A Māori economic development strategy recently launched in Ōtaki will benefit the Kapiti and Horowhenua regions. The strategy, named Te Aho, is the collective aspirations for the rohe of Te Āti Awa ki Whakarongotai, Ngāti Raukawa ki te tonga, Ngāti Toarangatira and Mūaupoko. Te Puni Kōkiri recently estimated that the value of the Māori commercial asset base is more than $16.4 billion. “Strengthening the local commercial asset base can only help the economy and benefit everyone in the region,” says strategy coordinator Daphne Luke.