WHENUA MAGAZINE | ISSUE 32
WEATHERING THE STORMS OF BUSINESS While commodities such as milk, kaimoana and timber have long been a solid platform on which Aotearoa has built its economy, being a producer of these raw materials comes with plenty of challenges. Issues such as political upheaval,
marketplace. This takes courage,
predicting where trends will go. The
disease pandemic or even something
challenge the norm.”
means that we can lead the way when
changes in legislation, natural disaster, as simple as the weather all combine to affect the price a commodity can get in the marketplace.
“As a commodity player, it is difficult
at times to dictate your future,”
explains Warwick Tauwhare-George, Chief Executive Officer of Parininihi ki Waitotara. “The strength of your
success can at times be determined
by outside influences and that is not a comfortable place to be.”
strong leadership and a willingness to Moving up the value chain requires
the understanding that at the end of
our ability to move ourselves up the
value chain, taking what we produce
and turning it into something that can set its own price and position in the 8 | HE TANGATA
it comes to finding new ways of doing business, new products and new
every value chain is a person, and
technologies, growing our knowledge
direction a business takes. Knowing
While succeeding in a continually
wants and needs of these customers
challenge, by continuing to follow its
their purchase decisions shape the
base and getting ahead of the pack.”
what the ever-evolving and changing
changing and volatile market is a
will be is a major challenge for food producers world-wide.
“People want to know where their
food has come from, how it has been
“Essentially, as a commodity player you produced, how those animals have are a price taker, not a price maker. To been treated,” adds Warwick. “There overcome this, we need to develop
innovation culture we have at PKW
is also growing demand for alternative products that can offer enhanced health, taste or lifestyle benefits.”
“We are not only responding to this,
but also getting ahead of the game by
strategic plan of building partnerships, portfolio diversification and pursuing robust investment opportunities
while maintaining efforts to optimise the business, PKW is forging ahead
towards its goal to become a best in class investor.
“We can be confident in our ability to withstand the challenges and
obstacles that stand in our path,” says Warwick.