Iho taketaketia tō kaupapa
Know what you’re doing before you do anything
As Māori economic activity in Aotearoa New Zealand becomes increasingly visible and influential, investors and financial institutions are recognising the value of better understanding how Māori world views shape governance, decision-making and long-term value creation.
Māori are established contributors to regional and national, social, environmental and economic development, with participation expanding through iwi organisations, land trusts, incorporations and Māori-owned businesses that often operate with long-term, intergenerational investment horizons. Stats NZ data shows Māori authorities generate over $4 billion in annual sales, and as Māori represent a significant and growing share of the population, understanding how to engage effectively is becoming a core capability for the investment and finance sector.
In response, the Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA) and TAHITO have released Ngā Rauemi mō Te Ao Māori – Resources for Understanding the Māori World View, a collection of five educational papers designed to support foundational understanding of Te Ao Māori in an investment and business context.
“There is strong interest across our membership in understanding how to engage respectfully and effectively with Māori communities and the Māori economy,” said Dean Hegarty, Co-CEO of RIAA. “These resources help build foundational understanding of Te Ao Māori and how it can inform governance, decision-making and long-term thinking. This work is intended to support learning and more thoughtful engagement, rather than prescribe a single approach.”
Authored by Temuera Hall of TAHITO, the resources centre a Māori world view that emphasises connection to whenua, collective wellbeing and intergenerational responsibility. These perspectives are shaped by generations of lived experience and stewardship of land and resources.
“The destination is not perfection, but progress; not extraction, but regeneration; not individualism, but collective flourishing,” said Hall. “As our tīpuna navigated vast oceans guided by stars and natural rhythms, so too can contemporary business navigate toward sustainability and social impact guided by the enduring principles of Te Ao Māori.”
The resources acknowledge that many organisations are still developing the knowledge and confidence needed to engage with Māori communities in a way that aligns with Māori governance and decision-making. Investors and institutions are starting from different points of understanding and there is no single pathway or model. Ngā Rauemi mō Te Ao Māori offers a shared starting point, outlining how Māori world views influence governance structures, decision-making and investment approaches.
Alongside contextual insight, the papers include practical considerations relevant to real-world investment and business settings. They cover topics from identifying appropriate Māori authorities to engage with, to applying culturally responsive approaches that reflect Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles and support more informed engagement and decision-making.
RIAA emphasised the release reflects a growing recognition that sustainable investment outcomes can be strengthened by deeper cultural literacy and stronger relationships. By supporting learning and dialogue, the resources aim to help investors engage more confidently, respectfully and constructively with the Māori economy. Ngā Rauemi mō Te Ao Māori is available free to download here.
For further information, please contact:
Dean Hegarty, Co-CEO, RIAA, dean@responsibleinvestment.org, +64 224 710 653; or
Temuera Hall, Director - Portfolio Manager, TAHITO, tem.hall@tahito.co.nz, +64 21 721 857
