The Auckland Plan reflects this, and notes Statistics NZ data that by 2021, 27 per cent of Auckland's population will be Asian (up 6 per cent), and 12 per cent Maori (up 1 per cent). Combined with the projected Pasifika population of 17 per cent (up 3 per cent), Auckland's population in 2021 will be more than 50 per cent non-European.
So mutual self-interest appears to be present for the transaction of more business between Maori and Asians.
The question is, however, does the fact that almost half of the Auckland population will have cultural synergies by 2021 result in more business being transacted?
Chinese businesses I have advised find Maori governance and mandating issues challenging. Maori I have advised find it hard to know which Chinese they can trust, and they are worried about the long term sustainability of their resources.
Maori also find it hard to know what the Chinese consider to be of value; for example, fish heads and eyes are of value in China whereas they are a waste by-product in New Zealand, and language issues are always a challenge - What are they saying? What do they mean when they say "yes"?
But Chinese do not do business with strangers, only friends, and it is easier to make friends with those of similar cultural backgrounds. Maori and Chinese tell me that they find greater sympathy for cultural differences with each other than when they are dealing with non-Maori or non-Asian New Zealanders.
Maori and Chinese also have a shared experience of being discriminated against in New Zealand, which builds understanding and empathy. The 2012 report Working Together: Racial discrimination in New Zealand found those who identify as Asian report the highest levels of racial discrimination, followed by Maori and then Pasifika.
Thus, Maori may end up driving and leading our relationship with Chinese and this is already beginning to happen. Examples include:
Shanghai Pengxin's deal with Miraka, a Maori-owned milk powder plant, to process milk from the Crafar farms into UHT products.
Maori-owned New Zealand Manuka's partnership with the Chinese pharmaceutical powerhouse Tong Ren Tang Pharmaceuticals to retail NZ Manuka's products through 1700 outlets in China.
Ngati Kahungunu's deal for five tonnes of dried mussel meat to go to Tai'an in the Shandong province.
Aotearoa Fisheries Ltd receiving an order for paua and lobster for an exclusive club in Guangzhou.
Wakatu Inc, a Maori-owned organisation in Nelson, and China's third largest wine distributor, Dynasty Ltd, are close to signing a deal for premium wine to be distributed to hotels and restaurants throughout China.
Discussions between CNI Iwi Holdings (representing tribes entrusted to manage the 176,000ha Kaingaroa Forest) and China National Building and Materials and a possible partnership could lead to wood processing plants being established in the central North Island and the creation of hundreds of new jobs.
Waitangi Seafood Ltd has signed a memorandum of understanding with a Chinese aquaculture company and is looking at developing a joint venture project in paua farming.
For Maori, doing business with Asians changes the focus in the post-settlement phase away from the Crown, which has been their centre of attention during the claims process.
It will mean there are more Maori learning Mandarin and Chinese culture, while more Chinese will learn te reo Maori and about Maori culture. There may also be constitutional and electoral implications as the two cultures flex their muscles together as a significant voting bloc in this country.
We need to change the way we view Maori and Chinese in terms of business, wealth and power. Both groups are becoming more powerful. Combined, that will only be more so. A fresh look is needed.
Mai Chen is a founding partner in law firm Chen Palmer.
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