Whakapapa - background
Innovation, technology and trade have always been features of the Māori economy.
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Today, Māori are significant contributors to the growth of the wider Aotearoa New Zealand economy.
Māori have always been actively involved in their economic rangatiratanga (self-determination), from exporting food and goods to Sydney in the early 1800s to creating indigenous bio-tech startups in the 21st century.
Hapū and iwi economies
Historically, Māori had hapū and iwi economies. These economies typically revolved around agricultural and horticultural production, fresh and salt-water fisheries, hunting and gathering, carving, weaving, arts, weaponry and tool design and production.
Trading within and between hapū and iwi was common, with some hapū specialising in particular products such as greenstone, seafood, freshwater eels, or preserved birds.
Resources were collectively 'owned', with overarching responsibility held by rangatira (chiefs). The mana (success) of a rangatira, and associated whānau, hapū, and iwi, was measured by the ability of the group to produce, host guests and profit from resources in a way that ensured the well-being, health and prosperity of all.
Adaptation and global markets
As experienced traders, Māori generally welcomed early settlers and the trading opportunities they offered. New arrivals relied heavily on Māori for food and other materials. Māori were quick to adopt new technologies and adapt traditional technologies for new uses. For example, the flax rope industry flourished as demand increased for shipping. New agricultural produce (potatoes, corn, and wheat) was grown, introduced animals were farmed and flour mills built.
Māori commerce was not limited to New Zealand. Large numbers of European-style ships were bought or built by Māori. Using this new means of transport, Māori traded around Australia and the Pacific and, by the mid-1800s, even travelled as far afield as Britain and North and South America.
Economic impacts of colonisation
From the mid-1800s, the Crown acquired vast areas of Māori land at a staggering pace. As well as social and cultural impacts, the loss of productive, accessible land significantly reduced economic opportunities for Māori. This led to widespread disenfranchisement and impoverishment.
Today, Māori freehold land makes up roughly 5% of all land in Aotearoa New Zealand. Much of this land is in the least productive areas and about 25% of it has no legal access, which significantly limits its economic potential.
Treaty settlements
Since the late 1980s there have been a number of Treaty settlements to redress the impacts of colonisation. These settlements are generally between 1 and 2% of the total value of loss (as estimated by the Crown).
Settlements have restored an economic base on which iwi can build. Māori have been actively and effectively growing their asset base, which has improved intergenerational social, cultural and economic opportunities.
The Māori economy today
Te Ōhanga Māori reports have tracked and analysed the Māori economy’s growth and impact since 2010.
The most recent Te Ōhanga Māori 2023 The Māori Economy 2023 report shows that the Māori economy is increasingly important to New Zealand’s overall economy. Its contribution to GDP has grown from $17 billion in 2018 to $32 billion in 2023.
Te Ōhanga Māori 2023 also highlights that:
- the Māori economy has shifted beyond agriculture, forestry and fishing into sectors like professional, scientific and technical services
- the Māori asset base had increased from $69 billion (2018) to $126 billion (2023)
- rates of entrepreneurship had risen significantly from 2018 to 2023 with a 49% increase in Māori self-employment and a 31% increase in Māori employers
- for the first time since 2006, there were more workers who identify as Māori in high-skilled jobs than low-skilled jobs.
Te Ōhanga Māori 2023 report [PDF, 14 MB]
You can read key findings from the four reports:
Te Ōhanga Māori - The Māori Economy reports
Resources:
Māori economy(external link) – Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand
Māori Business Historical Context(external link) - Ministry of Education