There is a major state-owned enterprise (SOE) in New Zealand that is including a good singalong in the induction programme of its most senior staff.

Aware that board members and senior managers can ordinarily spend many days and even weeks getting to know and trust one another enough to make important decisions together, this SOE decided to adopt a deliberately ‘Māori approach’.

The communal singing of a waiata achieves almost instantly what had previously taken a long time to realise. It is an example of what the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER) might call the “Māori edge” in action.

The NZIER recently prepared a discussion document for Te Puni Kōkiri entitled Te Wā O Te Ao Hurihuri Ki Te Ōhanga Whanaketanga Māori – A Time For Change in Māori Economic Development, in which they
put forward the case for this ‘edge’ concept.

In essence, the Māori edge is an expression of Māori comparative advantage. Points of difference being potentially very valuable, the authors of Te Wā O Te Ao Hurihuri argue that traditional values, activities and protocols are providing Māori with natural advantages.

Te Wā O Te Ao Hurihuri suggests that the opportunity to showcase obvious business and trading talents possessed by Māori is one that should be grasped for the benefit of all New Zealanders.

“…much could be gained through increased cooperation and collaboration between Māori and non-Māori businesses that might otherwise be seen as competing. The most obvious example where there are very strong Māori complementarities is tourism… Finding ways to further apply and capture the significant Māori-added externality which accrues presently to tourism would also be a feature of a more enhanced leadership role for Māori.”

And Te Wā O Te Ao Hurihuri suggests that now is the time for action.
“Capturing the positive demand for aspects of the Māori culture, particularly internationally in the creative industries, would provide the catalytic spur for broadening the appeal more widely. In simple terms, it appears ‘cool’ to be Māori. Such ‘coolness’ is an important aspect underpinning the concept of the Māori edge, which will drive further progress.”

Te Wā O Te Ao Hurihuri cites the success of Michael Campbell’s clothing label, Kia Kaha, as an example of “the ease with which spiritual and cultural elements are fused with consumer preferences”. Interest in the clothing range springs not just from Michael’s sporting success, but also in designs that have actual meaning and tell a story.

“Māori images and people create an opening into the ‘New Zealand experience’ in ways that cannot be replicated, opening doors for non-Māori opportunities along the way.”

Therefore, the challenge the Māori edge creates is how best to lever off these comparative advantages to benefit not only Māori but all New Zealanders.

“Given the positive outlook and relatively strong state Māori economic development finds itself in, now is an opportune time for the waka to lead the New Zealand fleet,” the authors of Te Wā O Te Ao Hurihuri conclude.