PHOTO: Katareina Kaiwai. Connexis
Katareina Kaiwai almost deleted the email informing her that she had received a King’s Birthday Honour, thinking it was a prank.
Now that the shock has worn off, Kaiwai shared her pride and humility on RNZ’s King’s Birthday Morning with Paddy Gower show.
Kaiwai, hailing from the East Coast, was awarded the King’s Service Medal for her contributions to women and the civil construction industry. She began her career in the roading industry and later founded Tairāwhiti Contractors in 2021.
Belonging to Ngāti Porou, Rongomaiwahine, and Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga, Kaiwai has been a vocal advocate for better working conditions for women in construction, with a third of her firm’s employees being women.
Through Te Puni Kōkiri’s Cadetship programme, Kaiwai supported the development of Māori in higher-skilled roles. She also aided her community after Cyclone Gabrielle and initiated a program to provide hundreds of healthy lunches to East Coast schoolchildren daily.
Kaiwai explained that her interest in civil engineering stemmed from her love of the outdoors and a family environment without gender-specific roles. She recalled her upbringing, where tasks were shared equally between her and her brothers.
It wasn’t until she assumed management roles that she realized her rarity in the industry. Kaiwai noted the significant changes over time, recalling past experiences of sexism.
She expressed pride in seeing more women in the field today, describing a sense of fulfillment when witnessing their success.
Regarding Cyclone Gabrielle, Kaiwai noted that East Coasters were well-versed in dealing with access and weather challenges, emphasizing the importance of community service and resilience.
Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka praised Kaiwai’s dedication to her community, highlighting her as an inspirational leader among wāhine Māori driving economic growth.
SOURCE: RNZ