Empowering indigenous enterprise through supplier diversity – The case for Puna Awarau in Aotearoa (New Zealand)

• Date: 12 July 2023
• Pages: 946-958
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/EDI-10-2022-0301
• Published date: 12 July 2023
• Author: Kahurangi Malcolm,Frae Cairns,Tania Pouwhare

Empowering indigenous enterprise

through supplier diversity –

The case for Puna Awarau

in Aotearoa (New Zealand)

Kahurangi Malcolm, Frae Cairns and Tania Pouwhare

Independent Researcher, Auckland, New Zealand

Abstract

Purpose –This paper aims to demonstrate the role of supplier diversity in empowering indigenous

entrepreneurship and the potential socio-economic benefits derived from Puna Awarau (supplier diversity) in

Aotearoa (New Zealand).

Design/methodology/approach –Supplier diversity is an emerging field in Aotearoa (New Zealand). The

insights and learnings shared in this article are based on the authors’own professional experiences and

insights as supplier diversity practitioners that have shaped, grown and worked in this field.

Findings –Supplier diversity is a global practice that is quickly gaining traction in Aotearoa. This is a

highly practical tool to create equity for Maori, delivering benefits directly to whanau (families) and

bolstering the conditions for entrepreneurship to flourish. Maori fare worst in multiple measures of social

and economic well-being in Aotearoa (New Zealand). Super charging the country’s fledgling supplier

diversity movement is one of the tools in growing Maori entrepreneurship ands ocio-economic equityat the

same time.

Social implications –There is significant economic and social disparity between Maoriand non-Maori. The

median net worth of Maori is just a fraction of that of New Zealand (NZ) Europeans. What is clear is that the

systems aren’t serving Maori people and a “business as usual”approach simply doesn’t work. Supplier

diversity is a highly practical tool that can create equity for Maori, delivering benefits directly to whanau

(families) and bolstering the conditions for entrepreneurship to flourish.

Originality/value –This paper is the one thefirst academic contributions to the supplier diversity practice

in Aotearoa. This article demonstrates the case for supplier diversity, the supplier diversity journey to date

and early learnings and insights from practitioners working at the coal face of this emerging practice in

Aotearoa.

Keywords Supplier diversity, Indigenous procurement, M

aori procurement, Social procurement,

Puna Awarau

Paper type Practitioner insights

Introduction

The insights and learnings shared in this article are based on our own experiences and

insights as M

aori supplier diversity practitioners who have shaped, grown and worked in this

field. Our practice has been heavily informed by the generosity of the Global Supplier

Diversity Alliance members, global supplier diversity experts and international evidence

which have enabled us to draw from their learnings.

Supplier diversity is an emerging field in Aotearoa and as such we need leaders, policy

makers, researchers, community and economic development specialists, M

aori and aspiring

supplier diversity practitioners to support the growth of the profession and movement.

What is supplier diversity?

Supplier diversity has various definitions but according to the Diversity Council in Australia

“‘Supplier diversity’is a business practice that encourages diversity in the supply

marketplace by encouraging the purchase of goods and services from businesses owned

by, or that assist, underrepresented groups”(Diversity Council Australia, 2022).

EDI

43,6

946

The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:

https://www.emerald.com/insight/2040-7149.htm

Received 31 October 2022

Revised 12 March 2023

1 June 2023

Accepted 5 June 2023

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:

An International Journal

Vol. 43 No. 6, 2024

pp. 946-958

© Emerald Publishing Limited

2040-7149

DOI 10.1108/EDI-10-2022-0301