Te Hapori Matihiko Awards – 13 June 2025
Te Taumata proudly congratulates our next generation, recently-appointed Trustee Ernestynne Walsh, who received the Corporate Change award at the annual Te Hapori Matihiko awards, celebrating excellence in the Māori digital and tech community. The award recognises individuals who have made significant contributions to progressing kaupapa Māori in corporate environments, including promoting cultural values, influencing workplace inclusivity, and creating pathways for Māori in technology sectors. Ernestynne’s work continues to inspire rangatahi and exemplifies leadership in corporate transformation. She will also be presenting at this year’s WTO Open Forum in Geneva on Indigenous digital trade issues and AI.
New Zealand Institute of International Affairs (NZIIA) Conference – 16–17 June 2025
Chair Hone McGregor represented Te Taumata at the NZIIA (https://www.nziia.org.nz/) 2025 Conference, held at the British High Commission and hosted by H.E. Iona Thomas. Themed Prosperity | Security | Values – Aotearoa New Zealand’s foreign and trade policies in contested spaces. The conference brought together leaders from across government, academia, and business. Te Taumata strongly supports this kaupapa, adding a Māori exporters’ voice, along with Jacqui Caine (Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu) who provided insights on Māori leadership in resetting foreign policy. NZIIA event also provided the launch of the Perceptions of Asia 2025 survey by the Asia NZ Foundation (https://www.asianz.org.nz/perceptions-of-asia-2025), which provides key insights into public views on Asia and its impact on trade and diplomacy. Hone is Deputy Chair of AsiaNZ and next generation recently appointed Te Taumata Trustee, Ethan Jones, is also AsiaNZ Foundation Kaiwhakahaere, Hōtaki Pakihi, Manager, Business Programme.
Vietnam–New Zealand 50th Anniversary – 17 June 2025
Vietnam is an increasingly important export partner for Aotearoa and also Māori exporters. Te Taumata joined the celebration of 50 years of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and New Zealand. The event highlighted the depth of trade relationships, particularly in food and beverage, with Wakatū’s Kono operating in Vietnam alongside other Māori enterprises. The occasion reaffirmed the value of strengthening Māori-led trade connections in Southeast Asia and the potential for further business development in the region. Executive Director of ExportNZ and Manufacturing NZ, Josh Tan, [pictured] is keen to support Māori exporters – ExportNZ (https://exportnz.org.nz/) provides targeted advocacy, practical support programmes, and networking opportunities to help exporters succeed globally. Their offerings include up-to-date market information, training on navigating free-trade agreements, and resources such as exporter stories, newsletters, and report so please contact us if you would like more details on ExportNZ’s activities and we can ensure Māori exporters are connected.
Pacific Fisheries Ministers Delegation – 28 June 2025
Fisheries is part of the backbone of the Māori economy, something essential to our current, ancient and future Māori identity, as well as our economy. In Te Tauihu, Te Taumata hosted a delegation of Pacific Fisheries Ministers as part of a MFAT Pacific Division programme. Visits to Wakatū and Kono (https://www.kono.co.nz/), Sealord (https://www.sealord.com/), Moana New Zealand (https://moana.co.nz/), Plant & Food Research (https://www.plantandfood.com/en-nz/), and the Cawthron Institute (https://www.cawthron.org.nz/) provided a comprehensive view of the New Zealand fisheries value chain. The hui showcased how Māori businesses integrate kaitiakitanga and innovation into sustainable fisheries management, offering valuable lessons for Pacific partners.
New Caledonia Indigenous Business Delegation – 30 June 2025
A diverse indigenous business delegation from New Caledonia visited Aotearoa, supported by the French Government (https://www.facebook.com/france.nz/) and MFAT. The group included wāhine entrepreneurs and leaders from tourism, horticulture, agriculture, seafood, digital innovation, and indigenous arts. The French Ambassador delivered a speech outlining the Māori–French Roadmap, with Hone McGregor responding on behalf of Te Taumata, emphasising opportunities for indigenous-to-indigenous trade, collaborative innovation, and cultural exchange.
