8 Nov 2011

India seen as top market for Maori goods

7:29 pm on 8 November 2011

Wellington business consultancy Poutama is picking India as a prime export market for Maori once New Zealand secures a free trade agreement, which is expected to be early next year.

Chief Executive Richard Jones says India is one of the countries he is excited about, as Aotearoa can be a food basket for the sub-continent's huge population.

He says Poutama is currently creating a catalogue of Maori food and drink producers to show off to the world.

Mr Jones says small export companies could seek out boutique businesses which can sell into high value niche markets.

He says one restaurant chain or a 5-star hotel in India would probably be enough to take everything Maori could produce.