Business to the Max: Far North teen to represent NZ at World Expo in Dubai
An idea born out of seeing a neighbour dumping olive tree prunings has grown into a business which is about to take a Far North teenager to the world's biggest trade fair.
Max Donaldson, of Takou Bay, will be part of the New Zealand delegation at the World Expo in Dubai when it kicks off in January.
The 17-year-old, who has just finished Year 13 at Kerikeri High School, won the Northland-wide Young Enterprise Scheme last year.
His company, GreenKiwi Supplements, produces a dietary supplement made from olive orchard waste.
Now, after pitching his business to trade officials, Donaldson has been chosen to help represent New Zealand at the expo — while also trying to land some export deals for his product.
Donaldson got the idea when he spotted his neighbour, Ian Sizer, feeding prunings from his olive grove to his cows.
''I saw that and thought, 'Let's actually use that in a product','' he said.
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