Twelve-year-old Māori entrepreneur Kasey Tuhakaraina has been recognised as a young trailblazer, receiving an award for her business, Kasey’s Kai Kart, last night.
Tuhakaraina received the GirlBoss Enterprise Award that recognised young women for stepping out and making things happen in business.
"I want to show other tamariki that leadership and business aren't just for grown-ups," she said. "I plan my menu, manage my stock, and serve every customer with mana."
“Leadership and business aren’t just for grown-ups,” Kasey Tuhakaraina says. (Source: Breakfast)
She said her business wasn’t just about selling kai, but uplifting her community, and showing young Māori girls that they too could lead.
The awards highlighted the achievements of young women aged 11-18 who were defying stereotypes and creating change in their communities. This year, a record 647 nominations were received.
The confident young business owner from Te Puna, near Tauranga, appeared on Breakfast this morning, saying she did not expect to win but was glad she made it as far as she did.
She said the idea for her business came from an aunty.
“We were just in a little gazebo at the start, selling slushies, and then she bought a kart and I was like 'I want one too!' And then one day after school dad surprised me and we got a kart.”
She said she began selling crepes and slushies that same weekend.
“It was hard at first but, once I actually got the hang of it, I actually started liking it.”
Tuhakaraina said she sold coffees in the morning before going to school and returned again to sell kai in the afternoon. Her kai kart was often out during the weekends, serving the community at rugby games and other events too.
She documented her business journey, among other things, on social media where her behind-the-scenes videos racked up more than 100,000 views on Instagram.
Managed by her parents, her account also posted videos of her hunting, fishing, and gathering kai.
Tuhakaraina hoped to expand her menu and kai kart business in the future.
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