Growing the $50b Maori economy
The $50 billion Maori economy can only grow from here as more Treaty of Waitangi settlements mature and more iwi groups get involved in the domestic markets, Chapman Tripp says.
Its report, Te Ao Maori, anticipates growth in the Maori economy on the back of what the law firm says has been a tumultuous Treaty settlement process.
The report says there will be more active participation from iwi groups in the country’s mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market, diversification away from primary industries, and the adoption of tikanga, or guidelines, in a commercial context.
Chapman Tripp chief executive partner Nick Wells said these new investment areas would include geothermal, digital, services, education, tourism and housing.
‘‘The relationship between the Crown and Maori continues to evolve and, as more and more Treaty settlements mature, we expect to see further growth in the Maori economy, already estimated as worth $50 billion,’’ he said.
‘‘Participation in export markets is also increasing and we expect it to increase exponentially in the short to medium term, especially in Asia, in the finance and the business sectors and the dairy, forestry, seafood and read meat markets.’’
Chapman Tripp senior associate Te Aopare Dewes said the fact that about 40 iwi were still to settle showed the economy ‘‘can only grow’’.
Treaty settlements that had recently come off the table had been worth as much as $100 million, for Ngati Kahungunu ki Heretaunga Tamatea, while at least five others had been worth between $50m and $87m.
Ngai Tahu and Waikato-Tainui were ‘‘fairly active’’ at the moment, Dewes said, but they had settled more than 20 years ago. ‘‘They’ve had a bit more time to bed things down.’’
Dewes said others, such as Ngati Whatua Orakei, were expected to diversify out of property, while geothermal was also expected to be an area of interest as many geothermal resources were located under Maori land.
Iwi could also benefit from a Maori angle on tourism, which was having a natural boom in the country, while housing investment was also expected to grow, particularly as it came with a positive social spinoff for iwi, Dewes said.