“The Māori economy is starting to play a major part in New Zealand’s economy,” Harrison said.
“It’s sitting pretty well.
“I’ve been in my role for 15 years working with Māori businesses and [it’s] been a really special time.
“In terms of growth, the Māori economy has almost tripled in size to near $150b, contributing 9% to New Zealand’s GDP.”
Harrison said his role was multifaceted.
“It’s kind of a part-strategy role, so thinking about how we develop our approach to Māori business and then I guess it’s part-customer role.
“For example, I was down the line recently meeting with a large Māori farming joint venture that was looking for some access to finance to grow.”
He enjoys meeting and supporting Māori businesses.
“Through Covid we migrated to online, but it’s nice now to be back out face to face more often.
“Because as Māori we like the face-to-face hui, so there’s not a lot you can do by phone. People would rather sit down and have a cup of tea and talk to you.
“I went to an AGM recently and that’s a really special opportunity to go and, you know, not only meet with trustees, but also with owners.”
Harrison’s views are supported by a recent Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment 2023 (MBIE) report.
“When I think about the different components of the Māori economy, we’ve got Māori primary sector groups that are doing really well,” he said.
“Māori entrepreneurs are flourishing in sectors like tech and from our most recent Iwi Investment insights report, we know that iwi are performing well too.
“It seems to be they’re evolving from traditional places where they go and invest.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop and Horowhenua District Mayor Bernie Wanden with officials and iwi representatives during the Otaki to north of Levin highway sod-turning ceremony in September. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Iwi leading the charge
Harrison believes Māori will utilise one another’s financial balance sheets to form big joint ventures and partnerships.
“Co-investments are Māori clubbing together to form bigger pots of money to chase larger investments and hopefully, better quality investments,” he said.
“The Te Honga Māori report headlines the Māori economy is growing faster than the New Zealand economy, which is a good story.”
One iwi leading the charge is Waikato-Tainui.
“A lot of it’s about the infrastructure, which they want to be part of with global investors,” Harrison said.
“They are the first iwi to reach out and look at those opportunities.
“Infrastructure is a big employer and it also typically has social and environmental considerations and that aligns really well with Māori objectives.”
He said Māori were also looking to invest in renewable energy.
“If you think about it, there’s already been Māori ownership of geothermal assets and renewable energy,” Harrison said.
“Plus add logistics, sports, hotels, you know, housing and the like.
“There’s definitely appetite.
“There was a conference in Taranaki , the Maori National Energy Summit, and energy and infrastructure often go together.”
Māori are also looking to invest in renewable energy.
Harrison said Waikato-Tainui’s Brookfield investment was a prime example of long-term iwi thinking.
Waikato-Tainui and Brookfield formed a joint venture in 2025 to develop the Ruakura Superhub, a multibillion-dollar logistics hub in Hamilton.
The partnership – Tainui Group Holdings (the commercial arm of Waikato Tainui) and global investment firm Brookfield Asset Management – will have a $1b investment to develop the hub’s logistics precinct, which is a major strategic asset for the iwi and the Waikato region.
Brookfield co-head of Australia and New Zealand real estate Ruban Kaneshamoorthy (left), Te Arataura chairman Tukoroirangi Morgan and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at the Ruakura Superhub in Hamilton in April. Photo / Danielle Zollickhofer
“Tainui’s joint venture with Brookfield is a good example of that, but you know, there are plenty of other examples of Māori investment in that space,” Harrison said.
“The growth that we’re seeing in the Māori economy just shows that it’s a powerful contributor to the New Zealand economy and a big part of our future growth story.
“Looking forward, I see a vibrant Māori economy investing across multiple sectors and it’s going to be a good thing for the overall Aotearoa New Zealand economy.”
Supporting Harrison’s view is the BDO Pūrongo Pakihi Māori report, which shows Māori business leaders hold a more positive outlook than those operating within most New Zealand sectors.
BDO national Māori business sector leader Solomon Dalton: “We’re seeing cautious optimism about the future.”
The 2025 study, entitled Expanding Horizons, is based on a nationwide survey – the largest of its kind – and features responses from more than 290 Māori business leaders during September and October 2025.
The report highlights 64% of Māori business leaders are positive about their overall business performance, second only to business leaders in the agriculture sector on 74%. This result contrasts strongly with the 2024 report, in which 48% of Māori business leaders were feeling positive – the lowest score since first measured.
Looking ahead, 71% of Māori business leaders expect to be positive about their overall business performance in six months’ time, also higher than the sentiment shown by business leaders operating in most sectors.
“Managing cash flow remains a key priority for Māori business leaders; however, we’re seeing cautious optimism about the future. What will be key over the next six months is more certainty around economic conditions in helping unlock potential business growth by encouraging more Māori business leaders to invest in their people and resources – helping stimulate the wider economy,“ BDO national Māori business sector leader Solomon Dalton said.
Joseph Los’e joined NZME in 2022 as kaupapa Māori editor. Los’e was a chief reporter, news director at the Sunday News covering crime, justice and sport. He was also editor of the NZ Truth and before joining NZME, worked for urban Māori organisation Whānau Waipareira.