A hui held in Kerikeri today focuses on how Māori can influence Aotearoa's current and future free trade negotiations with nations from around the world.
"The hui is convened by Te Taumata to present back to our own Māori people what is happening in trade and especially in international trade and free trade negotiations," said chairperson of Te Taumata Chris Karamea Insley (Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Ngāti Porou, Te Whakatōhea).
The hui is the fourth in a series being held around the country seeking to engage Māori leaders from various organisations that stand to benefit from having input into how New Zealand negotiates its free trade partnerships. Te Taumata, which convened the hui, was formed following a series of hui that sought to gather data on if Māori felt their interests were being listened to in terms of New Zealand's free trade negotiations.
"With the Māori economy being estimated to be worth a shade under $80 billion, our people were saying we should have a voice but felt as if we didn't, in terms of free trade negotiations... We told the Minister we would do it differently. We would convene the hui and bring the Ministers, trade negotiators, and other leading trade thinkers back to our people and have face-to-face discussions on trade issues," said Insley.