2. What We Do

Environmental Assessment

The context within which the Ministry operates is influenced by a number of key drivers. Against the backdrop of the make-up of Māori in New Zealand society, these can be broadly categorised in terms of the position of, and opportunities and challenges for Māori inherent within, the cultural, social and economic environments.

Māori in New Zealand Society

In the 2006 Census, the Māori population was 565,329. This represents one in seven, or 14.6% of the overall New Zealand population. The Māori population is highly urbanised (84%) and 24% of all Māori live in the Auckland region. In addition, the Māori population in Australia in 2001 was 72,954.

Although an increasing proportion of the New Zealand population is older (with a median age of 35.9 years), in general, the Māori population is younger (with a median age of 22.7 years). In addition, the Māori population is growing at a faster rate than the non-Māori population. Kinship groups continue to be of significant importance to Māori: recent research confirms that whānau is the core unit of Māori society and the key medium for the transmission of intergenerational knowledge and cultural norms. Along with other kinship groupings, whānau are vehicles for the expression of identity and pursuing development opportunities.

These demographic trends highlight the importance of investing in realising Māori potential now to ensure a sustainable future.

Māori Cultural Development

Māori culture is a unique, treasured and increasingly valued part of New Zealand culture. Successes to date include:

• Māori culture is often used to distinguish New Zealand internationally, with that usage being meaningful and authentic, and creating pride;
• There has been an increased usage of Māori words and phrases across New Zealand, particularly reflected in the broadcasting sector;
• There are around 1000 marae across New Zealand, which continue to be focal points for Māori communities;
• According to Census 2006, there has been a significant increase in awareness about iwi affiliations (84% of Māori know their iwi). There is increased access to information about whakapapa and iwi, through the internet and through services such as Tuhono;
• Kapa Haka remains the most popular Māori Art, in terms of participation and spectators, and through wānanga, a pool of kaikaranga, kaiwhakairo and other expert practitioners has developed. There is a growing market for contemporary Māori art, and Māori participation in sport is an important contributor to both cultural connections and social outcomes;
• Approximately 24% of the Māori population can speak Māori, of which 10% use their Māori language skills on a regular basis. There has been a major shift in the age profile of the Māori speaking population, from a predominantly elderly population to a new generation of young people with high levels of Māori language skills; and
• 93% of Māori have positive attitudes towards Māori language, with 70% willing to share and progress knowledge of Māori language and culture with all New Zealanders. A further 23% are highly motivated to learn Māori language and participate further in cultural activities, but view this as the exclusive domain of Māori.

The challenges moving forward are:

• Maintaining and growing the momentum of Māori language and cultural revitalisation;
• Recognising the “urbanisation” of the Māori population and connecting Māori with their marae and iwi in an increased globalised society;
• Managing the interface between the role of Māori as kaitiaki of Māori culture and it’s growing place in new Zealand society; and
• Supporting Māori artists to increase their economic returns while maintaining the integrity of their art.

Te Puni Kōkiri has developed a policy and operational platform to support Māori to address these challenges.

Māori Social Development

There have been some significant gains in Māori social development over the last decade. The successes include:

• An increase in the average income of Māori in the workforce;
• A decrease in Māori unemployment to 7.2% for December 2006 quarter;
• Record levels of Māori participating in formal tertiary education (90,765 in 2005);
• An increase in Māori participation in early childhood education of first year school students (from 85% in 2001 to 90% in 2005);
• The number of Māori receiving unemployment benefits dropped from 41,651 in September 1999 to 9,902 in March 2007, a reduction of 64%;
• The number of registered Māori early childhood education teachers is increasing;
• Māori health statistics are improving; and
• A number of programmes and initiatives are in place to improve the quality of Māori housing and the extent of Māori home ownership.

These successes provide a platform for positive Māori development over the next twenty years. However, there are still some specific challenges that we need to think about:

• 53% of Māori boys left school without qualifications in 2005;
• Māori continue to be over-represented in the criminal justice sector;
• There has also been a significant increase in the proportion of Māori living in rented households. Also, there has been a decline in the proportion of Māori living in the house that they own with a mortgage.

Māori Economic Development

Māori are integrated into all levels of the New Zealand economy. Since the Māori economic summit in 1984, Māori have taken charge of their economic development agenda.

Successes to date include:

• In 2001, the total Māori value added accounted for 1.4% of New Zealand’s economy;
• Transfer of control to iwi of approximately $750m in assets as full and final settlement;
• Of Māori claims to commercial fishing;
• 41 iwi are now mandated and have been allocated Māori fisheries settlement assets;
• The aquaculture industry is worth over $300m;
• Māori Forestry landowners are increasingly utilising technology and business skills to create new forestry ventures;
• Māori entrepreneurial skills are strong;
• In 5 years, 5,919 businesses have been assisted through the Māori Business Facilitation Service; and
• Rapidly growing numbers of strong, capable Māori organisations across New Zealand.

The challenges ahead are:

• Positioning Māori to capitalise on opportunities that will emerge in the innovation economy, and on opportunities that are presented by global economic drivers;
• Increasing the Māori share of the economy as well as broadening the economic activity base of Māori;
• Ensuring increased participation of Māori, especially in the knowledge economy through increased participation and investment in industries such as science, research, film and television production;
• Building on improved performance and stronger accountability in the business environment;
• Improving the qualification base and associated employability of the Māori population.
• Increasing the return to owners of collectively owned Māori assets; and
• Strengthening Māori involvement in the aquaculture industry.

This environmental backdrop, along with the priorities set by government, provide the context for the more detailed framework of outcomes that the Ministry has developed to contribute towards Māori succeeding as Māori. The development of those outcome statements, and the Ministry’s efforts towards achieving them, are disciplined by the Māori Potential Approach.