Maori experts travel to Papua New Guinea on experience sharing mission

Rino Tirikatene (left), the Maori delegation leader, greeting chief Heni Totona of Lealea village with a "hongi" - a traditional Maori form of greeting.-Pictures courtesy of NEW ZEALAND HIGH COMMISSION
Members of the delegation with children and local chiefs at Lealea village. Members of the Maori delegation from left are Richard Manning (camera around his neck), Toa Pomare (checked shirt), Harvey Bell (white shirt), Raniera Bassett (black shirt and trousers) and Rino Tirikatene (holding the bag).In terms of Lealea elders: chief Heni Totona is in the centre in blue patterned shirt and on his right is Maba Lohia
Members of the Maori delegation on the wharf at Lealea

By MALUM NALU

A group of seven New Zealand Maoris are visiting local Papua New Guinea land and resource owners to share their experiences in turning land-based resources into thriving businesses.

The Pacific Cooperation Foundation (PCF) of New Zealand is leading the delegation and has set up meetings in Port Moresby and Madang with representatives from the PNG forestry and fishery sectors as well as other community groups to discuss how natural resources are utilised for maximum economic benefit.

The group combines extensive experience in fisheries, forestry, agriculture, horticulture, geothermal energy, land investment, logistics, communications, funds management and banking.

The companies and trusts they represent manage business assets worth billions of dollars.

The group was in Port Moresby on Monday and Tuesday and yesterday (Wednesday) traveled to Madang where it will be until Saturday before returning to New Zealand June on Sunday.

In Port Moresby, the group talked to LNG project landowners from the villages of Lealea, Papa, Porebada and Boera, among others.

Members were formally welcomed at a function at the New Zealand High Commission on Tuesday evening.

Delegation leader Rino Tirikatene, from the PCF, said it all started in 2008 from a request by former PNG Prime Minister Sir Rabbie Namaliu.

“The purpose of our trip is we are responding to a call by Sir Rabbie Namaliu made at the Melanesian Symposium that we hosted in 2008,” he told The National.

“He said there should be greater engagement between Maori and Papua New Guinea resource owners and there may be things we can learn from each other.

“In addition to Sir Rabbie’s call, the Prime Minister (Sir Michael Somare) was in the country about a month ago, met the Maori, and made the same call.

“We’re here to listen, learn and share experiences.

“And hopefully, we want to sustain this.

“We don’t want this to be a one-off thing.”

Maori, the indigenous people of New Zealand, are now significant stakeholders in the country’s primary sectors such as fisheries, forestry, land and agriculture.

The PCF seeks to foster better relationships between Maori and Melanesia, especially PNG, whereby well-developed and successful Maori enterprises make have valuable contributions towards improving asset management and resource utilisation in PNG.