Māori business confidence outpaces most sectors, and data explains why.
Even amid cost pressures and global uncertainty, Māori business leaders are showing a quiet confidence that sets them apart.
Based on responses from more than 290 Māori business leaders across the motu, a new report found that 64% feel positive about their current performance – second only to leaders in agriculture at 74%. Looking ahead, 71% expect to feel positive in six months’ time.
BDO’s Pūrongo Pakihi Māori – the Māori Business Sector Report 2025, highlights how Māori enterprises continue to perform with a level of confidence rarely seen in today’s economy.
Solomon Dalton, BDO’s National Māori Business Sector Leader, says that optimism is built on more than just hope.
“We’re on the right path, in the right direction,” he says. “Our economic contribution and asset base have almost doubled in five years. We’re seeing real progress, and that gives people confidence for the future.”
Driven by growth and regional strength
The Māori economy’s total asset base has grown from $69 billion in 2018 to $126 billion in 2023, with Māori enterprises now contributing nearly 9% to New Zealand’s GDP. Many of these businesses are directly or indirectly connected to the primary sector, such as farming, horticulture, fisheries, and forestry, which has enjoyed favourable returns in recent years.
That connection has ripple effects across the regions. “If you’re a retailer or service provider in a rural area where the local farms are thriving, you benefit too,” Dalton says. “It’s almost a regional-led economic recovery.”
Upcoming Fonterra shareholder payouts worth about $3.2 billion in mid-2026 are expected to further strengthen that regional momentum.
At the same time, Māori businesses in tourism, hospitality, construction, and retail – particularly in urban areas – are feeling the squeeze. Infrastructure issues, reduced discretionary spending, and higher costs are cutting into revenue.
Cash-flow focus and practical innovation
Given the wider economic pressures, Māori business leaders remain realistic about short-term challenges. Many organisations are now managing finances in shorter 12-week cycles rather than annual budgets and finding ways to save without sacrificing people.
“Managing cash flow remains a key priority for Māori business leaders, and we’re seeing cautious optimism about the future,” Dalton says. “What will be key over the next six months is more certainty around economic conditions to help unlock business growth by encouraging more Māori leaders to invest in their people and resources.”
Solar energy, electric vehicles, and AI are among the tools gaining traction, bringing both financial and environmental benefits.
“Our BDO Pakihi Māori team are seeing a growing adoption of solar technology and the transition of business fleets to electric vehicles,” Dalton says. “It not only brings cost efficiencies but also supports climate responsibilities.”
AI is also helping businesses streamline their operations. “Aside from the operational efficiencies of AI, it enables Māori business leaders to focus on the matters that are core to their purpose, including their people and their culture,” Dalton explains.
Climate responsibility now ranks among the top five concerns – the only non-financial or political factor to make the list. Dalton says this reflects Māori business leaders’ deep awareness of environmental risk and their long-term commitment to balance people, planet, and profit.
Culture as a measure of success
One of the most striking findings in this year’s report is a shift in how Māori business leaders define success. Where community engagement once ranked highest, cultural wellbeing has now taken its place.
“We’re embracing our culture in the workplace, through te reo, through karakia, through the maramataka (Māori lunar cycles),” Dalton says. “It’s a way of uplifting our wider whānau and claiming our place, saying ‘We’re here.’ It’s also a point of difference.”
This focus on culture and identity is helping Māori enterprises build resilience in uncertain times. Rather than separating business from community, many are finding strength in bringing the two together. “Cultural wellbeing has become a major measure of business success,” Dalton says. “It’s not just about profit, it’s about the wellbeing of our people.”
Collective strength for the road ahead
While Māori enterprises are diverse, from small family-run operations to large iwi corporations, Dalton believes their greatest opportunity lies in collaboration.
“We’re realising we’re not in competition,” he says. “The market is big enough for us all. By working together, we can create efficiencies and strengthen our buying power.”
He points to examples of Māori retailers joining forces at international expos or share market insights rather than going it alone. “There’s real power in coming together, in partnering and sharing knowledge. That’s how we’ll grow.” This collective mindset ties back to the report’s title, Expanding Horizons.
A resilient future
Despite the headwinds facing many parts of the economy, Dalton remains hopeful. “If you can make it through this time, you’ll be in a strong position when the market picks up,” he says. “For me, that’s cautious optimism, consolidating what we have now so we can capitalise on what’s ahead.”
The report also shows that one in four Māori business leaders plan at least six years ahead, reflecting intergenerational thinking and a commitment to building sustainable futures.
“We’re realising the power of numbers,” Dalton says. “By collectivising, working together, and leveraging our shared knowledge, Māori business can continue to thrive for generations.”
Read the full BDO Pūrongo Pakihi Māori – Māori Business Sector Report 2025, a video interview with BDO’s National Māori Business Sector Leader, Solomon Dalton, and find practical tips for Māori business leaders at bdo.nz/maoribusiness