EXPLORING COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE IN THE CONTEXT OF CLIMATE CHANGE WITH MĀORI ORGANIZATIONS by Elizabeth Ashley Beall A thesis submitted to the Victoria University of Wellington in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Commerce and Administration in Management Victoria University of Wellington 2012 Abstract Purpose –The purpose of this research is to investigate perceptions of comparative advantage in the context of climate change with Māori organizations in New Zealand. This study seeks insights, from an alternate paradigm into how concepts within strategy, such as values and identity, can help to achieve comparative advantage in an increasingly carbon constrained world. Design/methodology/approach – Peter Checkland’s Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) has been employed as a framework for exploring Māori perceptions of achieving comparative advantage in the context of climate change in order to identify areas of transformation and define actions. A total of 10 organizations active in land-based sectors in New Zealand participated in this research study. Findings – The key area of action, or transformation, identified through the research process was for Māori organizations, and New Zealand more broadly, to be aware of the potential comparative advantage that Māori organizations have in the context of climate change. Research limitations/implications – While Soft Systems Methodology and Kaupapa Māori principles were applied to this research, a full participatory action research approach was not possible due to time and resource constraints. The participatory nature of the research could be expanded by narrowing the scope to one organization in order to see the methodology through to implementing actions. Originality/value – This research highlights the importance of perceptions in achieving action on climate change, by understanding where organizations may have a particular comparative advantage given their unique values and identity. It has value within the New Zealand economy, and potentially for businesses struggling with how to incorporate climate change into their business strategy globally. Keywords – Climate change, comparative advantage, values, Soft Systems Methodology, Māori ii Acknowledgements He moana pukepuke e ekengia e te waka1 – Even choppy seas can be navigated This thesis has only been possible thanks to the Māori organizations that opened their doors and minds to me. I am eternally grateful for the kindness, patience, humour, collaborative spirit, and the unique insights that each Māori participant shared with me; both in respect to the content of this research and more broadly. I have benefitted enormously from the learning, not only academically and professionally, but also personally in terms of values and approach to relationships that I will carry with me always. This research was made possible through a generous Fulbright Research grant. I would like to thank both the U.S. and New Zealand Fulbright committees that identified this research for funding and gave me a life-changing opportunity. For the preparation of my Fulbright proposal, and continued support throughout my time in New Zealand, I would like to thank Arama Kukutai and Paul Zorner, without whom through the refinement and direction for my Fulbright proposal, I most assuredly would not have received the grant. I would also like to thank Arama for opening the door to Māoridom and introducing me to the Tuia Group in Wellington. At the Tuia Group, I would like to thank Toko Kapea first and foremost for your advice, support, and introducing me to key contacts for this research. I would also like to thank the rest of the staff of the Tuia Group, most notably Alice Sciascia, for your friendship, support, and teaching me Māori tikanga right from the start. I am indebted to my advisors at Victoria University, John Brocklesby and Matene Love who welcomed the interdisciplinary nature of this research and supported me in the accelerated timeline to carry it out. Thank you for supporting me through the 1 All whakatauki (proverbs) included in this research, although not attributed to specific iwis, are from the knowledge and wisdom of Maori tupuna passed down over generations. For more information on proverbs associated with specific iwi, see Moko Mead, H. and Mead, J.T. (2010). People of the Land: Images and Maori Proverbs of Aotearoa New Zealand. Huia Publishers. iii cultural, political, and methodological challenges that I encountered. I would also like to thank the staff of the Victoria Management School, most notably Sophia Lum and Megan Key, for your endless patience with my questions, and for always being willing to think creatively on how to manage any and every administrative challenge that arose. Other staff at Victoria who were integral in my research process to whom I am very grateful are Jessica Hutchings, Stephen Cummings, and Sally Riad. The support of other institutions and universities was also an integral part of this research. I would like to thank Massey University and Landcare Research for your invitation to present at the Whenua: Sustainable Futures with Māori Lands conference, and for introducing me to so many key academic and Māori contacts. I would specifically like to thank Tanira Kingi and Garth Harmsworth for your support and introductions. Additional thanks go to the Tukia Group, Pelenato Sakalia and Tamsin Banks, for advice and refinement of my research design and introductions to key participants; Darren King at NIWA for sharing your research and providing advice and feedback to me in mine; and to FOMA for including me in your Annual General Meeting where I was able to share in the content, the culture, and make many key connections. Finally, I would like to thank my friends and family who supported me in this endeavour. To those of you who came to visit, thank you for taking the time to see and appreciate what I came to love about New Zealand and Māori culture. Thank you to my other friends and family who supported me from afar and cheered me on along the way. To all my Kiwi friends – especially Alice and Aaron, the best flatmates and coaches on all things Kiwi; Graham and Nancy and the Sciascias for being my adopted families; the 505ers who journeyed into Māoridom alongside me; and the rest of you who shared in this year; I will always remember and feel grateful for your Kiwi sense of humour, and your spirit of friendliness and giving. Ehara taku toa, he taki tahi, he toa taki tini (My success should not be bestowed onto me alone, as it was not individual success but success of a collective) iv Title Page........................................................................................................................................................i Abstract..........................................................................................................................................................ii Acknowledgements..................................................................................................................................iii Table of Contents.......................................................................................................................................v Glossary.......................................................................................................................................................viii List of Tables and Figures......................................................................................................................ix Table of Contents Chapter 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 1 Thesis .......................................................................................................................... 3 My Worldview ............................................................................................................ 4 Aims and objectives of the research ............................................................................. 5 Structure of the document ............................................................................................ 8 Summary of Chapter 1 ................................................................................................. 9 Chapter 2 – Background and Context of Research ......................................................... 10 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 10 Māori Traditional Values ........................................................................................... 10 The Treaty of Waitangi .............................................................................................. 13 Māori Population and Economy ................................................................................. 16 Treaty Settlement Process .......................................................................................... 18 Kyoto Protocol and International Climate Change Negotiations ................................. 19 Land Use, Land Use Change, and Forestry (LULUCF) Emissions ............................. 20 New Zealand Emissions Profile ................................................................................. 21 New Zealand Economy – Sector Exposure ................................................................ 22 The Emissions Trading Scheme ................................................................................. 22 The ETS and Māori ..................................................................................................