Michael Jones is all smiles thanks to the Reef Group’s own brand of Pacific superjuice. Koha Managing Editor, Mere Takoko, recently interviewed the ‘IceMan’ about his vision for the Pacific.
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Key quotes from this article:
KOHA: So what drives your particular approach to commerce?
MJ: I’ve always been fascinated and passionate about economic development as a tool for advancing communities and societies, especially our Pacific people. The whole Pacifika notion is very powerful and one of the components which optimises the perceptions of the Pacific is the ‘pure’ component. There is a Pacific mystique that enhances and encapsulates our vast clean environment that covers Te Moana Nui A Kiwa and our diverse cultural heritage.
KOHA: Do you plan to work with other Pacific exporters?
MJ: Yes. Our ecosystems are still in tact compared to Europe, the United States and even Australasia to a point. There’s an important need to capture that purity of the Pacific in one brand obviously, like New Zealand’s brand. We have to create a common powerful Pan-Pacific brand for all our products especially around horticulture, agriculture, and aquaculture. We have traditions that we can use to build that kind of notion. Obviously our collective origins to Hawaiiki is a potential brand that could bring us all together.
KOHA: What opportunities are there to build relationships between Pacific Nations?
MJ: As Pacific leaders we recognise that tangata whenua have really moved very quickly over the last 20 to 30 years in terms of economic development. It’s very much at the forefront of driving Mäori forward and a lot of commercial expertise already exists in Mäoridom. Other Pacific peoples realise that our door into Mäoridom is the fact that we have a shared whakapapa and vice versa. So I think its about strategically coming together to identify a way forward around that kaupapa of a Hawaiiki confederation.
KOHA: And what do you think should be the aim of this Hawaiiki confederation?
MJ: It’s a kaupapa that could be similar to the Federation of Mäori Authorities where economic development could optimise our advancement for our people and optimise returns for the next generation. I think Mäori have really been developing a level of leadership that can move more of our people from unemployment and poor education to the head of enterprise where we shape our own destiny and our future. Hawaiiki is a powerful waka and it’s up to the leadership realm to ensure that all our Pacific peoples aren’t left behind.
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