Trade tip for Maori

ROTORUA - Think outside the square if you want to make money and create jobs, meat exporter Jim Gray has told a Trade New Zealand Maori exporters' hui in Rotorua.

Mr Gray is chairman of Outlands Natural New Zealand Beef - a partnership between two Maori trusts and Outlands New Zealand.

Outlands and the trusts have been working to export added-value beef products to health-conscious consumers in the United States. Markets are also developing in Singapore, Malaysia and Europe.

Mr Gray said the network was making an excellent return for the trusts' members, far exceeding the financial return most Maori landowners were receiving.

The network's earnings were already "well into seven figures."

"Our network has been driven by Maori and it has been successful and highly innovative. With limited capital, we achieved a turnover in our first six months which puts us among the top 10 meat-exporting companies in New Zealand.

"The broad lesson for Maori is we've got to think outside the square. The opportunities are out there, but we have to have the skills and motivation and above all the business acumen to evaluate those opportunities."

Mr Gray is the only Maori on the board. "We brought in the best people for the job. The main reason for our success is we are a hard-nosed business operation."

NZPA