Kia ora koutou,
Te Taumata has played host to prominent delegates from the United Kingdom to discuss the NZ/UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the opportunities it presents for Māori.
Members of the Te Taumata team sat down with UK Secretary of State for International Trade, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, and British High Commissioner to NZ, Her Excellency Iona Thomas, on Saturday to have an in-depth conversation about the new agreement.
Te Taumata has always recognised the value of Māori goods and services with our unique culture embedded into everything we do. Now, we aim to fast-track trade for Māori into the UK to benefit our people and provide the UK with easy access to our premium products.
The new NZ/UK FTA is the ‘gold standard’ of modern and ambitious Free Trade Agreements, with the focus for both countries now shifting to implementation – the UK is on track to complete this through Parliament in 2022.
Climate change also featured heavily in our kōrero. We raised the concerns of our people and country as we face significant environmental challenges and the importance of following in the UK’s footsteps using trade to respond to climate change through clean technology and green investment.
This meeting is a prime example of how Te Taumata is using its position to tell our Māori story and make sure Māori interests are represented in international partnerships.
Te Taumata has changed the way Government engages with Māori and we’re focused on exploring options for exchanges and Māori-led trade missions into the UK.
We’re working actively with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) to bring these exchanges to life.
Ngā mihi,
Chris Karamea Insley.