Nearly 900 Māori governors, trustees, directors, executives and emerging leaders have gathered for the Amorangi: Māori in Governance Summit, highlighting the growing influence of Māori leadership across Aotearoa’s economic, social and public sectors.
The summit brings together leaders from iwi, hapū, Māori organisations, business, government agencies and community organisations to explore how tikanga Māori can continue to strengthen governance, leadership and decision-making in an increasingly complex world.
Hosted by Tapuwae Roa, the biennial summit has become one of the country’s premier gatherings for Māori governance, providing a platform to share knowledge, build leadership capability and discuss the opportunities and challenges facing Māori organisations.
Kaihautū Te Pūoho Kātene says the summit reflects the increasing importance of Māori leadership as iwi and Māori entities continue to grow their influence across New Zealand’s economy and society. With Māori collectively managing billions of dollars in assets and playing a growing role in sectors including primary industries, health, housing, education and investment, effective governance has never been more important.
Central to the summit is the role of tikanga Māori in governance. Rather than viewing governance solely through a corporate lens, the kaupapa encourages leaders to balance commercial success with cultural values, intergenerational thinking, collective wellbeing and environmental stewardship.
Sessions throughout the summit explore how Māori governance models can strengthen decision-making by embedding principles such as manaakitanga, kaitiakitanga, whanaungatanga and rangatiratanga into boardrooms and organisational leadership.
The gathering also comes at a significant time for Māori leadership. Across the country, iwi and Māori organisations continue to expand their economic footprint while navigating major policy debates around Te Tiriti o Waitangi, constitutional reform, resource management, housing, health equity and economic development.
Many organisations are also focusing on succession planning, recognising the need to prepare the next generation of governors and directors as Māori institutions continue to grow in scale and complexity.
The summit places a strong emphasis on developing emerging leaders alongside experienced governors, creating opportunities for mentoring, collaboration and the transfer of knowledge between generations.
With Māori organisations increasingly involved in major infrastructure projects, environmental restoration, commercial investment and social service delivery, governance capability is seen as critical to achieving long-term outcomes for whānau, hapū and iwi.
The Amorangi Summit also reinforces the importance of Māori voices in national leadership conversations, recognising that Māori governance is contributing not only to Māori development but also to broader discussions about sustainable leadership, innovation and the future direction of Aotearoa.
As the summit continues, delegates will explore how tikanga-led governance can strengthen organisations, build resilient communities and ensure future generations inherit institutions that are both culturally grounded and economically successful.
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