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Treaty of Waitangi
As in all of New Zealand’s recent free trade agreements (FTAs), an agreement with the Pacific Alliance would contain a Treaty of Waitangi clause that protects the New Zealand Government’s ability to adopt any policy it considers necessary to fulfil its obligations to Māori. This is non-negotiable.
Māori exporters and businesses
A free trade agreement with the Pacific Alliance will increase opportunities and reduce barriers for Māori businesses in the region.
Indigenous cooperation
There is already a large amount of activity between New Zealand Māori and indigenous communities in Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru, and there is scope to deepen these connections in areas of mutual interest. New Zealand has put forward a framework for advancing indigenous cooperation between New Zealand and the Pacific Alliance under the FTA.
Traditional knowledge
New Zealand is committed to achieving provisions that safeguard our right to protect genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge.
Engagement with Māori
Negotiators have engaged with Māori during negotiations to ensure that Māori interests are promoted and protected.
An economic consultancy, BERL, was also commissioned to investigate Māori export capability and interests using desktop research, supported by qualitative phone interviews with a range of Māori enterprises and representative groups in 2018.
Read more about how the Government consults Māori during free trade agreement negotiations.
Contact
If you have any questions about upcoming Māori consultation or Māori interests in relation to New Zealand trade policy, you can contact us at maori@mfat.govt.nz.