The Whai Rawa team attended the 2023 Financial Services Council Conference & Awards and were thrilled to be announced as Team of the Year in Auckland last week.
The Team of the Year award recognises a team that works inclusively and collaboratively to deliver success within their organisation and the wider New Zealand Financial Services industry. This is a huge honour for Whai Rawa and recognises the important mahi that the team does which impacts and benefts so many Ngāi Tahu whānui.
Sam Kellar, General Manager of Whai Rawa says that the award is an important recognition for the small team whose mahi is busy and varied and supports more than 33,000 members to acheive their key life goals. “We’re so happy to receive this award amongst a formidable line up of financial services teams across Aotearoa”, says Sam. “It is great that the financial services industry are looking to acknowledge significant change makers such as Whai Rawa, not only in the iwi space but also for the important financial capability mahi that we do”.
Fiona Pimm, Whai Rawa Fund Limited Board Chair echoes this sentiment. “The work that Whai Rawa does and has done over 17 years has impacted so many of our Ngāi Tahu whānui, allowing them access to more choices in their life. Through the benefits of contributions from Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, our whānau can access tertiary education easier, look to buy or build first homes and have easier retirements from the age of 55”.
Whai Rawa were finalists in three categories this year, Team of the Year Award, Contribution to Community Award for He Matapaki Māreikura and for Sam Kellar, our General Manager as Emerging Trailblazer.
The Financial Services Council Awards celebrate and recognise the outstanding achievements and contributions of individuals, teams and businesses in the financial services industry and showcase the positive impacts being made across the sector and Aotearoa at large. Last year Whai Rawa was the winner in the Improving Consumer Outcomes Award for Ngā Kaitiaki Moni, kids club for the scheme promoting financial capability concepts to tamariki and whānau.
