Maori business quick off the mark post-election

Maori business quick off the mark post-election

The Maori business community is on the front-foot this week kicking off the next 3 year parliamentary term with the Federation of Maori Authorities National Conference in Whanganui this Friday 26 September. The three day conference is a key event on the Maori business calendar with an expected attendance of over 300 participants following the preliminary general election results on September 20.

Federation of Maori Authorities Chief Executive Te Horipo Karaitiana says they have had a long association with government and have always been prepared to work with the government of the day for the betterment of members. “While it is significant to some degree who is in government, our membership includes Maori land incorporations which have been farming for over 100 years. It’s great to be able to bring together that wealth of knowledge and experience post-election to assess where we are and where we want to be.”

Former Minister of Maori Affairs Hon. Pita Sharples will be launching the eighty-first annual Ahuwhenua Maori Excellence in Farming Awards at the Federation conference banquet on Saturday evening. The Federation of Maori Authorities is a key sponsor of the Ahuwhenua Maori Excellence in Farming Awards which was originally launched by United Party Native Minister, Apirana Ngata in 1932. The original cup, designed by artist CF Goldie, was donated by the Governor General Lord Bledisloe.

Established in 1987, the Federation of Maori Authorities is a national advocacy body for Maori authorities and represents 150 member organisations with an asset base worth an estimated $8 million. A Statistics NZ report shows Maori authorities are doing well with positive increases in exports and total sales last year.

The conference programme explores the key issues of the day including Te Ture Whenua Maori review, Maori business opportunity in Asia and significant economic trends related to Maori and business.

FOMA are proud to be joined by Gold sponsors Silver Fern Farms, Beef + Lamb NZ, Dairy NZ, and Primary ITO to bring you this conference. FOMA is also supported by Ballance Agri Nutrients, Price Waterhouse Coopers, PGG Wrightson’s and Te Puni Kōkiri as Silver sponsors. Our Bronze sponsors for this year are Fonterra, Ministry for Primary Industries, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, LIC, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and Land Information New Zealand. FOMA appreciates the support from partners Chorus, Zespri, Tohu Wines, Aotearoa Fisheries Ltd and Farmlands.

The full conference programme is available at http://federation.conference.maori.nz/index.htm.

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