8 Nov 2013

More banks setting up dedicated Maori divisions - de Bres

6:32 am on 8 November 2013

Former Race Relation Commissioner Joris de Bres says more and more banks are setting up services dedicated to Maori, which he suspects is partly because of iwi settling Treaty grievances.

In 2011, the Bank of New Zealand set up a dedicated Maori business division.

While last year, ASB Bank formalised an agreement with the Wellington-based Poutama Trust to help support and develop Maori businesses.

So far, about 66 Treaty settlements have been signed off by the Government with about 60 more to go.

Mr de Bres says Treaty settlements aren't great considering past wrongs suffered by iwi.

But he says the settlements have produced engagement between Maori and the Government, and more recently between Maori and the corporate sector.

Mr de Bres says, like the Bank of New Zealand, other banks now have banking divisions for Maori clientele.

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