Trade Minister and Rotorua MP Todd McClay has continued engagement with iwi leaders at a local hui on the refresh of the Government's Trade Policy Strategy.
"New Zealand's current trade strategy has served us very well over the past twenty years, securing market access and opportunities that underpin our exports,prosperity, and jobs.
"The current refresh is about factors that will shape our future trade policy efforts, and Maori are central to the New Zealand export story.
"This is particularly true in the primary sector where Maori own between 10 and 30 per cent of meat and dairy, and around 40 per cent of both forestry and fisheries," Mr McClay said.
The Policy Strategy refresh is being led by Mr McClay and supported by Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which have undertaken a number of public meetings in September as well as in-depth sessions with stakeholders, including iwi.
"This is my sixth meeting with representatives of the Iwi Leaders Forum on trade issues this year.
"We have also held numerous hui on specific trade agreements such as TPP," Mr McClay said.
