30 Jul 2013

Iwi governance entities now more business-minded

7:46 pm on 30 July 2013

A Maori financial literacy advisor says iwi governance entities are becoming more business-minded.

Philip Broughton is the project manager for Maori financial literacy at the Commission for Financial Literacy and Retirement Income.

The Ngati Kahungunu and Ngai Tahu descendant is also a chartered accountant in Dunedin.

He travels the country to meet with both Maori in the community and those in higher level iwi governance positions.

Mr Broughton says tangata whenua are now much more aware and eager to learn about money matters.

He says iwi governance bodies are looking at iwi such as Tainui, which has a large property portfolio and Ngai Tahu which has a diversified business portfolio.

Mr Broughton says Maori have traditionally been good talkers and good with numbers, which helps when it comes to business.