As part of the Iwi Collective Partnership, which formed in 2010 Ngati Porou has become
a driver for change in New Zealand’s fishing industry.
The Iwi Collective Partnership represents 14 iwi and signals a new era of tribal cooperation and economic growth. Maori met in fierce inter-tribal battles at times but we are all joined by whakapapa – kinship to the first ancestors to arrive and settle in different parts of Aotearoa.
Before the Iwi Collective Partnership Maori fishing interests were fragmented and did not have the structure to develop commercial opportunities – we were followers and price takers with little commercial influence. In partnership we have achieved a great deal in a relatively short time. We have formed joint ventures with some of New Zealand’s leading players: Pelco, Sanford, and Aotearoa Fisheries Limited.
We use these relationships to gain experience, capability and capacity in the entire value chain. Our cooperation with other tribes makes it easier to develop brands, manage risk, fund research and secure good returns for Ngati Porou and other shareholders.
It also allows us to develop our next generations of leaders through internships, scholarships, and management pathways.
Together, the tribes in ICP manage more than 15,000 tonnes of catch annually, including over 1000 tonnes of premium inshore species.
This allows us to set goals and develop strategies to ensure there will be fish and a fishing industry for our descendents in the centuries to come.
Other Maori industries and sectors have watched with interest what seafood industry groups like ICP have done to bring iwi into collaboration so we can achieve better returns from our assets for our people without compromise of traditional commitments to sustainability and kaitiakitanga.