The changing face of the Maori economy has led to the launch of Takiwai - the Rotorua Maori Business Network.
Takiwai was launched at the Millennium Hotel last night with more than 130 people turning out for the event.
It has been formed by a working committee made up of Velvet Stone
Media's Lara Northcroft, Too Luscious' Tawa Hunter, Justin Roberts and Trish Francis from Mau Creative and Poutama Trust's Oscar Nathan.
Mr Nathan said the new network was not a replacement for existing networks such as Maori in Tourism, but an evolution.
"We need a network that is wider than just tourism and which is broad enough to include the trusts and incorporations that have now come on to the scene."
He said Maori in Tourism would continue but was likely to come under the umbrella of Takiwai.
"Poutama Trust is proud to support this development of a Maori business network that can tap into the potential, not just of tourism but of the other opportunities out there - including the Rugby World Cup next year."
Te Arawa kaumatua Toby Curtis has been working with the group and said the new network would be valuable in developing connections between Maori businesses and organisations - especially the likes of trusts that did not necessarily see themselves as businesses.
"They tend to work with annual returns and are not directly involved in the daily matters of what we think of as a business."
He pointed to land trusts as some of the district's largest taxpayers.
"But they do not see themselves as businesses.
"It is the same with some of our bands and such - they see themselves as entertainers, but they are running a business too."
He said he was surprised and pleased by the interest the launch had attracted and he hoped it would be a step towards giving Te Arawa a similar connectivity and centralisation to the likes of Tainui.
