$1.4 billion Maori economy important for Waikato   6 Nov 2014

Waikato Regional Council

MEDIA RELEASE

6 November 2014

$1.4 billion Maori economy important for Waikato’s well-being

Leveraging off the strength of the Maori economy in Waikato is important for maximising the region’s growth potential, says a new report from Business and Economic Research Limited (BERL).

Maori economy in the Waikato region, due to be discussed at a Maori economic development workshop in Hamilton on 11 November, was commissioned by the Federation of Maori Authorities, Te Puni Kokiri (Ministry of Maori Development) and Waikato Regional Council to help inform discussion on the way ahead.

Waikato Regional Council chief executive Vaughan Payne said the report shone a light on the significant contribution of the Maori economy to Waikato and will be a useful input to implementation of the regional economic development strategy.

Te Puni Kokiri chief executive Michelle Hippolite said her ministry intends that the report will “assist in the development of robust strategies and resilient relationships, and will contribute to strengthening Maori economic development in the region”.

Federation of Maori Authorities chief executive Te Horipo Karaitiana said the report provides important base information and successful deployment of initiatives will require collaboration. “Central and local government, Maori asset holders and business leaders need to work together to create sustainable economic prosperity for our whanau, communities, the region and Aotearoa New Zealand.”

The report identifies Maori assets in the Waikato worth $6.2 billion and notes the Maori contribution to regional gross domestic product was worth $1.4 billion or 8 per cent of the total in 2012, with potential for growth in both figures identified.

A recent Waikato regional economic development strategy, produced under the auspices of the Waikato Mayoral Forum, identified leveraging Maori development as a major opportunity for the region.

The report says: “Maori economic development is important not only for Maori but for the overall economic performance of the Waikato region and New Zealand as a whole.

“For the economy of the Waikato region to achieve its long-run potential growth it must make the best use of all available resources.”

Of the $6.2 billion in Waikato Maori assets, 28 per cent were in agriculture, fishing and forestry, 23 per cent in property and business services, and 15 per cent in manufacturing. Maori businesses had 54 per cent of the Maori asset base, while some $2.8 billion worth – or 46 per cent - were collectively owned assets held by authorities such as trusts, incorporations and Treaty of Waitangi settlement entities.

The $1.4 billion annual contribution to value added (a measure of output) by Maori businesses included a $266 million contribution from the health and community services sector, $214 million from property and business services, $150 million from manufacturing and $120 million from agriculture. Maori businesses in Hamilton contributed $472 million or 34 per cent of the total.

Maori made up 22 per cent of the population and contributed 25 per cent of all those employed. But the report noted a large proportion of Maori were employed in low paid, low productivity industries, while the average weekly income for Maori was 25 per cent or $189 lower than the average weekly income for non-Maori (compared to 22 per cent lower nationally). Debt levels in Maori households in the region were described as “high”.

An executive summary of the report says Maori assets in Waikato are expected to grow as a result of further Treaty settlements and Waikato-Tainui receiving further redress. This growth, coupled with economic diversification by Maori entities, meant “Waikato Maori are increasingly likely to play a key part in shaping economic development in the region”.

However, the executive summary added: “The young Maori population in the Waikato region combined with the significant proportion of Maori employed in lower paid and low productive industries represents a challenge to iwi and the region to both retain, upskill and create employment opportunities for these young people.”

The full report and the summary report will be available online www.tpk.govt.nz/en/in-print/our-publications/ on 11 November.


Add a comment

News

Hilary Timmins' Award-Winning UK Documentary Series To Inspire NZ Students

29 Jun 2020 Education
Dream Catchers, produced and directed by Hilary Timmins, celebrates the success stories of more than thirty inspirational New... more

New Zealand reaffirms support for Flight MH17 judicial process

7 Mar 2020 News By Rt HON WINSTON PETERS
Ahead of the start of the criminal trial in the Netherlands on 9 March, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has reaffirmed the need to... more

Business

NZ Government's Economic package to fight COVID-19

17 Mar 2020 Business News By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
The Coalition Government has launched the most significant peace-time economic plan in modern New Zealand history to cushion the... more

NZ Government announces aviation relief package

19 Mar 2020 Business News By Hon Phil Twyford
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today outlined the first tranche of the $600 million aviation sector relief package announced earlier... more

Living

Diversity was Key at New Zealand Trade Tasting in London

6 Jun 2022 Food & Wine
New Zealand Winegrowers Annual Trade Tasting was recently held in London, on Wednesday 4 May, in Lindley Hall. It was the first... more

Kiwi author stuns Behind the Butterfly Gate

12 Jan 2022 Arts By Charlotte Everett
Hidden behind the Butterfly Gate is where the secret has been kept for 76 years...  New Zealand writer Merryn Corcoran’s... more

Property

Fairer rules for tenants and landlords

17 Nov 2019 Property By Minister Kris Faafoi
17 NOVEMBER 2019 The Government has delivered on its promise to the over one million New Zealanders who now rent to make it fairer... more

New Zealand Government will not implement a Capital Gains Tax

17 Apr 2019 Property By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
The Coalition Government will not proceed with the Tax Working Group’s recommendation for a capital gains tax, Jacinda Ardern... more

Migration

Boosting border security with electronic travel authority – now over 500,000 issued

19 Nov 2019 Migration By Hon Iain Lees-Galloway
19 NOVEMBER 2019 We’ve improved border security with the NZeTA, New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, which helps us to... more

Christchurch reinstated as refugee settlement location

18 Aug 2018 Migration
18 AUGUST 2018 HON IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY The announcement that Christchurch can once again be a settlement location for refugees... more

Travel

Gallipoli Anzac Day services cancelled

19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
The New Zealand and Australian Governments have announced this year’s joint Anzac Day services at Gallipoli will be cancelled... more

New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas

19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas more

Sport

The Skipper's Diary: Sir Richard Hadlee honouring his father and NZ's Forty-Niners

27 Oct 2019 Cricket By Charlotte Everett
NZNewsUK London Editor Charlotte Everett spoke to Sir Richard Hadlee about why he’s chosen to publish his father’s... more

PREVIEW: All Blacks v England semi-final

26 Oct 2019 Rugby
The two most convincing quarterfinals winners are set to square off in a semifinal showdown for the ages when the All Blacks meet old... more

Columns

Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade

11 Nov 2016 Opinion
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade First published on Werewolf The ghastly likes of Marine Le Pen in France and Geert ... more

Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome

10 Nov 2016 Opinion
Column - Gordon Campbell   Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome Well um.. on the bright side, there (probably)... more

Kiwi Success

Congratulations to Loder Cup winner

26 Sep 2018 People By Hon Eugenie Sage
25 SEPTEMBER 2018 The Loder Cup, one of New Zealand’s oldest conservation awards, has been awarded to Robert McGowan for 2018... more

Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO

16 Aug 2018 Appointments
16 AUGUST 2018Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO HON JENNY SALESA Associate Education Minister Jenny Salesa is... more

Recruitment

Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers

14 Aug 2018 Recruitment By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers RT HON JACINDA ARDERN HON CHRIS HIPKINS Prime Minister The... more

Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers

22 Aug 2018 Recruitment By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers RT HON JACINDA ARDERN HON CHRIS HIPKINS Prime Minister The... more