Government Consultation on Maori Economic Development

This is worth checking out for those of you who have an interest in the Maori economy, courtesy of TPK:

Māori Economic Development Panel
In 2011 the Minister of Māori Affairs and the Minister for Economic Development established an independent Māori Economic Development Panel. The Panel is chaired by Ngahiwi Tomoana with Professor Greg Whittred as Deputy Chair. Panel members include Mark Solomon, Bevan Graham, Graham Stuart, June McCabe, Debbie Packer, Gina Rangi and Glen Tupuhi. The Terms of Reference for the Panel is available fromwww.beehive.govt.nz/release/maori-economic-strategy-be-developed.
The Panel has been charged with developing a Māori Economic Strategy and Action Plan that:

• provides recommendations to improve the performance and productivity of the Māori economic sector;
• clarifies the role and identifies the contribution that the Government can make to improving the performance of the Māori economic sector; and
• considers the role and contribution of Māori to their own economic development.

To inform the development of the Strategy and Action Plan the Panel has produced a discussion document which sets out the Panel’s views on the key issues facing the Māori economy what needs to be done to improve its performance and productivity.

The Panel is keen to hear your views on the direction, initiatives and actions in the discussion document and members of the Panel will be holding hui in:

Wellington on Thursday 22 March from 10.00am at te Raukura te Wharewaka o Poneke, Odlins Square, Taranaki Street Wharf

Auckland on Thursday 29 March from 10.00am, at the Conference Centre, 585 Great South Road, Penrose

Christchurch on Friday 30 March from 1.30pm at Rehua Marae, 79 Springfield Road, Richmond

You are welcome to attend any of the three hui. We look forward to seeing you there.

The Panel also welcomes written feedback on the document and the discussion questions in the document. Feedback can be emailed to MEDP@tpk.govt.nz or sent to the Māori Economic Development Panel, care of Te Puni Kōkiri, PO Box 3943, Wellington.

The closing date for submissions is 11 April 2012.

The discussion document, and the feedback the Panel receives from the korero, will inform the development of a Strategy and Action Plan which will set the roadmap for Māori economic development over the next 20 years. The final Strategy has the potential to impact on everyone in New Zealand, as such, sharing your views and insights will help the Panel to develop a Strategy and Action Plan that has the greatest chance of making a real difference.