December 03, 2020
Maori business to share in government procurement pie
Māori Development Minister Willie Jackson says it’s time Māori businesses got a slice of the government’s procurement pie.
Mr Jackson and Regional Development Minister Stuart Nash have announced they want 5 percent of the $42 million a year government agencies spend on goods and services to go to Māori businesses.
The target is modelled on Australia’s indigenous procurement initiative which has resulted in contracts with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses increasing from $6 million to almost $2 billion in just four years.
He expects some push back.
"You'll hear the inevitable cries of 'what's this about, why are they guaranteed anything.' They should be guaranteed something because Māori businesses don't get an opportunity and don't get an equal slice of the pie so they've been crying out to us for some time they need some support. This is about getting our people really involved in the economy so we're really pleased as Māori ministers and a Māori caucus to promote this and support this," Minister Jackson says.
The procurement initiative is likely to have a big impact on regional economies.
Copyright © 2020, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com