April 19, 2022
Trade mission gets tikanga lesson
New Zealand is back knocking on the doors of the world.
The first trade mission since the start of the pandemic two years ago left for Singapore yesterday, led by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
The group will go on to Japan later in the week.
Māori Tourism chair Dale Stephens, who’s also the Māori partnership director at New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, says there’s a lot of catching up to do – including overseeing further training of staff in the international offices in how to represent this country all its facets.
“A key part of my role will be to make sure w are presenting the New Zealand delegation in a culturally appropriate manner, that we are mixing with Singapore Malay, with Japanese, with Ainu, whoever it might be, so we are developing those contacts that give us a chance to develop long term, sustainable relationships,” he says.
Mr Stephens says he’s keen to see how the trip works for those Māori businesses involved, such as Wakatū Incorporation health products subsidiary AuOra.
He says customers are looking for quality produce and a strong provenance story, and that’s something Maori businesses are good at.