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The Federation of Maori Authorities and Iwi Leaders are to ask the Government to make the investment needed to release the $8 billion potential tied up in under-developed Maori land.
The sum was identified in a report for the Ministry for Primary Industries.
Consultant Willie Te Aho says some of the building bocks are in place, such as the rewrite of Maori land law and the alliances FOMA is forming with cooperatives like Silver Firm Farms.
But action is needed on policy and resources.
"And if we’re going to to get the $8 billion output from Maori land that is under-utilised, we need $3 billion of investment. That's going to come from external relationships like those with Silver Fern, but it's also got to come from the government for the way that historically they have treated our lands and had them in the hands of others rather than in the hands of the people," Mr Te Aho says.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH WILLIE TE AHO CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MTkzMTQ=
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