New Zealand
Māori Business and Cultural Delegation Travels to India to Explore Opportunities and Strengthen Ties: A Māori-led delegation of business and community leaders, chefs, educators, and cultural performers has begun travelling to India this week, marking a landmark initiative focused on exploring business opportunities while deepening cultural connections between Aotearoa New Zealand and India reports RNZ.
The 20-member delegation began departing on Sunday, with additional members scheduled to travel over the coming days. The visit is widely regarded as the first Māori delegation to India with culture at its core, distinguishing it from earlier government-led or trade-focused missions.
The visit comes shortly after India and New Zealand concluded negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement following the resumption of talks in March 2025. The timing is considered significant, as the agreement is expected to accelerate bilateral trade and create new pathways for collaboration across multiple sectors.
India’s Consul General in Auckland, Madan Mohan Sethi, described the delegation as an important milestone in strengthening bilateral relations, highlighting the growing role of Māori enterprises in New Zealand’s economy and international trade. He noted that the Māori business economy is valued at more than USD 100 billion, spanning hospitality, food production, horticulture, dairy, fisheries, forestry, small manufacturing, and tourism. With trade between India and New Zealand continuing to rise and the Free Trade Agreement now announced, trade volumes are expected to grow further.
Delegation member Otene Hopa said the visit represents a different approach from traditional trade delegations, with cultural exchange placed at the forefront. He described India as an important but largely untapped market for Māori businesses and emphasised the long-standing presence of the Indian community in Aotearoa. Strengthening those connections and engaging directly with India’s cultural diversity has generated strong interest and enthusiasm among the delegation.
Rather than focusing narrowly on specific industries, the delegation is taking an open and exploratory approach, viewing India as a whole and identifying opportunities organically as relationships develop.
The delegation includes prominent Māori chefs Hera Te Kurapa and Irihei Walker, along with the acclaimed kapa haka group Te Pikikōtuku o Ngāti Rongomai, which is leading cultural exchanges through dance and storytelling. Community leaders Tracey Panapa and David Panapa from Te Māhurehure Marae in Point Chevalier are also participating, alongside Māori educators who serve as principals of kura kaupapa Māori.
The inclusion of educators is seen as adding depth to the mission, enabling discussions on how culture transcends education and how indigenous knowledge systems can be shared through international exchange.
The Aotearoa Bharat Economic Foundation, which has facilitated Māori and New Zealand delegations to India since 2016, said the newly concluded Free Trade Agreement could be transformative, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. The foundation was established in 2015 after identifying that Māori businesses were often excluded from trade organisations engaging with India. Its focus has been on strengthening bilateral relations by connecting grassroots-level companies in both countries.
According to ABEF, while large corporations typically find it easier to enter the Indian market, smaller companies have faced challenges due to pricing and access barriers. The Free Trade Agreement is expected to ease these constraints, allowing Indian products to enter New Zealand more competitively and enabling New Zealand businesses, especially smaller enterprises, to access the Indian market more effectively.
At the same time, ABEF has emphasised the importance of meaningful engagement, noting that successful outcomes depend on delegations being genuinely prepared to operate in India rather than participating symbolically.
The delegation is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi on January 19, remain there until January 23, then travel to Hyderabad from January 23 to 28. From January 29 to 31, the group will visit Bhubaneswar before returning to New Delhi for their onward journey to Auckland.
For several members, the visit also holds personal significance, reflecting a renewed opportunity to experience India through a Māori cultural lens. Observers note that the delegation’s presence carries broader importance, particularly in the context of the recently announced India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, as it represents a unique convergence of culture, community, and commerce.
