As well as Kurei, Waikato inventor Jade Luxton, Auckland food entrepreneur Natalia Herewini and Whanganui wellness entrepreneur Riana Tamati also attended.
Kurei joins international entrepreneurs at a garden party hosted in the grounds of Buckingham Palace.
The concert was hosted by TV hosts Ant and Dec and was attended by King Charles and Queen Camilla.
It featured performances from Sir Rod Stewart and Rita Ora and drew a high-profile crowd including George and Amal Clooney, Benedict Cumberbatch and Lily Collins.
“I feel pretty posh being here, but I’m just enjoying it,” Kurei said from London.
He knew the opportunity was going to be “pretty wicked”.
“I think the whole trip’s been pretty special.
“We’ve been given a lot of opportunities to be able to connect with people, especially other King’s Trusts around the world.”
Kurei, now based in Palmerston North, is the founder of MokoBandz, a business that created gumboots featuring Māori-inspired geometric designs.
He launched the company in 2022 while still at Trident High School in Whakatāne after spotting a gap in the market for gumboots that reflected culture and identity.
“I saw there was demand for something different – gumboots that people could really connect with and feel proud to wear.”
He began by customising New Zealand’s iconic Red Band gumboots with hand-drawn designs and selling them through Facebook.
As the boots picked up momentum online, Kurei recognised that it was a niche worth pursuing.
“There was no other Māori gumboot brand out there.”
Support from The King’s Trust Aotearoa New Zealand, including funding through the He Kākano Seed Fund, helped him invest in samples and production.
“That was a turning point for the business.”
Māori‑inspired gumboots designed by Kurei are stocked in five Bunnings stores across the North Island.
In late 2024, he travelled to China to meet his manufacturers, tour their factory, make final adjustments to the design and develop packaging.
He said the trip was also about ensuring the cultural integrity of his creations through the process.
Building the business alone had come with challenges.
“I was fresh out of school, didn’t know anything to do with manufacturing.
“Just stepping into a world I was never exposed to before was pretty hard, but you know, you enjoy the journey.”
He credited support from his whānau, iwi and community for helping to expand the business and for keeping him grounded.
Kurei has also led workshops and speaking engagements focused on entrepreneurship and cultural connection for young people.
“The opportunities afforded to me have allowed me to inspire and teach others.”
MokoBandz are now available in five Bunnings Warehouses across the North Island.
Kurei said he was aiming to expand nationwide and into Australia.
“Everyone thinks that gumboots are just for the farmers … but I think there’s a real opportunity to change that.
“I think there are endless possibilities.”
King’s Trust NZ chief executive Rod Baxter said the trip highlighted the organisation’s commitment to supporting young entrepreneurs in New Zealand and internationally.
“Taking four young people to London is a unique opportunity and signals the trust’s commitment to supporting and celebrating young entrepreneurs at home and on the global stage.”
Zoe Blake is a multimedia journalist at the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post.