Symposium will bring together key influencers to discuss Māori Economic Development

Key Māori economic development influencers and experts, including Whaimutu Dewes and Professor Graham Smith, will speak at a symposium hosted by Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga (NPM) this month.

The two-day research symposium on 14-15th November will provide an essential national platform for researchers, communities and policy makers to examine critical success factors for Māori economic development, including aspirations, capacity and capability, collaboration, and local solutions and opportunities. The topic is wide-ranging and of vital importance to the future of Aotearoa New Zealand.

The symposium will see leading social and economic researchers and commentators along with community researchers present and discuss aspects of cutting-edge and important research, business models and community perspectives, lessons and models.

Keynote speakers include:

Sir Tīpene O’Regan – Chair of NPM’s Board and former Chair of Ngāi Tahu Māori Trust Board
Professor Graham Smith – CEO of Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi; Principal Investigator in NPM’s Te Pae Tawhiti: Māori Economic Development research initiative
Whaimutu Dewes ­– Chair of Aotearoa Fisheries
June McCabe – member of the Government’s Māori Economic Taskforce; Director of Sustainable Prosperity NZ
Professor Stephen Cornell – political economy and cultural sociology specialist from The University of Arizona and co-director of The Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development
Traci Houpapa – Chairperson of the Federation of Māori Authorities; business consultant.
Community, policy makers and other researchers will join the discussion to learn from the work completed to date and provide insights and perspectives of the critical success factors and areas for research – making this symposium the catalyst for future research, policy and optimising Māori economic development.

The symposium will be held at Te Raukura - Te Wharewaka o Pōneke, Wellington on 14-15th November 2011.

For more information and to register, visit http://www.maramatanga.ac.nz/news-events/events/npm-research-symposium-2011

Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga (NPM) is a world-class Centre of Research Excellence consisting of 16 participating research entities and hosted by The University of Auckland. NPM conducts research of relevance to Māori communities and is an important vehicle by which New Zealand continues to be a key player in global indigenous research and affairs. Its research is underpinned by the vision to realise the creative potential of Māori communities and to bring about positive change and transformation in the nation and wider world. Visit www.maramatanga.ac.nz

Media are welcome to attend.