Scarlet Mokaraka’s business is a powerful example of how embracing Māori values is good for your business. By connecting to her roots and finding joy in her work, Scarlett has created a business that is not only profitable but also deeply fulfilling. Her story serves as an inspiration to us all to find business success through cultural heritage and an unwavering commitment to values and joy.
A couple of weeks ago, one of my adult children questioned the importance of stories. 
Where do we even start? Stories connect, explain, motivate, inspire, retain, communicate,…
But maybe most of all, stories are a fundamental way of making sense of the world we live in. 
Interestingly, every culture I can think of has a tradition of conveying wisdom and values down the lines of generations through storytelling, including Māori culture.
So, if you love stories like me, this one is for you.
Finding Rangiātea
There’s a beautiful Māori whakataukī (a Māori saying) that goes like this:
E kore au e ngaro, he kākano i ruia mai i Rangiātea.
It means: "I will never be lost, because I am a seed that was sown from Rangiātea."
It reminds me of Scarlet Mokaraka, my new guest on the podcast. 
SEE,…
In Māori tradition, Rangiātea is a sacred place, the origin or the homeland. And it reminds Māori of the significance of our lineage and the strength we draw from it.
That’s important because, to us, Māori (I have Māori heritage too), a prospering village and our own prospering ARE ONE. In Māori tradition, our success in life is not just our own; it is a reflection of the village around us, our education, our teachers, and the genes passed down from our tupuna (ancestors).
To anyone with Māori ancestry, these are not random words devoid of meaning.
It explains why many young Māori have a deep desire to reconnect with Rangiātea in a search for their identity.
Because Rangiātea IS their identity.
Scarlet’s Story: When You Find Business Success Through Cultural Heritage
This was the case for Scarlet Mokaraka, Master Puzzler 
(her words, not mine), and owner of “Kairākau Awhi”.
Kairākau Awhi is a hapū (community)-led Māori Virtual Assistant Agency, providing admin, events and communications services for pākihi (business and organisations). The business is based in Kaikohe, all the way up in the Far North.
But Scarlet's career wasn’t always steeped in her Māori roots.
For years, Scarlet had a busy career in admin, away from her ancestral lands. But the constant hustle and a young family of 6 prompted a move to Kaikohe, where Scarlet’s roots lie.
Very quickly, Scarlet discovered that the reconnection with her whakapapa (ancestry) not only affected who she is as a person. Following her intuition, Scarlett also created a business that aligns with Māori values, a business that felt "really Māori".
While many other businesses focus on the “what” you do in business, she honed in on the “how” she does business.
Building “A Really Māori Business”
You often hear me speak about letting your values guide your business plan and your business decisions.
When Scarlet started to pay close attention to her ancestors' stories, she became very inspired by their thinking, their strategies, their values.
To her amazement, she realised traditions and values don't challenge the system. They complement it. This created a unique and culturally rich environment that does much more than honour her heritage.
Scarlet discovered that EMBRACING TE AO MĀORI IS GOOD FOR YOUR BUSINESS.
Committing to her Māori values helped shape a positive workplace culture, with strong client relationships, and sustainable and ethical business practices.
Something everyone appreciates. 
A Business That Aligns With Māori Values And Is Guided By Whakapaps
But how is it exactly Scarlet found directions from her whakapapa (ancestry) and mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge)? How do these Māori values drive business success? And what are they?
1. Whakapapa (Genealogy and Ancestral Connections) 
Scarlett’s understanding of her whakapapa not only gives her a strong sense of identity and purpose. It also informs her business decisions and how she works with her team.
From as early as the onboarding process, Scarlet incorporates the whakapapa of each team member. The insight in each team member’s background, their moemoe (dream) and their skills combined naturally point to a role where each team member can excel. It also makes it easy to pair her team members with the right clients for a good fit. What you ultimately get is a team that feels valued, understood and seen.
2. Manaakitanga (Hospitality, Generosity and Respect) 
One of Scarlet's core values is manaakitanga.
Out of all the ways her Māori values drive business success, this is where the company’s superpowers lie. 
