CO2 Australia’s Commercial Manager Ash Shilkin shares the colour, warmth and humility of a traditional meeting with members of New Zealand’s largest Maori tribes. On arriving in New Zealand, we knew that a lot had to be achieved to finalise the expansion deal. Little did we know it would involve our CEO singing a song, and touching noses with numerous Maori tribe members. The first morning of a two day trip to New Zealand was spent with our New Zealand Partners; James Moulder and Greg Adlam (Carbon & Energy Partners), and Pelenato Sakalia (Tukia Group). Andrew Grant, Chris Mitchell and myself piled into a number of cars with the partners and headed to Taupo; a scenic town built around New Zealand’s largest lake that has formed in a caldera created by a super volcanic eruption. The purpose of the trip to Taupo is to meet the Tukia Group Board members, who represent six of the largest Maori tribes in New Zealand. We arrived at a ‘Marae’ (a sacred place that serves both religious and social purposes) to commence the ‘Powhiri’, a Maori welcoming ceremony. We are met outside by the elderly mother of one of the tribal leaders who was … Continue reading The cultural initiation