Champions for Change welcomes the release of “Te Ōhanga Māori 2023,” the full report on the Māori economy commissioned by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). Produced by Business and Economic Research Limited (BERL) and informed by key data from the 2023 census, the report reveals insights into the Māori economy, and its significant contributions to the economy of Aotearoa New Zealand.
The report reveals that the Māori economic contribution has grown from $17 billion in 2018 to $32 billion in 2023, comprising 8.9% of the national GDP. While agriculture, forestry and fishing were the primary contributors in 2018, these have been outpaced by administrative services, property services and professional services.
The Māori asset base has seen dramatic growth, occurring at a faster rate than the overall economy, with an 83% increase between 2018 and 2023. Assets have grown from $69 billion to $126 billion, surpassing the previous estimate of Māori assets reaching $100 billion by 2030.
Over this same 5-year period, the rates of Māori entrepreneurship rose significantly – seeing a 49% increase in Māori self-employment and a 31% increase in Māori employers. In 2023, there were nearly 24,000 Māori-owned businesses – with the largest number of businesses based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. There has also been a corresponding shift in the skill levels of Māori workers, with Māori workers now holding more high-skilled jobs than low-skilled jobs for the first since 2006.
The report’s insights underscore the value and importance of Māori economic contributions to all of Aotearoa New Zealand. With the Māori population still experiencing economic disparity, initiatives focused on strengthening equity and inclusion for Māori workers remain pivotally important.
You can download and read the full Te Ōhanga Māori 2023 report on the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment website here.