CEO and producer Nicole Horan of Hi Mama Productions has won the MWDI Māori Businesswomen’s Overall Supreme Award 2025.
This highly coveted accolade celebrates outstanding achievements, innovation, and leadership within te ao pakihi Māori (the Māori business world).
Hi Mama Productions, a leading Māori-owned film and television production company, was awarded Te Tohu Aorangi Overall Supreme Winner along with the regional award for Tainui and the Te Amorangi (People & Capability) Business Excellence Award.
Founded by Nicole Horan, Hi Mama Productions shone among a formidable line-up of nominees for its exemplary dedication to Māori business, culture and values through film and television.
A proud pakihi Māori (Māori business), Hi Mama Productions remains steadfast in upholding traditional Māori values while embracing a contemporary ethos marked by innovation and limitless creativity and continues to be recognised as a leader in indigenous film and television production within the New Zealand market.
Hosted by Māori Women’s Development Inc (MWDI) in Wellington, the MWDI Māori Businesswomen’s Awards honour the resilience, creativity, and dedication of Māori women in business, highlighting the significant contributions of wāhine Māori entrepreneurs and professionals across Aotearoa.
This year’s event received over 100 nominations and 44 finalists, across eight regions (Te Tai Tokerau, Tāmaki Makaurau, Tainui, Waiariki, Te Tai Rāwhiti, Ikaroa, Aotea, Te Waipounamu) and ten business excellence categories through various disciplines such as: Creative Arts & Design, Technology, Export, Business Collaboration, People & Capability, Innovation, Employment & Growth, Emerging Business, Social Enterprise, Marketing & Sales.
MWDI Kaiwhakahaere Linda Clay, “These awards are a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our nominees, finalists, winners, and all kaipakihi wāhine Māori showcasing their businesses on the economic world stage. Despite ongoing economic challenges, our wāhine and their businesses continue to stand strong and thrive. We’re also very grateful to all our sponsors for their tautoko and look forward to next year ” (Ngāti Awa, Te Whakatōhea) said.
Judges, Te Whānau o Waipereira Trust COO Awerangi tamahere, Poutama Trust CEO Koroninia Dickinson and MWDI Kaiwhakahaere Linda Clay were impressed with the high calibre of nominations befitting to all regions and categories.