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A Critical Examination of Māori Economic Development: A Ngāti Awa Perspective James Daniel Mather PhD 2014 ‘A Critical Examination of Māori Economic Development: A Ngāti Awa Perspective’ A Critical Examination of Māori Economic Development: A Ngāti Awa Perspective James Daniel Mather A thesis submitted to the Auckland University of Technology in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. 2014 Department of Economics Page 2 of 300 ‘A Critical Examination of Māori Economic Development: A Ngāti Awa Perspective’ ABSTRACT This thesis provides a critical examination of Māori economic development with particular emphasis on the Eastern Bay of Plenty iwi of Ngāti Awa. A ‘development patterns framework’ was employed in order to explore key patterns and characteristics associated with Ngāti Awa development from the arrival of Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand, the subsequent colonisation by Britain, and the outcome of these two very different settlement patterns. The preliminary sections of the thesis discuss the relevant social, cultural, political and economic contexts that are used to build the multi-layered historical foundation of the research. The underlying evidential base includes a comprehensive literature review of historical records such as examination of the Ngāti Awa Treaty of Waitangi claim, as well as a comparative analysis of alternative indigenous development models in both non-tribal and international contexts. The research approach was designed with two aims: Firstly, to clarify what is meant by ‘Maori Economic Development’ – an approach that allows the researcher to refine both its meaning and practical application. And secondly, to provide the foundation for the field research and to elicit key findings from a series of interviews conducted with ‘key informants’. The key ‘informants’ included leaders of the rūnanga, tribal members of Ngāti Awa, as well as Page 3 of 300 ‘A Critical Examination of Māori Economic Development: A Ngāti Awa Perspective’ external personnel regarded as influential in shaping Māori development policy and practice. The historic patterns of development, and the cultural, commercial and community aspects of Ngāti Awatanga discussed in the literature review, in addition to the research fieldwork, contributed to the Māori development framework. The development of a framework was the major objective of this research in order that a uniquely Māori perspective on development from an iwi-centric basis could then be provided. The creation of specific iwi-centric research combined with a kaupapa Māori development framework, are two significant outcomes arising from the research process. These outcomes not only make an original contribution to knowledge about Māori development, but they have been achieved using a non-traditional research approach. In addition, the key findings and the conclusions identified in this research should assist Ngāti Awa as the tribe endeavours to adapt to the many future challenges that lie ahead. Page 4 of 300 ‘A Critical Examination of Māori Economic Development: A Ngāti Awa Perspective’ TABLE OF CONTENTS TITLE PAGE I ABSTRACT II TABLE OF CONTENTS III ATTESTATION OF AUTHORSHIP IV ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS V PREFACE 9 CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION 13 1.1 Background to the research 13 1.2 Research Issues 19 1.3 Justification for the research 20 1.4 Research methodology 21 1.5 Ethical considerations 27 CHAPTER 2 – THE CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MĀORI 30 DEVELOPMENT 2.1 Introduction 30 2.2 Key cultural concepts associated with Māori development 31 2.3 The whakapapa of Māori development 35 2.4 Creation of a development framework based on core Māori values 46 CHAPTER 3 – THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF NGĀTI AWA 49 3.1 Introduction 49 3.2 Pre-contact history through to the Treaty of Waitangi 50 3.3 Pacification by treaty – the Treaty of Waitangi 54 3.4 Pacification by military and legislative means 60 3.5 Dispossession by appropriation of lands and resources 64 3.6 The disenfranchisement and deculturation of Ngāti Awa 66 3.7 The assimilation of Ngāti Awa 68 3.8 The Treaty of Waitangi claim of Ngāti Awa 73 Page 5 of 300 ‘A Critical Examination of Māori Economic Development: A Ngāti Awa Perspective’ CHAPTER 4 – THE CONTEXT OF MĀORI DEVELOPMENT 80 4.1 Introduction 80 4.2 A development patterns approach to Māori development 84 4.3 Theoretical assumptions 109 4.4 Defining Māori development and its relationship with wider New Zealand development 112 CHAPTER 5 – THE PRESENT SITUATION OF NGĀTI AWA 116 5.1 Introduction 116 5.2 The TRONA leadership perspective on the key objectives and priorities for Ngāti Awa 118 CHAPTER 6 – OTHER APPROACHES TO INDIGENOUS ECONOMIC 128 DEVELOPMENT 6.1 Introduction 128 6.2 The non-iwi based approach to Māori economic development 129 6.3 The pan-tribal urban Māori authorities’ approach 135 6.4 International indigenous