Te Taumata supports and encourages Māori businesses across the motu to develop relationships with key government agencies that can help grow our influence in international markets.
Te Arawa Fisheries, a Rotorua-based Māori organisation, recently hosted a group from New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE).
NZTE is the government agency responsible for supporting New Zealand businesses to grow internationally and Te Taumata has been impressed with its support of Māori enterprise, including its recruitment of several new Māori employees.
This meeting gave Te Arawa Fisheries the chance to showcase its premium Hī mussel products, tour a potential site for its new processing facility and provide an update on the extensive aquaculture developments across the Waiariki rohe.
Hī destined for new international markets
As well as offering a taste test of its Hī mussels, Te Arawa Fisheries updated NZTE on its plans to push Hī into international markets, starting in the next few weeks with a container destined for our neighbours in Sydney, Australia.
The next six to 12 months will see Te Arawa Fisheries focus on building relationships with First Nations in America and from there, it will move into Britain – with the help of the new NZ/UK FTA – and Europe.
Hī is just one example of the premium Māori products that are ready for international trade and will benefit from government-level support.
New processing plant and large-scale aquaculture developments
Seizing the opportunity of having NZTE officials in Rotorua, Te Arawa Fisheries offered a tour of a site being considered for its new processing facility.
This facility will allow Te Arawa Fisheries to expand its production capacity to meet growing demand.
The intention to develop and grow production capabilities stem from a number of motivations, including limiting the organisation’s carbon footprint, creating a sustainable business that builds on its existing assets, and contributing new jobs for whānau.
Te Arawa Fisheries, which is closely involved in the large-scale Waiariki aquaculture developments underway, was also able to update NZTE on the detailed, investor-ready plans for five targeted aquaculture species with significant growth potential.
These developments, coupled with the ongoing discussions Waiariki iwi are having with multibillion-dollar marine products company Nissui, highlight the significant opportunities in this industry.
Meetings with key agencies are vital to fostering a productive relationship between Māori businesses and the Government.
Te Taumata is pleased to see government agencies engaging with Māori and exploring exciting new opportunities as the world reopens and Aotearoa enters its trade-led COVID-19 recovery phase.
