Welcome to our New Year! This month to kick off the Māori new year we celebrate the unwavering strength and growth of pakihi Māori across Te Tai Tokerau. In the wider Māori economy, now worth over $80 billion, our northern story continues to stand out. Here, economic development is more than profit, it’s tino rangatiratanga in action. It’s our whakapapa, our whenua, and our whānau driving forward together.

He Āhua o te Ōhanga Māori i Te Tai Tokerau

Māori in Te Tai Tokerau collectively hold around $2.5 billion in assets. While this is a smaller share compared to other regions, what makes our economy distinct is how deeply it’s connected to whānau and whenua. Many of our pakihi are whānau-led, kaupapa Māori-driven, and created with purpose, not just profit.

We’re seeing strong momentum across our traditional sectors like farming, fisheries, and forestry. But there’s exciting movement too in tourism, construction, digital enterprise, toi Māori, and creative services. And increasingly, our pakihi are:

• Creating meaningful jobs

• Upskilling rangatahi

• Protecting the taiao

• Building long-term intergenerational wealth

“Ko te oranga o te pakihi Māori, he oranga mō te whānau, he oranga mō te hapori.”

He Aha ngā Mahi a Whāriki i tēnei Marama

It’s been a full and exciting month at Whāriki Te Tai Tokerau. Some of our key highlights include:

Matariki Mākete at Hihiaua Cultural Centre

We were proud to host our midwinter Mākete at Hihiaua Cultural Centre, spotlighting over 15 pakihi Māori, showcasing beautiful toi, Kai and bringing hundreds of whānau together in a kaupapa full of wairua, celebration and community connection.

The Pick – Supporting Bold Business in Te Tai Tokerau

We’re proud to support The Pick 2025 – a 10-week business accelerator growing the next wave of innovation in Te Tai Tokerau. With 28 entries and six inspiring finalists, this kaupapa uplifts local entrepreneurs through mentoring, workshops, and the chance to pitch their ideas to the wider community. Ka mau te wehi to all who stepped forward – Whāriki celebrates your courage and vision as you start to wrap up those final weeks and step out in your power!

InnoNative Economy Store Opening

We also joined in the celebrations for the launch of the InnoNative Economy store, a kaupapa powered by He Puna Marama Trust with Heeni Niha at the helm. The store provides space for indigenous creators and businesses to showcase their products, collaborating with other pakihi in an aesthetically beautiful space in the Town Basin Whāngarei, great location for pakihi Māori to be showcased with authenticity and pride.

Strengthening Business Connections

Our team has continued mahi across the rohe, meeting with pakihi Māori, running capability sessions, and beginning planning for a regionally-focused event model tied to the maramataka and grounded in mana motuhake.

Pakihi Spotlights

Through our channels, we’ve continued uplifting the incredible mahi of our pakihi Māori, sharing stories, building visibility, and encouraging connections across our network. If you have a pakihi you’d like us to feature, reach out!

Te Ara Kei Mua – Our Opportunities

As the Māori economy continues to grow, so too do the opportunities for Te Tai Tokerau. The path ahead calls us to:

• Support Māori into leadership and enterprise

• Strengthen our digital and innovation capability

• Elevate mātauranga me pūrakau Māori

• Build collective impact across whānau, hapū, iwi, and pakihi Māori

“This is Te Tai Tokerau. He rohe Māori, he rohe pakihi, he rohe o te tūmanako.”

Our numbers may be small, but our unity, identity, and vision are powerful. Together, we’re shaping a Māori economy that is transformational—not just transactional.

Kia kaha, kia manawanui. Our mahi continues.

Ngā mihi nui,

Whāriki Te Tai Tokerau