Key Takeaways
- The Māori Queen, Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po, has launched the Kotahitanga Fund, a new multi-million-dollar Māori investment platform.
- The fund aims to invest in opportunities that deliver real outcomes for Māori people and solid returns that grow wealth for generations to come.
- The launch of the Kotahitanga Fund was announced at the inaugural Ōhanga ki te Ao Māori Economic Summit, which brought together over 200 iwi representatives, business leaders, and sovereign wealth fund heads.
- The summit discussed strategies for advancing indigenous economic initiatives and growing the Māori economy, which is currently valued at $126 billion.
- Iwi leaders and business experts emphasized the importance of collectivization, relationships, and trust in building a strong and resilient Māori economy.
Introduction to the Kotahitanga Fund
The Māori Queen, Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po, has launched the Kotahitanga Fund, a new multi-million-dollar Māori investment platform. The fund was announced at the inaugural Ōhanga ki te Ao Māori Economic Summit, which was held in Hamilton on Saturday. The summit brought together over 200 iwi representatives, business leaders, sovereign wealth fund heads, and other delegates to discuss strategies for advancing indigenous economic initiatives and growing the Māori economy. Te Arikinui said that the Kotahitanga Fund was more than just an investment tool, but an answer to the challenges of leveraging the collective strength and scale of the Māori economy.
The Ōhanga ki te Ao Māori Economic Summit
The Ōhanga ki te Ao Māori Economic Summit was a significant event that marked the launch of the Kotahitanga Fund. The summit was attended by iwi representatives, business leaders, and sovereign wealth fund heads from across the country and around the world. The event included a Māori business expo, known as Kohinga Koha, which represented 158 marae and businesses from Tainui Waka. The summit featured keynote speakers, including former Air New Zealand chief executive Greg Foran and former Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr. The attendees discussed strategies for advancing indigenous economic initiatives and growing the Māori economy, which is currently valued at $126 billion.
The Importance of Collectivization
Iwi leaders and business experts emphasized the importance of collectivization, relationships, and trust in building a strong and resilient Māori economy. Te Tari o Te Kiingitanga chairperson Rukumoana Schaafhausen said that growing the Māori economy did not happen through individual action, but through relationships and kotahitanga. Ngāi Tahu chair Justin Tipa said that the real economic power for Māori would be in their ability to collectivize and form strategic alliances that unlock opportunities of scale. Duncan Bonfield, chief executive of the International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds, said that a collectivized approach to economics was attractive to members of his organization.
The Future of the Māori Economy
The launch of the Kotahitanga Fund marks a significant step towards growing the Māori economy. The fund aims to invest in opportunities that deliver real outcomes for Māori people and solid returns that grow wealth for generations to come. Te Arikinui said that the fund would be thoughtful about where it invests and would prioritize opportunities that benefit Māori people. The summit attendees emphasized the importance of working together and forming strategic alliances to unlock opportunities of scale. The next Kohinga Koha business expo will be hosted in Tauranga Moana, providing another opportunity for iwi representatives and business leaders to come together and discuss strategies for advancing indigenous economic initiatives.
Conclusion
The launch of the Kotahitanga Fund is a significant development in the Māori economy. The fund aims to invest in opportunities that deliver real outcomes for Māori people and solid returns that grow wealth for generations to come. The Ōhanga ki te Ao Māori Economic Summit brought together iwi representatives, business leaders, and sovereign wealth fund heads to discuss strategies for advancing indigenous economic initiatives and growing the Māori economy. The emphasis on collectivization, relationships, and trust highlights the importance of working together to build a strong and resilient Māori economy. As the Māori economy continues to grow and develop, it is likely that the Kotahitanga Fund will play a significant role in shaping its future.