Federation welcomes support from Crown Research Institute

MEDIA STATEMENT

9 July 2012

Federation welcomes support from science, innovation and research experts

The Federation of Maori Authorities has taken up an offer by one of the country’s most progressive Crown research institutes to second some of its key staff in an effort to reignite the taniwha economy.

“The Industrial Research Institute has responded to the call from our members for support and we are excited about working together with IRL. Together we combine Maori industry with IRL science knowledge and expertise to grow Maori business and the Maori economy,” said Federation chief executive Te Horipo Karaitiana.

IRL’s Maori industry development manager Reece Moors (Tainui, Te Arawa) hit the ground running when he began his secondment with the Federation last month.

“The opportunity to work with the New Zealand science system and IRL is timely given the science and innovation work programme we are embarking on,” said Mr Karaitiana.

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“I have just returned from China with Minister Sharples’ Maori business delegation and can see how we can get better value for our products using science and innovation.

“Our members have a collective asset base worth $8 billion and we know it can be worth more.”

IRL will be specifically helping the Federation to run a series of fore-sighting workshops where local and international innovation and commercialisation experts will work with the Federation’s members to help them structure their innovation planning 30 years or more into the future.

Growing young Māori scientists and engineers will also be high on the agenda for the Federation and IRL as they work with other groups to develop a Māori science and business internship programme that will place young Maori talent to work in Māori businesses and across industry sectors.

The Māori economy, valued at almost $37 billion, is an emerging and growing economy. Many Maori Authorities, iwi entities, trusts and incorporations see the opportunity to get greater value from their assets, develop their own scientists and get more for their export products in similar emerging economies, said Mr Karaitiana.

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