Pacific entrepreneurs honoured at awards for innovation, resilience

Pacific entrepreneurs were honoured at the 2025 Pacific Business Trust (PBT) Awards during a lavish event in Auckland on Wednesday.

Auckland-based TROW Group took out the Frances Hartnell Supreme Award for its sustainable approach to demolition, which focuses on salvaging materials from deconstruction projects and giving them new life.

Jayda Iole-Pauga, the Communications and Media Coordinator at TROW, says the recognition came as a surprise, but it reflects the team’s long-term vision to embed Pacific values into modern sustainability practices.

“We didn’t even know we were in that category because there were so many amazing Pacific entrepreneurs out there. To get that is a really special moment for us,” she tells PMN News.

Founded by Saia Latu in 2015, the TROW Group partners with local recycling organisations in Aotearoa New Zealand and Tonga. Iole-Pauga says they hope to expand to Fiji, the Cook Islands, and Sāmoa.

“We’ve taken the blueprint from our ancestors and developed it into a way that we can modernise for today’s circular economy. We reuse everything until we can’t, and then we ask for help.

“For us, that looks like salvaging materials from deconstruction projects in New Zealand, storing them in shipping containers, and sending them to Tonga so they can be repurposed into things like picnic tables and shelving to sell back into the community.”

The TROW Group also won the Construction, Infrastructure & Trade category and was a finalist in the Technology and Innovation and Community Impact categories.

Iole-Pauga acknowledges the ongoing support from the PBT since the organisation’s inception, which has provided funding that enabled them to achieve certification with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and expand internationally.

Iole-Pauga says events like this are vital for showing Pacific people that they belong in every sector.

“These categories weren’t designed for us to thrive in, but we’re proving we can. Seeing Pacific businesses win gives hope for the next generation.

“Deconstruction was laughed at because people said, ‘Who could really reuse materials and build a house or furniture? It’ll just break.’ But we were the ones who pioneered that and showed those big businesses and corporations that it is possible.”

Mary Los’e, Chief Executive of Pacific Business Trust, says the awards recognise Pacific businesses who have succeeded on their own terms without compromising Pacific culture and identity.

“Pacific peoples have impacted Aotearoa New Zealand, and the opportunities for our communities here are unlimited, the calibre of finalists prove this. We are in New Zealand, yet we can still be proud Sāmoan, Tongans, Fijians and Niuean and so on,” she says in a statement.

Noeleen Tuala (right) won the Retail Business category for Pele Baby at last night's Pacific Business Awards. Photo/Facebook

Faith, family and growth

Another standout at the awards was Pele Baby, which won the Retail Award for its Pacific-inspired baby and lifestyle products.

Noeleen Tuala, the founder of Pele Baby, says she’s overwhelmingly grateful for the recognition and the community support around her.

“I’m blown away. Without our customers and the Pacific Business Trust, we wouldn’t be here. They’ve been part of our village from day one.”

Pele Baby began when Tuala struggled to find a baby blanket for her grandchild. In just over two years, the business has grown from operating out of a spare room to a warehouse-based company negotiating with a major department store.

“It really takes two things, put your faith in God and take the leap,” she says. “Reach for the top of the tallest coconut tree, because once you take that leap, there’s no turning back.”

Tuala also confirmed that Pele Baby has recently purchased another Pacific-owned brand, Tusi Stationery, and is preparing to announce new retail partnerships in the coming months.

Celebrating Pacific excellence

The annual Pacific Business Trust Awards celebrate Pacific entrepreneurship and innovation across Aotearoa, recognising leadership in business growth, community impact, and cultural identity.

The organisation currently supports 2400 businesses, representing thousands of employees and $1 billion in revenue.

Minister for Pacific Peoples (MPP) Dr Shane Reti acknowledged the work of the organisation and Pacific business leaders in his address.

“Events like this remind us that Pacific businesses are not only growing the economy; they are strengthening families, uplifting communities, and preserving culture and identity,” he says. “They are keeping Pacific values at the heart of enterprise.”

The government, through MPP, partners with and funds the Pacific Business Trust with initiatives that include business advice and leadership mentoring, with a goal to create 200 new Pacific jobs by June 2026.

Programmes such as the Toloa Scholarships support Pacific youth entering science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) industries, while investments in Pacific-led housing and community development generate employment and opportunities for Pacific-owned construction businesses.

A&M Security and Support Services won the Professional and Support Services category. Photo/PBT Facebook

The other category winners are:

▪ Business Excellence in Retail: Pele Baby

▪ Business Excellence in Construction, Infrastructure and Trades: TROW Group

▪ Business Excellence in Hospitality, Accommodation and Food Services: Gia's Grab & Go

▪ Business Excellence in Creative Arts: Nora Swann

▪ Business Excellence in Technology and Innovation: Pacific Kids' Learning

▪ Business Excellence in Professional and Support Services: A&M Security and Support Services

▪ Pacific Community Impact Award: Pacific Kids' Learning

▪ People’s Choice: Danika Cooper Jewellery