Maori experts travel to Papua New Guinea on experience sharing mission

A group of seven New Zealanders will be 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.

According to a statement from the New Zealand High Commission, the group would be in Port Moresby June 7 – 8 and then in Madang June 9-12 before returning to New Zealand June 13.

Maori groups are significant stakeholders in New Zealand’s primary sectors through their various land interests and treaty settlements.

Many Maori-owned enterprises dealing in primary resources have been successful in leveraging their interests for the groups’ benefit.

But success hasn’t come overnight and serious lessons have been learnt in the process of creating successful enterprises.

The PCF has selected five Maori experts to travel to PNG with them.

All have significant experience in developing primary resources and developing the capacity of their hapu (clan) to manage their growing enterprise.

Meg Poutasi, chief executive of PCF commented: “I hope this delegation to Papua New Guinea is just the beginning of better and more-engaged dialogue between New Zealand Maori and Papua New Guinea land and resource owners.

“We have very similar issues and I think engagement will result in longer term partnerships beneficial to both groups.

“Our delegation is going to gain a better understanding of the issues concerning PNG fisheries and forestry and in turn, I hope, we will be able to offer some insights into the lessons New Zealand learnt while turning primary industries into viable businesses.

‘I am very much looking forward to hearing the outcomes from this visit and discovering how PCF can broker future relationships.”