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Horomia
‘I
am proud to say that the government has been delivering
to the Maoris’
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he
Maoris, descendants of Polynesian voyagers who migrated from the ninth
century, lived in New Zealand long before the European settlers arrived.
Today, they account for 16 per cent of the four million population.
The Maori Committee of the Tourism New Zealand Board was set up in 1999
to ensure their culture is portrayed overseas in an authentic way, so
that tourists see the Maoris as an important component of the tourism
experience. Four themes have been identified: Manaakitanga and Tangata
– warm, generous hosting; Whakatauki – proverbs; Whenua –
land, wildlife, nature; and Waiata – music, performance and visual
arts.
The Maoris were mainly rural dwellers, but in the post-Second World
War period the majority migrated to the towns and cities. “It was
one of the fastest transitions from rural to urban living in history,”
according to minister for Maori affairs, Parekura
Horomia.
While
preserving many of their traditions, such as cooking in the geothermal
mudpools and springs – at least on special occasions – Maoris
are nevertheless increasing their presence in financial and commercial
life. They hold commercial assets worth more than $5 billion, mostly
in the fishing, farming and forestry sectors.
They are also important in tourism. Half a dozen Maoris mortgaged their
homes to start the whale-watching trips, which have become one of the
biggest tourist attractions in New Zealand.
While Maori interests are estimated to control up to 37 per cent of
the total fishing quota of the country’s fisheries industry, about
10 per cent of the commercial forestry estates are on Maori land on
the North Island.
“The
government’s focus on developing biotechnology, information and
communications technology (ICT), and creative industries, could be good
news for developing Maori assets,” says Mr Horomia. “I am
proud to say that the government has been delivering to the Maori.”
About a third of Maoris are aged under 15, so it is a relatively young
population. “We need to rediscover the sense of entrepreneurship
that was so typical of our predecessors,” he adds.
“New Zealanders are a very innovative people and I believe the
Maoris are an innovative people too. On an international level, Maori
companies are exporting goods all over the world.”