Party wants Government to support entrepreneurial Maori

The Maori Party is calling on the Government to offer Maori entrepreneurs more support.

The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor found that Maori were the world's third most entrepreneurial people and that about one in three Maori in the 35 to 44 age range were business entrepreneurs.

Maori Party MP Te Ururoa Flavell praised this but noted that the study also found 37 per cent of Maori entrepreneurial start-ups survived 3 1/2 years compared with 62 per cent for the general population.

"The Maori Party will be examining this research carefully," he said.

"We will be asking the Government why is it that these world-class entrepreneurs are lacking sustainable support to make the risks worthwhile.

"The Government seems to be seduced by big-talking big spenders with big budgets from offshore."

He asked if indigenous entrepreneurs were getting the support required for success.

Other study findings included:

* About 25 per cent of Maori, versus 13.1 per cent of the general population, expected to launch a start-up business in the next three years.

* The typical New Zealand entrepreneur was an opportunity-based lifestyle entrepreneur, opting for work-life balance rather than wealth creation.

* Maori were not technology shy - 18 per cent of Maori entrepreneurs claim to be using the latest technology, compared with 10 per cent of the general population of entrepreneurs.

* Maori had high growth expectations - 12.3 per cent believe they would create 20 jobs in five years compared with 8.1 per cent generally.

* More Maori (71.3 per cent) than other New Zealanders (60.5 per cent) said starting a business was a good career choice.

- NZPA