The event was opened by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, mana whenua of central Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. It brought together nine powerful Māori speakers offering diverse perspectives on the Māori economy. The kōrero was focused around Te Ōhanga Māori – The Māori Economy 2023, a report released by BERL and MBIE in March this year.
The report shows the Māori economy has nearly doubled in value, from $17 billion to $32 billion since 2018. The asset base has grown to $126 billion. For the first time since 2006, more Māori work in high-skilled than low-skilled jobs. Māori entrepreneurship is rising, representation across sectors is diversifying and the contribution to Aotearoa New Zealand’s wider economy is undeniable. But what was clear at M9 is that this kōrero goes far beyond gross domestic product (GDP).
The M9 speakers talked about a living, breathing force for collective prosperity driven by action, not just insight.
Redefining prosperity
Several speakers challenged the meaning of ‘economy’ reminding us that it was a concept born from te ao Pākehā.
“Te ao Māori capitalism is still capitalism,” said lawyer Te Wehi Wright. He called for a shift away from extractive systems towards relational ones.
Wright drew on the Italian word for economy, economia, which translates to “house management.” Not GDP. Not corporate growth. Rather, the care and stewardship of a collective whare (house). He called for a fundamental reframing, urging us to reconsider prosperity through the lens of whānau and whenua. This would allow us to centre cultural sovereignty and to imagine systems designed to honour tūpuna and sustain the whenua for generations to come, he said.
In te ao Māori, prosperity is not measured by individual wealth. It is about the strength of our relationships with each other, the whenua and our whakapapa. Models like Te Whare Tapa Whā reflect this, showing that true wellbeing is found in the balance of wairua (spiritual), tinana (physical), hinengaro (mental) and whānau. At the heart of it all is mana, the spiritual strength we inherit through whakapapa, from our tūpuna and the natural world. But mana is not about the self. It grows through our ability to uplift the mana of others. Ko te tohu o te mana, ko te whamana.
Healing systems, healing people
Colonisation fractured the systems that once kept Māori well. The loss of whenua, reo, mahinga kai and communal ways of living disrupted the support structures that sustained generations. One enduring consequence of this disconnection is the decline in Māori mental health.
Professor Matt Roskruge explained that while Māori GDP is rising, wellbeing is not.
“We need to build systems that are truly ours, not just adapt to ones that were never designed for us,” he said.
Entrepreneur Te Kahukura Boynton said small intentional changes, becoming “1% better every day,” ia rā, ia rā, could spark long-term transformation. These shifts held the power to restore hauora and hope to reconnect us with the systems our tūpuna once lived by.
Kiritapu Allan added urgency to the conversation, sharing a photo of her daughter as a reminder that future generations are at stake. She spoke about the compounded impacts of colonisation and climate change and the need for Māori-led solutions.
“Who are we as mana whenua if we don’t have our whenua,” she questioned.
Economic sovereignty, and the right to define it, was a theme echoed throughout M9. Business leader Mavis Mullins MNZM spoke about Māori success across disciplines from accounting to biology. Business leader Traci Houpapa MNZM declared that “Māori success is New Zealand’s success,” calling for stronger Māori leadership at every level. Strategic adviser and former politician Nanaia Mahuta reinforced the need for transformational thinking, recognising wāhine Māori as the long-standing backbone of resilience.
Managing director Leisa Nathan’s words struck a chord when she said; “We are renters on our own whenua.”
In 1991, Māori home ownership sat at 57.4%. Today, it’s just 27.6%. Systemic exclusion continues and Leisa called for aroha-led conversations around money, and Māori-led financial systems to support Māori aspirations.
Coincidentally, M9 was held on the same day the Treaty Principles Bill was defeated — a timely reminder that colonisation isn't just history. It's present.
SBN was grateful to receive two complimentary tickets to the event from Māia Studio, a kaupapa driven communications studio who have recently joined our network as an Impact Investor (member). As a sponsor of M9, Māia helped make this experience possible. Ngā mihi nui to Māia Studio for your manaakitanga.
View recordings from M9 here.
Where to from here?
For the SBN team, this kōrero sparked important conversations. It encouraged us to think more deeply about how we can better support Māori businesses and build stronger relationships. We talk a lot about systems change, but real change starts with people. Cultural competency training is a great place for businesses to start. At SBN, we are starting with our own whare.
We’re excited to share a learning opportunity with Mai Raano, a kaupapa Māori initiative grounded in environmental knowledge, tikanga and cultural connection.
Led by Tiahomai Henare-Heke and Te Waiariki Peita, Mai Raano builds cultural capability, leadership and systems resilience grounded in kaupapa Māori frameworks. Its mahi addresses social inequities, strengthens environmental relationships and activates intergenerational wellbeing across whānau and education and community sectors.
Matariki marks a time of renewal, visioning and collective restoration. As we reflect on the future of the Māori economy and system change, this kaupapa reminds us that transformation begins in relationship to whenua, to whānau, and legacy.
That’s why we’re hosting a special edition of our Network & Connect series with Mai Raano on Tuesday 24 June. Join Mai Raano and SBN to experience the kaupapa in practice. It will offer insights into the Mai Raano experience and what partnership and transformation could look like in your organisation.
Register here.
Sustainable Business Awards
Māori are architects of the future. The Māori economy is not only growing, it is transforming. And through kotahitanga, innovation and a return to kaupapa Māori values, it is leading the way.
We want to celebrate the ongoing contribution of pakihi Māori to a more sustainable Aotearoa. Are you leading bold mahi for people and the planet? Enter the 2025 Sustainable Business Awards which honour those driving action and groundbreaking innovation.
Two progressive categories, Disruptive Innovation and Transformational Leadership, align with te ao Māori values and the systems-level change we need. It’s time to recognise and celebrate the leaders already showing us a path forward. Finalists will also be featured on the coveted ‘Next’ list, an annual list of innovators, entrepreneurs and organisations leading us towards a better future. Learn more about entering the awards or nominating another person or organisation.