M9 will kick-start its 2025 season with Te Ōhanga Māori — A Pathway to Prosperity, on April 10, exploring how Māori have shaped and continue to drive the success of the economy in Aotearoa.
A statement from the organisers says that according to MBIE’s Te Ōhanga Māori 2023 Snapshot — released in December 2024, the Māori asset base has grown from $69 billion in 2018 to $119 billion in 2023.
“This is made up of $59 billion in assets for Māori businesses and employers, $41 billion in assets for Māori trusts, incorporations, and other Māori entities, and $19 billion in assets for self-employed Māori.”
M9 curator Ria Hall says Māori economic success is nothing new — “it is an evolution, built on whakapapa, resilience and a commitment to collective wellbeing”.
“Māori have been a driving economic force in Aotearoa for centuries, evolving with the times while staying anchored in our values. It is an economy that goes beyond the numbers, and serves the people,” says Hall.
The lineup of Māori trailblazers and economic leaders taking the M9 stage includes:
- Rēnata Blair — DCE Māori for ACC | Director for Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei
- Honourable Nanaia Mahuta — Former Labour Minister | Strategic Adviser
- Mavis Mullins MNZM — Director for Paewai Mullins Shearing
- Traci Houpapa MNZM — Chief Executive for Federation of Māori Authorities
- Honourable Kiritapu Allan — Former Labour Minister | Director for KLA Consultancy
- Jamie Tuuta — Chair for Ka Uruora | Chairman for Sealord | Chairman for Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Mutunga | Director for Kawe
- Te Kahukura Boynton — Director for Māori Millionaire
- Te Wehi Wright — Board member for Tūaropaki Trust | Cultural Advisor for the Māori All Blacks and Hurricanes | Senior Consultant for Te Amokura Consultants
- Professor Matt Roskruge — Economist | Associate Professor Māori Massey Business School
DCE Māori for ACC and Director for Ngāti Whātua Ōrakei, Rēnata Blair, whose governance and business experience spans key economic institutions, says that Māori economic success has been built through uniquely Māori values and leadership.
“This M9 will deliver kōrero designed to spark action, challenge thinking, and inspire the next wave of Māori innovators and economic powerhouses…”
“Our people have long shaped our country’s economic identity on a global scale, not by following someone else’s blueprint, but by being authentically Māori — applying our own vision of prosperity to this space,” says Blair.
Hall says this M9 will deliver kōrero designed to spark action, challenge thinking, and inspire the next wave of Māori innovators and economic powerhouses.
“This is more than a business kōrero. It is a movement. It’s about taking the conversation out of the boardroom and into the hearts of the people. Showing how we all have a role to play in creating prosperity for our mokopuna,” says Hall.
Te Ōhanga Māori — A Pathway to Prosperity will take place at the Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre in Auckland’s Aotea Centre from 7pm – 10:30pm, Thursday 10 April 2025. Click here for tickets.
The audience at the last M9 event in November 2024: Te Ao Hākinakina. (Image courtesy of M9).
