29 Jan 2009

Maori need to work together - Ngati Tuwharetoa and Tainui

6:04 am on 29 January 2009

The paramount chief of Ngati Tuwharetoa, Tumu Te Heu Heu, says Maori need to work together to get the most out of their economic assets.

A Maori Economic Summit organised by the Government on Wednesday heard calls for iwi to make more use of their assets in order to help Maori through the recession.

Mr Te Heu Heu says tribes are already using their resources to benefit the community, but they may need to change the way they manage their assets in the long-term.

He says a more co-ordinated approach to using Maori assests will take time to achieve.

Tainui also says Maori to look beyond their own iwi and work together to combat the effects of the recession.

Chief executive Hemi Rau says Maori have weathered economic hardship before, but they may need to work together now.

He says consolidation is the biggest challenge to Maori economic development.