The Māori Economic Taskforce Investment Capital and Enterprise work stream’s focus is to: examine all aspects of investment, capital markets and enterprise, including policy settings and regulations that impact on Māori participation, and to create prospects for Māori-led investments. The specific areas are:

1. Investment: Māori investing in research and development and Māori participation in the innovation economy in areas such as alternative energy, bio technology, life sciences, carbon saving investment, food tech, agri-science, clean tech, information and communications technology, and the creative sector.
2. Capital: which refers to all forms of capital from pre commercial to venture capital (seed, start up, early and late expansion), private equity and debt funding.
3. Enterprise: which refers to building Māori leadership, people asset resources, cultural capital, Māori capacity and capability to reinforce Māori participation in the economy.

The specific initiatives to date include:

1. On 27 April 2009 a Broadband submission on behalf of Māori was submitted to the Government in response to the proposed 1B broadband roll-out plans. View the submission [PDF, 288Kb].

The submission focused on:

• the flexibility of ownership and operating settings for Local Fibre Companies to ensure Māori have the greatest opportunity to enjoy the benefits of the new infrastructure. Our particular interest is in discussing with the government how different investment proposals within the core model might be treated and assessed
   
• seeking assurances that the proposal does not exacerbate any rural/urban digital divide
   
• seeking a commitment from the government to involve Māori, iwi and hapū organisations as part of the priority roll-out in infrastructure over the next six years.

2. In December 2009, BERL was engaged to research how innovation investment will impact on Māori in the first instance and New Zealand in the second instance if Māori do not get an appropriate level of innovation investment.  Technology is vital for future business endeavours. Māori recognise this and BERL has been engaged to look into the benefits of Māori pursuing innovation, research and development (R&D) and technology. The latest update on this project is available here [PDF 96Kb].

• The study will collect, collate and assess information on the current national Māori asset base and forecast industry growth, potential expertise and skills requirements over the next 20 to 50 years.
  
• The aim of this work is to introduce frameworks, mechanisms, strategies and programmes based on research to improve the positioning of Māori enterprises.
   
• By exploring how innovation can accelerate the potential earnings of the Māori economy, the Taskforce is assisting Māori to make the right investment decisions in terms of time, energy, resources, and asset strategies.
   
• The findings of this study may positively influence current policies governing allocation of R&D, innovation and technology use, specifically targeting improved Māori resourcing.
   
• The research may also yield an improved understanding amongst Māori enterprises and iwi initiatives of the income generating opportunities that investing in R&D, innovation and technology can unleash in Māori assets and what the flow-on effects to Māori and the New Zealand economy might look like.

Relating to technology and innovation, a submission was made in November 2009 to the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology on their discussion document on New Zealand's Science, Research and Technology Priorities. View the submission [38Kb].

3.  In December 2009, in line with the release of the Capital Markets Taskforce (CMD) report, a Māori Investment, Capital and Enterprise Reference Group was established to advise on ensuring Māori collectively owned assets reach their economic potential by capital markets playing their role.

The challenge here is to improve the strike rate between capital markets (cash rich, asset poor investors) and Māori enterprise (predominantly asset rich and cash poor enterprises). The opportunities presented are identifying and/or developing innovative financial products and services that assist capital markets to invest in Māori collectively owned assets and enterprises.

The Reference Group will provide an interim report in June 2010.

This workstream also recognises the critical need to pursue leadership development and explore opportunities in this area.

Last modified: 5/01/2011