LEADING WITH MANAAKITANGA
Imagine you’re hosting a BBQ at your whare.
Someone knocks on the door… what do you do?
Do you say, “Come on in, have a good time,” and leave it at that? Of course not. You offer them a drink straight away, fix them a plate of kai, engage in meaningful kōrero, and take a genuine interest in whatever’s happening in their world. The vibe is warm and cosy, and you introduce them to some other cool people you know.
After serving them some delicious kai and keeping their drinks topped up, you quietly take their dirty dishes away without even being asked. And just when they think they couldn’t eat another bite, you pull out that apple crumble you’ve had baking in the oven, along with a fresh 2L tub of Tip Top boysenberry ice cream. Your guest is chocka, but who can resist? They find a little more room to squeeze in a small bowl. You check in again, making sure they’re comfortable and well looked after.
At the end of the night, you send them on their way with a plastic container (that you know you’re never getting back) filled with leftovers for tomorrow’s lunch.
That is manaakitanga.
It’s not just about doing the bare minimum; it’s about going out of your way to care for others, making them feel welcome, appreciated, and important.
When you consistently do that—whether at your home, on the marae, or at mahi—people feel the difference. It’s far too rare, but it’s a beautiful thing, and when people experience it, they notice. They remember it, and they come back for more because it’s special.
In te ao Māori, manaakitanga and mana are deeply connected. The way we treat others directly affects the mana we carry. Every small act of hospitality, every gesture of service and kindness, is a way of upholding not just the mana of those around us, but our own as well.
When we serve others with genuine care, we are nurturing our own mana. And over time, as we build a reputation for manaakitanga, people begin to recognise and speak of our mana.
At Fush, this is what we stand for. We’re not just another fish and chip shop. We’re a whānau business, where every meal, every interaction, is an opportunity to show manaakitanga.
We want you to feel like a valued guest, stepping into our whare, not just a customer there to make a transaction. That’s why we always go the extra mile—because your experience with us matters. It’s how we uphold our mana, and how we share it with you.
As someone who has worked in hospo since I was 15, I cannot tell you how many times I’ve been asked what I do for mahi, only to be looked down on or pitied because I serve people for a living. I never take it personally though, because I was brought up to understand the immense mana that comes with serving others. Manaakitanga!
I encourage you to take the opportunity today to show manaakitanga. Use your time, energy, and resources to uplift those around you, whether it’s a friend, a colleague, or someone you’ve just met. Show them manaakitanga without expecting anything in return, simply because it’s the right thing to do.
When we do this, we’re not only building our own mana, but we’re also making the world a kinder, less selfish, and better place.
Kia tau ngā manaakitanga,
Ngā mihi,
Anton