Imagine this – you live in the self-proclaimed Kumara Capital of the World and when you visit a local supermarket, the only kumara chips available are produced in China. Surprised?
So too were a group of rangatahi from Ruawai College, and from that surprise, an idea was born.
Keeping it K is the company they set up as part of the Young Enterprise Scheme a programme where secondary school students set up and run a real business.
Each YES company creates their own product or service and brings this to market.
The students from Ruawai College wanted to keep it K – Kaipara, Kiwi, Kumara, Kids, Kool and Krisps.
Kumara is worth millions to the local economy and Keeping it K wanted to use this local taonga in a way that appealed to kids as healthier alternative to potato crisps.
The team came across many ‘realities’ of doing business that meant they had to change their original plans and while they had good sales within school and other local events, they did not develop a sustainable retail presence. But they learnt a lot about business met their goal of fostering community pride around the kumara.
That has not gone unnoticed. At a ceremony in Wellington this week, Keeping it K won the Young Enterprise Scheme He Kai Kei Aku Ringa award.
Te Tumu Paeroa, along with Te Puni Kōkiri, Te Ohu Kaimoana, Māori Tourism and Careers NZ sponsors this award.
He kai kei aku ringa literally means to provide the food you need with your own hands and is the name of the Crown-Māori Economic Growth Partnership report outlined a vision for Māori Economic Development.
Keeping it K’s commitment to a new way of using local kumara in a way that is healthy and appealing for kids certainly aligns with that vision.
