Māpuna for Saturday 26 February 2022

12.13 Where does a 70 billion dollar Maori economy head next?

The Maori economy is estimated to be worth almost 70-billion dollars. Māori own a significant proportion of assets in the primary sectors like 50% of the fishing quota and 40% of forestry but what about the private sector and entrepreneurial innovation? Jamie Rihia is the General Manager of Commercial Strategy and Strategic Investments for the Tauhara North Number 2 Trust, one of Aotearoa's largest and most diverse Ahuwhenua Trusts. But he's also helping to grow the Whāriki Māori Business Network into a national movement by harnessing the power of digital and online platforms. 

12.30 A 21-year study proving valuable for Maori health, wellbeing and education

A 21-year study of thousands of children is now at its halfway point and its insights are proving valuable. Twelve years ago more than six thousand pregnant women volunteered to take part in the study, Growing Up in New Zealand, which would chart the lives of their children from birth to the age of 21. Around a thousand of them are Maori and the study is revealing valuable information about what could improve their health, wellbeing and education.  Dr Sarah-Jane Paine, of Tuhoe descent, is the new research director for Growing Up in New Zealand 

Dr Sarah-Jane Paine Photo: supplied

12.45 Anton Blank on forgiving Pakeha and colonial history

If we don't forgive Pakeha and our colonial history we can't move on. That's according to publisher and communications expert Anton Blank. His next book about racism will focus on forgiveness which Anton says "is the next important phase of Maori development." Of Ngati Porou and Ngati Kahungunu whakapapa he's also edited a book about the work of his mother, Arapera Blank, who was the first Maori woman to win the Katherine Mansfield Award. And if he hasn't been busy enough he's also a child advocate and founder of the Ora Nui Journal of Maori writing. 

Anton Blank Photo: RNZ