New appointment a milestone for Māori economic development

New appointment a milestone for Māori economic development

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has appointed Reece Moors as Te Tumu Whakarae of its Māori Economic Performance Unit.

Mr Moors, Ngāti Mahuta - Tainui & Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Whakaue - Te Arawa, is currently Sector Manager Māori Industry Development, Callaghan Innovation. He was formerly the Chief Advisor Māori development at the Ministry of Science and Innovation and has managed the Ministry of Education’s iwi partnerships.

MBIE Chief Executive David Smol says that Mr Moors’ appointment marks a significant milestone in MBIE’s role in Māori economic development.

“A key part of Mr Moors’ role as head of the Māori Economic Performance Unit will be embedding He kai kei aku ringa, the Māori Economic Development strategy, into both MBIE’s and the wider public sector’s processes. Improving Māori incomes through economic development will improve New Zealand’s growth prospects significantly,” Mr Smol says.

Māori Economic Development Advisory Board chair Ngahiwi Tomoana welcomes the appointment.

“Mr Moors will play an important role in establishing the Crown-Māori partnership needed to make He kai kei aku ringa a reality,” he says.

More information about He kai kei aku ringa, the Māori Economic Development strategy, can be read online at www.mbie.govt.nz/what-we-do/the-Māori-economic-development-strategy-and-action-plan

Biographical information:
Reece Moors – Te Tumu Whakarae, Māori Economic Performance Unit, Ministry of Business, Science and Innovation

Reece (Ngāti Mahuta - Tainui & Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Whakaue - Te Arawa) has a wide range of experience in the private and public sectors. He joins MBIE from Callaghan Innovation where he is currently the Sector Manager - Māori Industry Development.

Prior to Callaghan Innovation, Reece was part of the establishment of the Ministry of Science & Innovation (MSI) where he was the Chief Advisor Māori Development. Reece has been National Business Manager Māori Innovation at the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (FRST), working in commercial research and development, and was later appointed Director, Māori - Social and Scholars Sector.

In these roles, Reece supported the integration of the Vision Mātauranga policy framework across the science and innovation system and worked closely with the Māori Economic Task Force. Reece had oversight of more than $110m of investments in public good science focused on Māori development including Māori science fellowships and scholarships.

Prior to joining FRST and MSI, Reece was Senior Manager Iwi/Māori Education Partnerships with the Ministry of Education overseeing the development of iwi education strategies and curriculum development including the revitalisation of te reo Māori. This emphasized iwi and whānau leading their own education interventions and providing their own local solutions to improve Māori education outcomes.

Reece’s early public sector career was in the Department of Internal Affairs, Executive Government Support where he co-ordinated more than 150 official Guest of Government Visits to NZ.

Reece's experience in the private sector includes working for Telecom in corporate sales, events and sponsorship and running his own consultancy business during the 2000 America's Cup, connecting high-net-worth individuals with investment and business opportunities in New Zealand.

Reece's work in Māori development began with West Auckland's Waipareira Trust in tourism investment.

Reece has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Studies from the University of Auckland.

ENDS

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