Our Key Relationship Manager

On 3 February, we had the privilege of welcoming Tori with a whakatau (small welcoming ceremony) at the Penrose office along with a morning tea.

Here’s a little bit about Tori.

1. Welcome to Winstone Aggregates! We’re excited for you to be here. Are you able to tell us a little bit about yourself, your background and what you used to do?

Tēnā Koe e Sarah. He honore tēnēi ki te noho tahi ki

waenganui o tātou. He tino harikoa te ngakau ki te tutaki ngā

whanau katoa o Winstones me Golden Bay Cement.

Ko wai au?

I te taha o tōku Pāpā,

Ko Taupiri te Maunga,

Ko Waikato te Awa

Ko Te Mānukanuka o Hoturoa te Moana

Ko Tainui te Waka

Ko Waikato te Iwi

Ko Ngāti Tamaoho, Ngāti Amaru ngā hapū

Ko Whatāpaka me Te Awamarahi ngā Marae

Ko Ted Ngataki tōku Pāpā.

English:

Thank you, Sarah, it’s an honour and a privilege to be here.

Thank you.

Who am I?

On my Father’s side,

Taupiri is our mountain

Waikato is our river

The Manukau Harbour is our inlet

Tainui is our canoe

Waikato is our tribe

My people are of Ngāti Tamaoho and Ngāti Amaru descent

Whatāpaka and Te Awamārahi are our Marae

Ted Ngataki is my father.

On my Mother’s side,

Panekire is our mountain

Waikare is our lake

Waikaretāheke is our inlet

Ngāti Ruapani ki Waikaremoana and Ngai Tuhoe are our tribes

My people are of Ngāti Hinekura descent

Te Kuha Tārewa and Tātāhoata are our Marae

Waiata Ngataki (nee Cairns) is my mother. My people are of Ngāti Hinekura descent

Te Kuha Tārewa and Tātāhoata are our Marae

Waiata Ngataki (nee Cairns) is my mother.

I grew up at a place called Whatāpaka on the shores of the Manukau Harbour. I went to Edmund Hillary Primary School, Papakura High School and Wesley College. After high school, I spent the next few years across Hamilton and Auckland, eventually moving to Brisbane, Australia not long after my 21st birthday. I had the time of my life, however I returned home after two years to complete my studies at AUT in Northcote.

I completed my undergraduate studies in 2013 and began working at Windsor Doors Ltd based in Takanini. My role here varied from production manager to retail and wholesale manager, to health and safety officer and eventually a general manager position. I enjoyed my time with the business working alongside many different people from process workers, to account managers, executives and even compliance officers.

This is where I had my first encounter with the Fletcher Building family, managing install contractors across the North Island.

While completing my MBA at Waikato University, I began working for PlaceMakers in 2016 as the National Health and Safety Advisor for Manufacturing. After being in the role for about seven months, I was asked to look at taking on the role of Environmental Health and Safety Advisor for the Waikato-Bay of Plenty region. I accepted the role and moved permanently to Hamilton, where I still live today. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with PlaceMakers and built long lasting relationships across the business. I was fortunate enough to be selected by my manager, Anthony Mitchell, to enrol into the Fletcher Building Whakatupu Programme where I feel my journey accelerated even more.

In saying this, my family has been a critical part of my upbringing. I reflect back on the teachings from our

grandmothers, Nanny Rena and Nanny Helen, and all my aunties and uncles who taught all of us at a very young age the importance of Kīngitanga and the values of intergenerational manākitanga (taking care of people), kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and whanaungatanga (relationships). I feel today I am a product of my environment and continue to look to our families for support, guidance and inspiration.

2. As the Key Relationship Manager, what will be your key focus in this role and how will this help to strengthen key relationships with stakeholders, especially tangata whenua.

In the initial stages, my key focus in this role will be to listen, understand and learn about the business. I would also like to meet as many of our staff members across GBC and Winstone as possible. I am really interested in getting to know our people. Who we are, where we come from and what makes us get up every day and do the things we love doing. I think by understanding who we are as a collective this will strengthen our position in developing relationships with tangata whenua.

3. We’ve heard you have recently completed Fletcher Building’s Whakatupu Programme, which is a Maori leadership development programme. What was this like and has this programme helped you grow?

My last manager, Anthony Mitchell, was a big part of how I got into this programme. So, before I go into detail, I really want to thank him for his support, his belief and trust in me and for his encouragement.

I wholeheartedly recommend the programme for all employees. Ultimately, it taught me how to become a better, more authentic version of myself. I feel I have grown stronger, more decisive and have a clear purpose. It was hard-work and it will get you out of your comfort zone, but I promise you it’s fun, it’s supportive and very empowering. In saying this, the alumni support has also been a massive blessing in my life whereby the leaders around the Fletcher Building network will pop up when I least expect and provide awesome support as well. It truly is like having a family away from family and for me this was critical.

4. What are your hobbies outside of work? Anything we might not have guessed as a fun fact?

I am one of five children and have seven nieces and nephews. I have a cute little fox terrier named Kōtiro who turned two last month and she is my absolute precious girl. She loves walks, going to the beach and making me chase after her when we play fetch! Lol. I love water sports (used to surf and paddle a lot) and am an avid supporter of my nieces and nephews who just competed at the last national waka ama competition at Karapiro. This year my nephew broke the national waka ama record for fastest singles 500m race at only 17 and we are all so super proud of him!! I also love my job as super aunty!!!