Maori Business Practices A discussion

Muramura ahi ka ki uta Muramura ahi ka ki tai Whakatauaki Muramura ahi ka ki uta Muramura ahi ka ki tai

Ahi ka The Māori concept of ahi ka translates to keeping the ancestral fires burning to prove a sustained relationship with a location or area. Ahi ka is a symbiotic relationship in that resources are used to feed the fire, as well as nourish those whose responsibility it is to maintain those fires.

Ahi ka To ensure that the fires burn long for the benefit of people, the resources need to be managed in perpetuity. Ahi ka is symbolic of Māori economies in that we must develop, maintain and sustain Māori business in order to provide for and improve future generations. Resources are not only physical items such as land, water and air, but also include people and tech‐knowledge. Keep the home fires burning flickr.com

Intergenerational wealth The term ‘intergenerational wealth’ is attributed to Sir Tipene O’Regan of Kai Tahu (Ngai Tahu). It stems from a view which acknowledges that resources used and developed today are simply on loan from future generations.

Intergenerational wealth Māori have a responsibility to develop, maintain and grow our current resources in order to support and provide for future generations. Intergenerational wealth incorporates the notion of the shareholder that never dies.

Māori Business The term ‘Māori business’ generally refers to the involvement of Maori individuals in the ordinary processes of business or commercial activity. Maori business in this sense is really a sub‐set of the peculiar Pakeha variant of capitalism which characterises economic life in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Māori economic culture Māori economic culture is essentially opposite in almost every respect to the economic values Maori collectively owned entities purport to pursue.

NZ/Pakeha economic culture NZ/Pakeha economic culture is based around the pursuit of individual wealth, assets are bought and sold three and four times in one generation and wealth is typically generated from the trading process involved. It is generally described as ‘the market’ and the economies reflecting its principles as ‘market economies’.

NZ/Pakeha economic culture Within these economies it is argued that the market works for the general or even collective benefit of a given society by maximising the opportunities of its individual members.

Collectively owned Māori enterprises Collectively owned Māori enterprises are owned and governed by Maori tribes and a range of sub‐tribal entities. The distinctive character of such enterprises is that they are – ultimately – not for sale. Although their profits may be distributed by way of share dividends or in a range of what may be loosely described as ‘charitable’ means, they are generally intended to be vehicles which can and will maintain capital inter‐generationally.

Summary Ahi ka or keeping the ancestral fires burning to prove a sustained relationship with a location. Resources are used to nourish those whose responsibility it is to maintain those ‘fires’. Resources need to be managed in perpetuity. ‘Intergenerational wealth’ acknowledges the view that resources used and developed today are simply on loan from future generations. Māori have a responsibility to develop, maintain and grow their current resources.

Summary continued Intergenerational wealth incorporates the notion of the shareholder that never dies. Collectively owned Māori enterprises are owned and governed by Maori tribes and sub‐tribal entities. Such enterprises are – ultimately – not for sale. Profits may be distributed in many ways, but are generally intended to be vehicles which can and will maintain capital inter‐generationally.

Reference Māori business symposium. (2008). Intergenerational wealth. Re-igniting indigenous economies. Retrieved July 23, 2010, from http://www.commerce.otago.ac.nz/com/pdfs/Maori %20Symposium%202008/2009%20Forum/2008_S ummary_Proceedings.pdf