Scarlet made a point of having manaakitanga (respect and hospitality) embedded into operations and systems. It’s easy to see how this would build trust with her clients. Ultimately, this approach allows them to delegate better and fosters strong, lasting partnerships.
The same level of respect extends to her work environment, where team members feel valued, respected, and empowered, leading to higher morale and increased productivity.
3. Rangatiratanga (Leadership and Autonomy) 
Scarlet has another example of how embracing Māori values is good for your business: Rangatiratanga.
Becoming a leader didn’t come naturally to Scarlet. She started her business as a sole trader and needed a lot of convincing—and a pandemic—to push her to grow beyond that. Seeing the need for more specialised, agile skills, she adapted her business model to better serve her clients.
It’s still a work in progress, but by embracing rangatiratanga, Scarlet sees herself as an enabler, encouraging her team to take ownership of their roles. While she’s always available for support and guidance, the autonomy she promotes helps spark innovation and builds accountability within her team.
This approach also keeps her business adaptable and resilient, ready to navigate challenges while maintaining the high standards of excellence that Scarlet is known for.
4. Kotahitanga (Unity and Collective Success)
As soon as Scarlet returned to Kaikohe, the land of her ancestors, she got drawn into the community. Seeing the struggles of poverty and gang violence made for an easy decision to pick up her share of responsibility in community development.
But her latest project takes it up a notch: Scarlet is the person behind an “incubator” aimed at revitalising the Kaikohe community. This initiative nurtures local talent, especially young people, by providing a place to explore music, art, and digital skills. Local businesses will also benefit, with opportunities to showcase their products. 
But it’s not all give. The building Scarlet has secured will also serve as a physical address for Scarlet's business.
It’s a prime example of how having a business that aligns with Māori values spills over into community support as a natural legacy. Also, a prime example of the beautiful Māori whakataukī (Māori saying) I quoted at the start: you and the community are one.
It speaks that this same value of Kotahitanga also feeds Scarlet’s passion for collaboration and mutual support among team members.
Finding Joy in Business
Finding joy in daily life and in her business is high on Scarlet’s list. Lose the joy, and the journey becomes incrementally more difficult. Interestingly, connecting with her whakapapa and Te Ao Māori heavily contributed to Scarlet’s joy. 
That’s because, when you create a business that aligns with Māori values, any values, you create a cause for joy and fulfilment.
Scarlet places joy at the very centre of how she chooses to live life and how she prefers to lead her business. Because true to Te Ao Māori (the Māori worldview), accomplishment and joy is so much more than achieving financial success or business growth.
Scarlett has a few key strategies for choosing joy, day-in, day-out:
- Align your work with your values and passions. In doing this, you create a deep sense of purpose and satisfaction.
- Go after a long-term personal goal or "dream". For Scarlet, this is creating a model that designs a circular wastewater system that's tikanga-founded (founded in Māori customs and laws), specifically designed for her area.
- Wake up each morning and consciously choose what you want to do that day. You don’t have to do anything; you CHOOSE to do this thing today.
- Surround herself with a community that can provide support when needed.
- Establish good habits and behaviours and be consistent in practicing them. They are more important than doing something “mind-blowing”. (In Scarlet’s words, “you have 60 years to get there”.)
- Be adamant that your staff is truly passionate and excited about the work they do for your company. (If they no longer are, be willing to help them find other opportunities, rather than have them stay out of obligation).
What To Take From This?
Scarlet Mokaraka’s business is a powerful example of how embracing Māori values is good for your business. 
And while you may not have Māori heritage (heck, you may not live in Aotearoa, New Zealand), the point to Scarlet’s story is that business success is irrefutably linked to a deep commitment to your values. And yes, your heritage and roots may well be a good place to look.
Also, …don’t skip joy.
Connect with Scarlet Mokaraka
Kairākau Awhi is the world's only industry-registered, hapū (community)-led Māori Virtual Assistant Agency, providing admin, events and communications services for pākihi (business and organisations).
The business is based in Kaikohe, all the way up in the Far North.
Kairākau Awhi Website
LinkedIn: Scarlet Romaine
Facebook: Kairākau Awhi
Instagram: We Are Kairākau