economic development models 143 CHAPTER 7 – FIELDWORK INTERVIEWS 169 7.1 Introduction 169 7.2 Interviews of key informants 170 7.3 Analysis of interviews 172 7.4 Key findings 233 7.5 Summary of key findings 263 CONCLUSION 265 APPENDICES 282 BIBLIOGRAPHY 296 Page 6 of 300 ‘A Critical Examination of Māori Economic Development: A Ngāti Awa Perspective’ ATTESTATION OF AUTHORSHIP I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, it contains no material previously published or written by another person (except where explicitly defined in the acknowledgements), nor material which to a substantial extent has been submitted for the award of any other degree or diploma of a university or other institution of higher learning. Jim Mather 18 August 2014 Page 7 of 300 ‘A Critical Examination of Māori Economic Development: A Ngāti Awa Perspective’ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Nōku e rangahau ana i tēnei kaupapa i ngā tau e ono kua pahure, kua ukaukaina ahau e te taunaki o ōku tūpuna me tōku whānau. Nā ō rātou wawata mō tō mātou iwi ahau i whakakipakipa hei whakatutuki i ngā mahi, ahakoa i ētahi wā he māmā ake kia whakarerea tēnei kawenga ki te taha. He rētō te puna o tōku aroha, e kore rawa e tōmiti ngā mihi ki a koutou. In a very personal way, throughout the six year duration of undertaking this research, I have always felt sustained by the support of my tūpuna and whānau. It was because of their aspirations for our people and tribe that I was able to draw the strength to continue when at times it would have been much easier to simply set this work aside. My aroha for you all runs deep. It is important that I also acknowledge the support and guidance of my supervisors Professor Ian Shirley and Professor Pare Keiha. I remain convinced that Professor Ian Shirley, in his capacity as my primary supervisor, was the difference between my success or failure in this endeavour and for which I will be forever grateful. I also acknowledge the contribution by Professor Sir Hirini Moko Mead as a mentor, a kaumātua and a leader of Ngāti Awa. E ngā rangatira, ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa. Page 8 of 300 ‘A Critical Examination of Māori Economic Development: A Ngāti Awa Perspective’ PREFACE I was fortunate to live with my maternal grandparents for three years at our whānau homestead in Te Teko in 1971 when I was seven years old. A lasting impression from that time is that neither of my grandparents ever once spoke to me in Māori; nor did they ever share any insights into traditional cultural practices. This was surprising as they were both native speakers of te reo Māori and had led very traditional Māori lives. Along with their other grandchildren I was strongly encouraged to ‘learn the ways of the Pākehā’, which entailed getting a good education, speaking English well, finding employment and hopefully never experiencing the hardships that they had to endure. It was a profound first-hand experience of the impact of pervasive assimilation practices which had been widely accepted by our Māori elders at that time. Undertaking this research has been a journey of enlightenment. Issues such as why many of those of earlier generations made the decision to hold fast to their own culture, language and heritage whilst actively encouraging their children and grandchildren to adapt to the changing world, have become much clearer. These personal insights make it clear to the researcher that Māori economic development has been a complex process that has been shaped by a range of different cultural, social, political and economic conditions prevailing at particular periods throughout the history of Aotearoa New Zealand. Page 9 of 300 ‘A Critical Examination of Māori Economic Development: A Ngāti Awa Perspective’ As a tribal member who long ago moved away from his traditional home area of Ngāti Awa, I am considered an ‘outsider’ by those who remained. So although this means I am not widely known to the ‘ahi kaa’ (‘keepers of the home fires’), or those who live within the traditional boundaries of the tribe, it has enabled me to undertake this research with a degree of independence and autonomy. Another perceived advantage is that I can use my professional experience gained from my roles associated with business development and that as a chief executive, to be able to contribute to this research. My recent work life has provided me both with an understanding of, and different insights into ‘economic development’ and has been a major stimulus for undertaking the research. For several years I was employed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of an economic development agency, namely the Pacific Business Trust (PBT). The PBT was a government funded national organisation which equated economic development with ‘business’. My role was to facilitate the creation and implementation of business programmes designed to encourage New Zealanders of Pacific descent to start up and operate successful business entities.

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