Introducing our new OjiFS Chairman

It is with pleasure that we introduce our new Chairman of Oji Fibre Solutions, Mr Azumi Kawabe (Kawabe-san), who was appointed Chairman and Director of Oji Fibre Solutions, effective 1 April 2021.

Kawabe-san has been involved in the Oji Groups wood and paper business in North America and Japan for many years, and has extensive experience relating to Oji Fibre Solutions. For his recent roles, he has overseen the businesses in PanPac (another subsidiary of Oji Holdings Ltd based in Hawke's Bay), forestry and pulp businesses in Brazil, and wastepaper businesses in Japan.

Kawabe-san arrived in New Zealand on 9 May and completed his two-week MIQ stay in Christchurch. While in the area, he stayed on to visit our existing Packaging Southern facility, as well as the new NZD $100 million greenfield facility - currently under construction. He was very impressed by the cleanliness and orderly management of the new site construction and is looking forward to operations commencing there in October.

Kawabe-san then arrived in Auckland, where he will be based, and commenced further site visits to our pulp and paper manufacturing facilities at Kinleith Mill and Tasman Mill, with our General Manager – GMCO, Mr Shunsuke Okubo (Okubo-san).

At Kinleith Mill in the Waikato, he was taken through the plan for a new NZD $200 million wastewater treatment plant, to renew in order to reduce the burden to the environment.

At Tasman mill in the Bay of Plenty, Kawabe-san received a warm welcome by employees, including a Powhiri - a true Maori tradition and important part of the New Zealand culture, that he thoroughly enjoyed.

Kawabe-san is looking forward to visiting more OjiFS sites and settling into his new role.

Tasman Mill Powhiri for Kawabe-san and Okubo-san

The karanga (the call from a woman) echoed inviting our guests of honour to come forward and be a part of the powhiri (welcome) set down specifically for them, in honour of them.

The haka powhiri “Toia Mai” commenced from the tangata whenua (Maori males from the region) who work at our Tasman Mill.

Once seated the mihi whakatau (greeting speech) was delivered by Rex O’Brien formally welcoming Kawabe-san and Okubo-san to Tasman Mill.

The waiata ”Taku Rakau e” was performed (a song specific to the region) to end the completion of the mihi whakatau, followed by a spine chilling, earth shaking haka after the Mill Operations Manager’s welcome speech.

Both parties came together to hariru and hongi (the shaking of hands and pressing of noses). Our manuhiri (guests) were invited to join in a hakari (food and refreshments) with tangata whenua to remove the tapu (sacredness) of the powhiri proceedings. It is said the reputation of an area and it’s rating in terms of hospitality are in the hands of the ringa wera (cooks – providers of the food for the banquet).

It was a first; it was an honour, and a day of pride to be able to welcome our manuhiri in true Maori tradition to Tasman Mill.