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Māori in the Bay of Plenty are looking to develop a Māori regional economic development strategy under the Bay of Connections framework that is working for mainstream business.
Anthony Olsen, the co-chair of the Bay of Connections Māori Advisory Group, says more than 200 people attended four recent hui across the region to discuss the strategy.
He says Māori have significant assets in farms, forestry, fishing and energy, as well as making significant contributions to GDP in health, tourism and social services, and education.
But their average income is still lower than non-Māori, and a disproportionate number of Māori households need some sort of social support.
Mr Olsen says further input into the strategy will be sought from iwi across the region in May and June.
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