ASEAN–NZ & Asia Forum Anniversaries – 3 July 2025
Government House hosted a celebration for the 50th anniversary of ASEAN–NZ relations and the 30th anniversary of the Asia Forum (https://www.asiaforum.org.nz/). Te Taumata representatives joined key trade and diplomatic figures, including kapa haka performances that brought a strong cultural dimension to the event. Discussions explored deepening Māori engagement in ASEAN markets and enhancing regional trade resilience. The ASEAN region is a significant and growing trade region for Māori exporters, so engagement in this region and agreements supporting our trade and economic cooperation with the region are fundamental and developing strongly. [Pictured: Paul Eagle (Chatham Islands CEO), Hone, and Suz Jessep (AsiaNZ Foundation CEO)]
French National Day & 80 Years of France–NZ Relations – 11 July 2025
At Parliament, Te Taumata was acknowledged at celebrations marking France’s National Day and 80 years of diplomatic relations with New Zealand. Hosted by H.E. Laurence Beau, Ambassador of France, the event reinforced the importance of the Māori–French partnership, particularly in progressing the EU–NZ FTA Māori economic cooperation chapter. https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/parliamentary-relations/ipr-news-and-events/french-senate-delegation-visits-new-zealand-parliament/
Māori–India Trade Dialogue – 15 July 2025
Hone McGregor, Wayne Mulligan (Fomana Capital) and Jamie Tuuta (Sealord Chairman), met with Bharat Joshi (Indian business leader) to discuss the growing Māori economy and potential partnerships between Māori and Indian communities. With 34% of Māori under the age of 15, both parties recognised the potential for future-focused, values-aligned collaborations, linking Māori values such as whakapapa and kaitiakitanga with Indian principles of ahimsa and interconnectedness. Bharat is a long-time friend of Aotearoa and author of Navigating India: https://www.asiamediacentre.org.nz/experts/bharat-joshi a very useful insight to India and trade. This engagement is a prelude to the potential India-NZ Free Trade Agreement, currently in negotiation.
Engagement with French Senators – 16 July 2025
As part of a French Senate visit to Aotearoa, Hone McGregor met with French Senators Philippe Folliot and Sébastien Pla, alongside the French Ambassador, to discuss operationalising the Māori economic cooperation chapter in the EU–NZ FTA. It was an opportunity to acknowledge France as the first European Union country to develop and confirm a road-map to implement this chapter, opening opportunities in Māori wine and food exports, innovation missions, geographical indicators, cultural tourism, green energy, and blue economy collaborations. Hone shows the medal presentation from the French Senate for our Te Taumata collaboration.
European Parliamentary Delegation – 25 July 2025
Te Taumata, Mānuka Charitable Trust – Victor Goldsmith, and the Ministry for Primary Industries, Principal Advisor in Trade and International Relations in New Zealand for MPI – Keri Iti, met with a European Parliamentary delegation at MFAT to discuss European Union FTA implementation, which has just had its one year anniversary of coming into force. Hone delivered clear messages about the importance of EU member states developing practical roadmaps to support Māori exporters and trade aspirations. EU Parliament delegation leader MP Sean Kelly (https://www.facebook.com/sean.kellymep) said “We were deeply honoured by the warm welcome, the openness of our New Zealand counterparts, and the chance to learn more about the richness of the Māori heritage and culture. It was a powerful reminder of how much we can gain from listening, sharing and building lasting partnerships”.
Canadian High Commissioner Engagement – 31 July 2025
Hone McGregor and MFAT’s Tane Waetford met with Canadian High Commissioner H.E. Keith Smith (https://www.international.gc.ca/country-pays/new_zealand-nouvelle_zelande/wellington-rep.aspx?lang=eng) to explore synergies between Māori and Canadian indigenous trade strategies. Discussions covered the four pou of Te Taumata, indigenous women in industry initiatives, and pathways to support Māori exporters entering the Canadian market.
Te Aratini at Australian Pavilion – 4 August 2025
Te Taumata Trustee, Teresa Tepania-Ashton, presented in Osaka, Japan, on behalf of Te Taumata’s joint research Māori trade programme ‘Tauhokohoko’ with University of Waikato’s Hon. Nanaia Mahuta. More than 70 Māori delegates and over 170 indigenous representatives gathered in Osaka to advance the indigenous-led platform, part of the global Expo 2025 and to promote trade, cultural exchange and collaboration grounded in indigenous values of reciprocity, responsibility and whakawhanaungatanga. Teresa also met with other indigenous leaders and key stakeholders to progress Māori–Canadian and also Māori-Australian trade links. Teresa pictured here with Canadian High Commissioner to NZ, H.E. Keith Smith in Osaka.
Hong Kong 15 years of CEPA Dinner – 9 August 2025
In his role as Deputy Chair of AsiaNZ, Hone McGregor attended a Hong Kong Govt gala dinner celebrating 15 years of Hong Kong/New Zealand’s CEPA trade agreement. Mr Algernon Yau, Hong Kong’s Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development delivered the keynote speech along with Trade Minister Hon. Todd McClay. Hone also held discussions with Mrs. Bonnie Shek, Director, Australia and New Zealand for Hong Kong’s Trade Development Council regarding attracting values-aligned Asian investment into Māori economic projects, and the role of strategic long-term planning in ensuring mana motuhake while engaging with global capital and B2B Māori exporter opportunities. Please contact us if you would like connections into Hong Kong.
Te Taumata Website is now LIVE!
Te Taumata is proud to announce that our updated website is now live!
The refreshed site is designed to better connect whānau, hapū, iwi, and Māori exporters with the kaupapa of advancing Māori interests in trade, policy, and global partnerships. It provides easy access to news, resources, research, and updates on our mahi — including our work advocating for Māori-led trade policy, implementing Free Trade Agreement benefits, and growing Indigenous-to-Indigenous trade opportunities.
Visit us today and explore the new features:
🌐 www.tetaumata.com
Nōu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi — with your contribution and ours, our people will thrive.
