Regional insights & business tips

“In Te Tairāwhiti , we see many Māori business leaders struggle in the current economic climate. Businesses are having to focus more on immediate financial pressures and doing what they can to stay afloat. What’s noticeable is when times are tough, the Māori community come together – and we are seeing more instances of Māori businesses collaborating in their wider networks. This is demonstrated in many different initiatives, including joint ventures to pool resources, expand market reach, and share risks. This approach is not new – Sir Āpirana Ngata was a strong advocate for Māori collaboration in the 1900s – and we know collaboration not only fortifies individual businesses, but also strengthens the broader Māori economy and community.”
- Erutini Paringatai-Walker, BDO Accountant

“Horticulture is a key contributor to our local economy here in the Bay of Plenty. Local Māori business leaders in this space face many challenges, including changes to the local labour force, weather events, and fluctuations in global supply and demand – so it’s easy to see how business performance sentiment has declined in the past few years. To help navigate this, Māori business leaders should not only engage with the right business advisers, but also continue to invest in rangatahi – future business leaders who can continue to progress the mahi that’s already being done.”
- Anqush Kumar, BDO Senior Business Advisor

“In Taranaki, Māori business leaders are having to deal with uncertainty in funding and fluctuations in income, both of which impact cashflow and add extra workload for business leaders who must closely manage financial performance through these tough economic times. It’s not surprising that business performance and financial measures are low in our latest survey. However, on a positive note, we are seeing inspirational Māori leadership and a strong sense of community and collaboration. From working together and leveraging strengths, Taranaki has a lot of great events and business opportunities to look forward to.”
- Gaylene Findlay, BDO Business Advisory Principal

“What I’m seeing within the Māori settlement trusts I work with in the top of the South Island, Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington) and central North Island is that they’re focusing on their long-term strategic vision – it’s not about today, it’s about tomorrow. But to look after your iwi for tomorrow, you need to make sure everyone is in a good state today. This is a challenge currently as many iwi are struggling with housing costs and interest rates - along with the rest of the country - but I’m seeing Māori businesses increasingly focus on their core purpose – helping their people.”
- Mark Bewley, BDO Audit and Assurance Partner

“It’s not surprising that Aotearoa’s economic conditions are impacting Māori business leaders. Through my observations in the communities of Waitaha (Canterbury), Rakiura (Stewart Island), Rēkohu/Wharekauri (Chatham Islands), and the wider Te Waipounamu (South Island), I’ve seen a lot of headwinds that sectors are facing, particularly within construction, retail, food and beverage, forestry, fishing, and honey. Working capital and cash flow have been challenged, and it’s more critical than ever to work closely with banks and funders. Thankfully, we’re seeing green shoots of recovery after a tough year. Falling interest rates have been embraced by Māori business leaders, and there will be hope for a further reduction in the OCR this year. While confidence is low now, cycles rebound over time – and this one will rebound.”
- Phillip Roth, BDO Business Advisory Partner

“In Queenstown, two of our main industries, tourism and construction, have been significantly impacted by Aotearoa’s tough economic conditions. Tourism spending has declined and while the construction sector has been active, project timelines are moving, making it difficult for operators to plan. We have many local businesses that aren’t in tourism and construction and while they’re doing great things, the dominance of tourism and construction means they find it difficult to attract capital and capability and drive growth. The Queenstown Lakes District Council is starting to address this through its Economic Diversification Plan, which is a positive step – if we provide our rangatahi with local options outside tourism and construction, we are less likely to lose them to opportunities elsewhere.”
- Nathan Keil, BDO Business Advisory Partner