October 24, 2023
FOMA has Māori on mind in coalition talks
The chair of the Federation of Māori Authorities says the strong Māori presence in primary industry mean Māori need to be at the table with the incoming government.
Traci Houpapa says the election was bruising for te iwi Māori, with issues of race, rights and the Treaty of Waitangi being topics for argument.
But she says Māori will continue to produce some of the best fibre and fibres in the world, and they will continue to increase trading on their own behalf.
“In this next space what we will see as Maori is Maori needing to make space, Maori needing to engage directly with the prime minister and cabinet minister, and needing to makes sure that within the coalition discussions Maori trade and economic development alongside health, social services, education and employment are at the table on the minds of this coalition-forming Government,” Ms Houpapa says.
She says outgoing Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta has been a magnificent advocate for Aotearoa and for indigenous trade.