. We need to ensure that when we cast our net, our wealth is shared.”
Talking to NZ Optics after the awards, Watene said it was nice to be recognised for the work she was doing and to celebrate the hard work of everyone at Occhiali, but receiving the acknowledgement was also unexpected and quite humbling. “For me it’s a highlight, because it recognises my business philosophy and my day-to-day living…. But when you’re in a room with so many people who are doing so many amazing things, I felt humbled and inspired just being there.”
If anyone else in the sector is nominated for any awards, they should enter, as it is a great experience, she said. “It forces you to celebrate all the milestones you’ve made and to give yourself a bit of a pat on the back.”
