Māori Economic Development Panel Chairman Ngāhiwi Tomoana has been appointed to the inaugural executive board of the New Zealand China Council.

The Council was established in July 2012 to support a key goal of the New Zealand Inc China Strategy: retaining and building strong, resilient relationships with China. Ngāhiwi currently chairs Ngāti Kahungunu: his iwi is already exporting directly into China – dried mussel meat straight from Hawkes Bay to Shandong Province. Further south, Ngāi Tahu joined Sichuan agri-giant New Hope to take an equity share in Agria (New Zealand’s largest rural services company). In the central North Island, tribes are building relationships with Chinese forestry interests while in the North, Chinese investors via Axin NZ are working with iwi on the first Māori owned fibre optic network that will connect Auckland and Whangārei.

He’s already been on two trade missions to China and says meeting kanohi-ki-te-kanohi is critical because for Chinese people, like Māori people, it’s relationships first, business second. He says Māori have a head start on others heading to trade with the Dragon economies of Asia: Māori Affairs Minister Dr Pita Sharples often refers to this as our “Māori edge”.

“With our Chinese cousins, as with Māori: diplomacy, legacy and culture are paramount. This is how we do business, how we relate to other people. Those of us indigenous to the Asia Pacific region share these beliefs so it isn’t surprising that we are welcomed so warmly when we are in China,” says Ngāhiwi.

“This Māori edge sets us apart in a crowded global marketplace; our Māori culture is a unique point of difference and is attractive to the Chinese consumer”.

The Council is chaired by the Rt Hon Don McKinnon and brings together New Zealand leaders in business, public sector and academia. It will build understanding of common challenges and opportunities for NZ Inc to balance and lead public discussion and support ministers. The Council will lead a high-level bilateral Partnership Forum with Chinese counterparts.

Board members include: Right Honourable Sir Don McKinnon ONZ GCVO, Right Honourable Dame Jenny Shipley DNZM, Professor Sir Peter Gluckman KNZM, FRS, Sir Graeme Harrison KNZM, Tim White, Arthur Loo, Bruce Hassall, Cathy Quinn, David Green, John Allen, Norm Thompson, Tony Browne, Peter Chrisp, Michael Stedman, Ngāhiwi Tomoana, and Richard Yan.