The Pan Pac Hawke’s Bay Business Awards Celebration Dinner is presented annually by the Hawke’s Bay Chamber of Commerce. It is a night to celebrate resilience, community connections, innovation, tourism, leadership, emerging business, and sustainability.

This year, Pūkare Cards, a Young Enterprise Scheme company from Taradale High School, was invited along in recognition of all their hard work throughout the year. Pūkare Cards have had an extremely successful 2022 so far and were the Hawkes Bay/Gisborne Regional Company of the Year.

The team of four pitched their winning idea, a teaching and well-being tool designed to encourage discussions around feelings and emotions, available in Te Reo and English. The Taradale High School group did an incredible job in front of a room full of business professionals and engaged with the crowd from the very start.

The team’s CEO, Tom Little, spontaneously auctioned a pack of their company’s cards to the audience, with the aim to donate 100% of the proceeds to the I Am Hope Charity. After a lengthy auction, the cards sold for $825 with the money being donated on the spot. Tom's bravery and charisma absolutely wowed the audience!

Pūkare Cards, along with the other Regional Winners, will be attending the YES National Awards event, where they'll pitch for the chance to be crowned National Company of the Year 2022.

Check out the YES Nationals event page for more information and to buy tickets.