The Māori Economy: key insights on how and why to engage with the $68.7 billion Māori economy as it continues to grow and develop as an integral part of the economic ecosystem of Aotearoa.
Understanding the Māori economy and why is it an integral part of Aotearoa’s economy across a wide range of industries and sectors.
Current challenges for the Māori economy.
Opportunities for businesses and investors from engaging well with Māori business.
Real life examples of successful Māori enterprises and current investment and partnership opportunities.
Unravelling the mysteries of meaningful engagement: Practical tips to understand key principles that underpin Māori businesses, and how these principles drive strategic outcomes different from the traditional Western business models.
Rēnata Blair
Head of Māori Sector & Relationships, Bank of New Zealand (BNZ)
Rēnata has held many governance roles notably on the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Reserves, and the Independent Māori Statutory Boards. He is a member of the Institute of Directors, a Trustee of the Eden Park Trust Board and member of AUT Council.
Rēnata has demonstrated his Rangatiratanga me Te Aronga ki Mua (Leadership and Commitment) to the prosperity of Māori and established and ran his own business, Evitan Events for 12 years. He understands first-hand what it takes to run a successful business.
In 2020, Rēnata returned back to the corporate sector and was appointed the Head of Māori Business at BNZ. His role is to build the bank into the Bank for Māori, and offer services and financial solutions that will assist Māori to achieve their aspirations. His professional view is that, a successful Iwi Economy means a successful NZ society.
Rēnata is of Ngāti Whātua descent and is fluent in Te Reo Māori and Tikanga Māori. He has a rural upbringing growing up on the shores of the Kaipara Harbour but has lived the past 30 years on Bastion Point next to the Ōrākei Marae, with his wife and they have children.
Te Pūoho Katene
Executive Director, Te Pūtea Whakatupu Trust
Te Pūoho traces his heritage to the Ngāti Toa, Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Tama tribes. A graduate of Stanford Business School and Fulbright Scholar, he is steadfast in his pursuit of holistic prosperity for Māori.
His comprehensive background includes marine science, commercial and investment strategy, governance, relationship management across iwi and government, impact investment and social enterprise. His role as an Obama Foundation Leader: Asia-Pacific has given him a global outlook on leveraging global best practice within an indigenous, values-based lens.
As Executive Director of Te Pūtea Whakatupu Trust, Te Pūoho pursues targeted social change within a tikanga-based impact framework. The Trust’s philanthropic and investment activity targets outcomes in three priority areas: education & training, traditional and scientific knowledge systems, and leadership development.
He serves his tribe, Ngāti Toa, as a Trustee and a member of the Audit, Risk and Investment Committee. He is an Independent Director of Wakatū Inc’s Manaaki board and Waikato-Tainui’s Distributions Committee and is a Trustee of Ākina Foundation and Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA) Foundation.
He is a founding member of Future Food Aotearoa (FFA) – a founder’s movement formed in 2020 to accelerate the growth and impact of future food and foodtech businesses from New Zealand.
Formerly a member of NZTE’s Māori Investment and KPMG’s Corporate Finance teams, TP also spent 10 years working for New Zealand’s government, including within Parliament advising on prominent policy issues, such as regional economic development, Treaty settlements, and fisheries & aquaculture.
Michael Stiassny
Director, Stiassny + Co
Michael has over 40 years’ experience as a Chartered Accountant, specialising in strategic advice, insolvency, and turnaround activities.
He is currently Chair of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai Rawa Limited and Tower Limited, and a director of a number of other companies.
He is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (retired), a life member of RITANZ, a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors and a past President of the Institute.
Kate Searancke
Partner, Tompkins Wake
Kate is a Partner in our Property team specialising in leasing and commercial property transactions. Kate works with developers and investors across their commercial property portfolio's to facilitate the sale and acquisition of property including due diligence and financing. Kate also specialises in local government property law working with local authorities throughout the central North Island.
Of Ngati Maniapoto descent, Kate has a strong focus on her own iwi interests and the wider Maori community and is a representative for her hapu Ngawaero on Waipa District Council's consultative committee Nga Iwi o Topu o Waipa. Kate leads our Maori Business practice and works with local government and private entities, advising on complex Maori land law issues and on working effectively with Maori and iwi engagement ensuring seamless advice for whanau, hapu and iwi clients.
Kate has been practicing law since 2004 and joined Tompkins Wake in 2014 having previously worked for Bell Gully in Auckland and Blake Dawson (now Ashurst) in Sydney. Kate was promoted to Partner in 2018.
Schedule
7:00am - 7:30am - Registration Opens
7:30am - 7.50am - Breakfast
7:50am - 7:55am - Welcome: Chairperson
7:55am - 8:10am - Introduction: Chairperson
Speaker 1
8:10am - 8:25am - Introduction: Chairperson
Speaker 2
8:25am - 8:40am - Networking break, coffee, refreshments
8:40am - 8:55am - Introduction: Chairperson
Speaker 3
8:55am - 9:25am - Panel Discussion
9:25am - Closing by Chairman
9:30am - Event over / networking
Venue (Hilton Auckland):
