Rachel Taulelei

Founder of Yellow Brick Road Ltd; CEO Kono NZ.

Blake Leader Rachel Taulelei is described as having led change in the New Zealand fishing industry. At 40, the founder and CEO of Yellow Brick Road Ltd, has had success in the development of an innovative sustainable supply of fresh fish to restaurants across the country. She joined the crew of the 2014 Subantarctic Expedition, led by the Sir Peter Blake Trust, acknowledging it was a huge step in her quest to understand the future of our oceans.

Rachel is equally comfortable in open sea fishing boats as in New Zealand’s finest restaurants. This approach allowed her to build a team to overcome one of the most difficult problems in this industry – the ability to source a sustainable supply of responsibly caught fresh premium seafood.

With an infectious passion for the business, Rachel has a strong commitment to having a values-based business focussed on the sustainability of the resource and this is the hallmark of her leadership and company. Rachel understands New Zealand’s need for successful business, alongside our need to protect its “clean green” image and has demonstrated that it is possible to marry those objectives in a commercially successful model.

In late 2015, Yellow Brick Road was purchased by Maori food and beverage company Kono, for whom she is now CEO.

Rachel’s passion for the industry goes beyond her business as she is a director for Moana NZ, NZ Aquaculture, NZ Wine Growers, Westpac Trust Stadium, Young Enterprise Scheme, and Queen Margaret College.

Rachel demonstrates integrity in every aspect of her relationships with other people and has a reputation as a can-do and approachable business person. As an outstanding leader with a demonstrable record of success in business and the community, she is an inspiration to many.