In business, timing is everything. Soon after the dawn of the auspicious Year of the Water Dragon, leaders from New Zealand’s Taniwha Economy landed in Beijing for two weeks of meetings with leaders from China’s Dragon Economy.

Successful companies representing New Zealand’s $37-billion-plus Māori economy took part in the trade mission to China and Hong Kong that was led by Māori Affairs Minister Hon Dr Pita Sharples. The delegation was part of a long-term China strategy supported by Te Puni Kōkiri and aligned with the Government’s wider NZ Inc activities.

Asia’s Dragon economies are fast becoming the centre of gravity of the global economy with China indisputably at the helm. Dr Sharples says strengthening cultural and economic bonds and forging new ones with China is a priority.

“Our peoples share a common Asia Pacific outlook on life: relationships aren’t bought: they are grown over time. Relationships are only as strong as the people within them and in recent years we have seen Māori connections with the people of China blossom,” says Dr Sharples. During the trip some members signed commercial deals while others are set to formalise agreements later this year. The warmth of the welcome was unmistakeable, especially with the delegation being invited to meet with Vice Premier Hui Liangyu inside Zhongnanhai, the inner sanctum of Beijing’s Communist Party - sectors usually off-limits to outsiders.

Citing New Zealand’s 100% Pure brand as one Māori have held for generations, Dr Sharples said Māori are successful business people with a dynamic economy linking them eternally to Aotearoa. It was a story the delegation was able to tell and one their hosts identified with.

“The Taniwha Economy is primarily about generations of people, including those who have gone before us and those yet to be born: this is what long term investment means for Māori.”

“This is not the first time the Taniwha Economy has bonded with the Chinese Dragon: and it won’t be the last,” said Dr Sharples.