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Download AudioThe chair of the Federation of Māori Authorities is welcoming the indigenous trade chapter in the new free trade agreement with the United Kingdom.
The deal announced yesterday will eliminate all tariffs on New Zealand exports, saving exporters more than $37 million a year, increase market access for beef and sheep and improve and extend working holiday arrangements.
Traci Houpapa says Māori exporters of wine, food and honey should see some immediate benefit.
She says the involvement of Māori in the negotiations means there’s more than the usual provision allowing the New Zealand Government to adopt policies to fulfil its obligations to Māori under the Treaty of Waitangi.
“We’ve always had a Treaty of Waitangi clause in our FTAs but this is the first time we have had an indigenous chapter which actively and specifically provides for Māori exporters so that’s in terms of services, digital, data, alongside culture and intellectual property as well,” Ms Houpapa says.
She says that bodes well for the agreement being negotiated with the European Union, as well as any reviews of the individual country to country agreements.
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